Meet Donna Carver of Donna Carver Fine Art in Prescott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Carver.

Donna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was raised in New England and summered at Cape Cod; this is where my love for the coastal waters began. The scenes which speak to me, emotionally, relate mainly to these coastal waters and shorelines where I have lived both on the Atlantic and the Pacific my entire life. My creative soul has always been rejuvenated by the strength and energy of the coastal waters and everything associated with it. Its strength and energy have been my inspiration for my works of art. I use color to evoke an emotional response not only by the viewers but by myself while in the creative process. Some viewers speak of memories recalled while others see serene places to transport themselves. All experiences seem to enrich our lives and lift our hearts if even for only “a moment in time.” Over the years anchored boats, lazy rivers, graceful hillsides and meditative horizons, inspired by living near the Coast and my travels domestically and throughout Europe, have greatly affected what has emotionally moved me and have affected what I have been driven to create. Now that I reside in Prescott, Arizona, it’s the energy of the high desert waters, sweeping winds and vast landscapes have inspired my creative spirit.

A wealth of experience in the “real world” finally brought me to my professional art career. After finishing my nursing degree on the east coast, I moved to California where I went on to complete two advanced degrees at California State University, Northridge with a focus on Medical Sociology and Public Health. My graduate thesis focused on Health Care Marketing. I took the principles of Product Marketing and rolled them over to Health Care marketing with all its variables. This process plus its application when I was Director of Member Education at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills during startup and while teaching in the Masters in Public Health Program at California State University, Northridge helped ingrain Marketing into my basket of skills.

I immersed myself in my love of and for art when I retired from my 14 years of teaching at the university level which was my third career. The first two careers were, a MICU/ER Nurse and then an RN Medical Social Worker. Time was now on my side to focus my full-time attention to art, studying in workshops settings with nationally recognized artists such as Julia Ayers, Michael McCabe, Robert Burridge, Sui Zimmerman, Phyllis Doyon and Dan Weldon. I believe that my product marketing knowledge and these skills have greatly empowered me in my professional Art Career.

I believe that there are two kinds of artists in our world: those who come out of the womb as artists; and then there are those who have always loved art which when they retire from their working career(s) put their foot in the water of the creative art process. Needless to say, I come from the 2nd category which I call the “post-retirement Artist.” I feel now that I have been a full-time artist for ten years that it was always within me and in my retirement, I had the time to immerse myself in the creative process of Printmaking and Painting of which I am so thankful. It brings me such joy, not only to create which to me is a spiritual experience. But I also enjoy so much when the public and collectors share with me what they see in my creations and express why my works of art “talks to them.”

In this short time I have had seven Solo Shows; been in more than 12 juried shows a year; and over 50 Selected Group Shows. I have been an Artist juried on to Prescott’s Artists Studio Tour since 2014. I have been juried into the prestigious non-profit fine art organization, the Arizona Print Group, having only 35 members in the State of Arizona. When living in Ventura, California, I was part of a Fine Art Printmaking Group called “The Inkspots of San BuenaVentura” which I had to leave when we moved to Gig Harbor, Washington. My work was also selected by Rotary International Club of Morro Bay for a Goodwill Trip helping the tsunami recovery efforts, because “it truly depicted the beauty of Morro Bay.” I have had my art in the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington, in support of the North West Furniture Bank’s Fundraiser. In 2014 I curated and participated in the first Southwest Fine Art Printmakers Show which was held at Mountain Artists Gallery. I also have been an Art Juror in multiple diverse Art Shows and Festivals.

I have served on three art BOD’s: Buenaventura Art Association in Ventura, CA; Peninsula Art League (PAL) in WA. And Mountain Artists Guild in Prescott, AZ. As well as Curator of MAG’s Spotlight Room Gallery, MAG’s Facebook Master, and MAG’s Scholarship Chairperson. I was Coordinator of PAL’s Art Sales Tent at the 26th Annual Gig Harbor Juried Art Festival. And was the Art Representative on Gig Harbor’s Boys & Girls Clubs BOD. Before leaving Gig Harbor I collaborated with my doctor and opened The New Art Space Gallery at Backbone, it is the only Solo Art Gallery in Gig Harbor, which is the second gallery I had co-opened and curated the first yearly shows for each.
Since in Prescott, I have been the Media PR Representative of Mountain Artists Guild for “The Voila Tour” and also for “Prescott Area Artists Studio Tour” which includes doing Radio & TV shows as well as Newspaper interviews. Once again I feel my marketing skills have empowered me greatly.

