Beth Ward-Donahue, Artist

Cast Paper Focal Points for the Home

"I am constantly fascinated by the beauty that I see.

The richness of color, the simplicity of line, the complexity of shape

and form, the intimacy of detail, texture and pattern......"

           I feel a new call for simplicity.  I revel in order without the

rigidity of precision.  I embrace the wisdom of "Wabi-Sabi",

the Japanese art of finding beauty in the imperfect.  My work

invokes a quality of the thoughtful, serene and meditative.  The

viewer takes time, thought and a breath .......

having a moment of contemplation as they consider my works in

upcycled cast paper.

I work in my studio, located in my home "out on the farm", South and West of Midland, Michigan.

There, I explore  a variety of media including water color and acrylic paints;

hand-made, hand-cast paper; and occasionally colored pencil.  As my arthritis has progressed,

I have had to limit my work in colored pencil, my previously preferred media. 

The drawings require many multiple hours to complete and my hands no longer tolerate

this intense work on a regular basis. 

Happily, I am still  able to occasionally indulge in this wonderful media doing occasional

drawings and print remarques.

   Beth with Maple Le

 My art is represented in a number of shops in Michigan including:

~Northwood Gallery in Midland

~Smith's Gallery and Gourmet in Midland

~Blue Heron Gallery in Elk Rapids

~The Fly Factory in Grayling 

~Main Frame Gallery in Mt. Pleasant

~Streamside, Inc. in  the Traverse City area (Grand Traverse Village). 

~in Indianapolis, Indiana by Jorgensen's

~in Bradenton, Florida by Pelican Alley 

~in Bellingham, Washington by Christensens Custom Flies

~in Sacramento, California by Hawkman Studios 

     Beth, President Bush, Congressman Dave Camp,  Gary Donahue (husband of the artist)

In 1992, I was invited to the White House to present President George H. W. Bush

with this original colored pencil drawing.   The image is available in limited edition print

as Print I, "The Chief's Relief".   This tarpon fly represented those used by the President when fishing in the

Florida coastal waters, and was created for him using a fly tied by Bruce Richards as the model.

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