This year I was chosen to be the first artist to represent the United States in the International Art Exhibition in Arizona of the 2018 Voila Tour from France which featured an American Artist and a French Artist. The exhibit entitled “The French Connection,” opened August 24 at the Mountain Artists Guild, 228 N. Alarcon in Prescott (mountinartistsguild.org; voilatour.fr/en/magg-exhibition).

I was one of only 80- artists juried as a master artists who will open our working studios to the public during Prescott’s Annual Artists Studio Tour, which is always the first weekend in October. This year it fell on October 5-7. This year 27 additional artists exhibited in three art centers located in the area. The tour is a free, self-guided event to meet the artists, observe their processes and purchase unique works of art (prescottstudiotour.com).

My art has been sold to collectors throughout the United States, from Gig Harbor, WA to New York City, NY. My mediums of choice are Fine Art Printmaking which includes Monotype, Drypoint etching, Collograph, Chine Colle’ and Solar Etching. I also paint in Acrylic and create Mixed Media on Canvas and Paper. You may see my works of fine art by visiting “Donna Carver Fine Art Studio” at 228 N. Alarcon St. in Prescott, Az or by visiting my website at: http://www.donnacarver.com; or these other websites:
http://arizonaprintgroup.com/artists/donna-carver/
https://www.pinterest.com/DonnaCarver05/fine-art-by-donna-carver/
http://www.mountainartistsguild.org/membership

Presently I am showing my Art at Mountain Artists Guild and Gallery; ‘Tis Fine Art Gallery, the Raven, and the Local all in Prescott, Arizona. To view the vast variety of my works of fine, view my galleries, a complete resume of activity in the realm of the arts, commission or purchase a work please visit, www.donnacarver.com.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say from many artists lens view it might be described as fast and smooth. But I would say that because I have always charged full speed and with dedication in each of my careers, so diving into my Art Career was no different.

After I had my first Solo show in ‘07 where I sold 14 works of art and had over 250 people in attendance at the Opening Reception needless to say I had high expectations for my future as an artist. Because of the great sales, I decided it was time to raise my prices. BAM! The Stock Market Crashes and the sales of art greatly decreased and for many STOPPED. With my increase in Prices, post Solo show, I had no sales, so I repriced my works of art back at my ‘07 prices and they started to sell again.

Not until this year, 2018, have been able to finally increase my prices of my works of art and they are selling well. Most of my sales happen during my Solo Shows when the public is able to see a body of work. The other time that I have a large number of sales occur is during Artists Studio Tour, that is when over 1000 people visit my studio, see how I create and are able to view and purchase my original works of art. For the Tour, I usually hang about 60 works of art. When I sell my works of art directly out of my studio, like on Studio Tour, I give all buyers 20% off the retail price of my art because there is no overhead like a large percent that galleries take.

I would not say I have had or have struggled. The word STRUGGLE does not seem to be in my lens view. I would say I have had some challenges.

Some of my challenges for my creativity were physical. I had an elevator accident in 2010 which resulted with me developing Fibromyalgia, because of that I had to not only adjust how I painted and did Printmaking.  I also had to develop patience and initially, for over seven years, limit my time in studio because of the pain. Since my back surgery of over a year ago my pain level has diminished greatly. But now I am working on my energy level. Most people that know me would describe me as a ball of energy that keeps on going but in reality, I make strategic decision of what days I will create and what days I will rest….so I create a balance which works for me between creating, resting and the rest of life.

Another major challenge for me was when we moved from Gig Harbor, Washington to the high desert of Prescott, AZ. Up until this move I always created Coastal Scenes but I quickly found out that these scenes do not sell well in Arizona. So I had to do some real soul searching because I only create what emotionally speaks to me. In order to develop an emotional connection with my new environment, the High Desert, I did a lot of driving and walk through nature…I touched the water, I felt the breezes, I gazed upon the clouds’ reflections on the water, and embraced the most colorful and beautiful sunsets…my creative soul was touched. Once emotionally touched I have been able, once again, enjoy my creative spirit.

I must say one of the biggest catalysts I have ever experienced as an artist was when I rented my studio space in 2011 at Mountain Artists Guild in Prescott. I call it my zen place. I have great light. I have all my supplies and equipment in on place. If I have to leave a project halfway through all I do is turn off the music, the a/c, the lights and lock the door. The other aspect I love about having an out of the home studio is that I rarely have interruptions at my door and when creating I do not answer my phone….I am just in my creative space.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Donna Carver Fine Art – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am known as a painter and fine art printmaker who enjoys the act of being personally involved in selling my art. During this process, I also sell the intangible which is me. When I speak with my collectors and others, I always relate why this work of art spoke to me and what was my intent.

I love to talk about my forms art  and my creative process which comes very easy to me. My collectors have told me they appreciate and love that aspect of our relationship.

I always inform my collectors and potential collectors that I only create in Aqua Media because I am a Breast Cancer Survivor and that I refuse to work with any caustic or carcinogenic materials.

I am a Fine Art Printmaker; some say Master Fine Art Printmaker. I create Monotypes using the techniques taught to me by Juila Ayers, who is referred to as the Mother of Monotypes. Her and my approach to Monotypes are expressed in a painterly quality/method which are admired by many. I create my monotypes by using either thick watercolor pigment or Akua Inks. The Akua inks are more creamy and create more fluid, organic, abstract works of Art. Either method results with the edges of the plate embossing the outside edges of each piece. This happens because the fine art printmaking paper is moist when pulling through the press, and the press exerts such pounds per inch, which adds depth to each creation. If you put a watercolor painting next to a Monotype, you can really see the depth of the Monotype.

As a Printmaker, I also create doing Solar Etchings. These are Etchings into a polymer Copper plate created by the exposure to the sun or light verse acid, which most of the old masters used. Most of my creations are facilitated using my Light Box which was created by the “Father of Solar Etching,” Dan Weldon from Long Island NY. Once the plate is created the delicate task of inking and wiping the the plate comes into play. .The final step happens when you place the moistened fine art printmaking paper over the plate and pull it through the press. The magic moment happens when you lift the blankets and finally lift the paper to view your wonderful creation.

I also do drypoint etchings; this is where you carve your image into a Plexiglas plate using instruments like dental tools. Once Carved the Plexiglas plate is inked, wiped, paper applied, and then pulled through the etching press. With drypoint etchings you are limited to a max of 15-20 good prints, which is called an Edition, the reason is that the burrs on the Plexiglas wear down. This form of printmaking is called Monoprints because you can do more than one vs. Monotypes when you only get one print and the plate is clean and the image/ your creation is transferred to the paper, hence 1/1. These prints usually look more impressionistic than what I have originally painted on the plate; this is why I usually take a photo of the actual painting on the plate. This process empowers me with knowledge of what strokes create when pulled through the press. Always a learning process.

When I create Monoprints, where you can do a series( all originals), I usually only do three pulls plus the A/P (artist proof). I do that because I do not want to dilute the value of the creation. The only time I have created more is when I have been involved in a Show with a group of Printmakers and we create what you call a Folio. A Show Folio is a book of Original Works of Art/Prints, one by each artist in the show. Usually, we will make 10 Foilos to sell. Every Printmaker in the show would have to do a 10 Print edition of the same creation; each is an Original work of Art. Collectors of Fine Art Printmaking Love buying Folios.

Other Printmaking techniques I use are:
Collograph, which an embossing type of technique..this process is always accompanied by the Monotype technique.

And Chine Colle’, which is the Asian form of Collage, but in printmaking, it is combined with Monotype process and the art is created in one pull…at the same time. With Chine Colle’ I use archival specialty papers which I usually tear or cut, then lightly spray the back with water and sprinkle with Korean Wheat Paste, which is what the old masters used. Korean Wheat Paste looks like powdered sugar. I choose to create like the old master’s verse using today’s new adhesives.

I mostly paint in Acrylic. I love texture and movement in my creations, so I not only use brushes but pallet knives and my fingers too.

My Fine Art Prints tend to be both impressionistic and abstract while most of my paintings on canvas tend to be more impressionistic. The subjects which speak to me since living in Arizona are the waters of the lakes, rivers, and streams, cloud shadowed landscapes and pathways, trees and grasses moving in the breeze, sunsets and anything in nature as well as anything Asian.

I think what sets me apart from other artists is that I have chosen to do mostly direct sales of my art with the public via:
Solo Shows, where most of the artist’s sales happen during the Opening Reception, where I am always in attendance. The Opening Receptions give me an opportunity to interact and engage in conversation with the public which helps them connect to my works of art and enables me to close the sales.

Studio Tour, where I also make as many sales, even more than I do during Solo shows. I feel that the sales occur because the public and collectors are able to view a large body of my work. I hang my art in groupings so that the public can envision the grouping in their home. When I see someone lingering and admiring one of my works of art…I go up to them, introduce myself, tell them I am so pleased to see them. I ask, “what about this work of art is talking to you,” then I continue our conversation. I talk about my intent and how I see it in a home or business…..giving examples. This process helps them think about the art, start relating to the art and envisioning the work in their home. Many times this engagement results in a sale…if not on the spot but the next day, which has been my experience.

I feel three other things set me apart from other artists is that:
I consider myself a full-time Professional Artist; I approach all I do related to my art Professionally from the archival materials I work with to the Certificates of Authenticity I mail to my Collectors.

At my, Donna Carver Fine Art Studio, I always have art displayed as if it is a show with tags giving Title, Medium, and Retail Price. So my Studio is not only my creative place but Gallery as well.

Secondly, I love marketing my works of Art. As I have said, this process comes easily to me. I enjoy talking about my creative process as well as why I chose to create what I have (the story behind it work of art). Many Artists have expressed to me that they are in awe of me, while in this process.

Most Artists I have met and have worked with want nothing to do with talking about their art and making sales. They say they are very uncomfortable with even of the thought of doing it.

Thirdly, I create works of art which not only speak to me but for the purpose of speaking to someone else as well. I create to SELL.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have been booked to have a 2019 May-June Solo Show at ‘Tis Art Gallery in Prescott on the Historic Courthouse Square. The title will be, “Across Cultures- Strong Women.” I have always felt that I am a strong person. I have always felt that females are very strong in the human race and in nature. I felt driven to create a body of work for a show which would express and present this for the public to view. If I sound excited, it is because I am. I have already completed eight works of art; all so far are portraits of women. Prior to this venture, I have never painted portraits, yet I am pleased with my creations. I hope that they will also speak to the viewers at my show next year. I would like to strive for a Solo Show once a year. I love showing a body of work.

I have also been asked many times to give an “Art Marketing Workshop.” This is something I also think I would like to do, to empower other Artists with insights and skills towards becoming a professional artist and how to develop their own Strategic Art Marketing Plan.

All Artists, no matter where they are in there on their professional development continuum-a beginner or someone who has been painting all their life – there are always goals and objectives to be set each year and achieve to fine tune ourselves on our professional development continuum.

Another dream I have but have not set as a goal yet is to Open a Gallery with some other Artists. Love to have the Gallery be downtown Prescott on the History Courthouse Square.

In the meantime I will: keep having Solo shows: keep being an Artist on the Artists Studio Tour: keep searching for new venues to show and sell my art: but most of all keep creating new works of art.

Pricing:

• It is important for artists, art collectors and potential art collectors to become educated regarding the world of art. Art should be always priced at the same retail price , no matter where it is being sold… This helps the art hold its value in and of itself and for the Collectors as well. My art is priced by size and medium…which is called the Retail Price. No matter where my art is shown in California, Arizona, in various Galleries or at Donna Carver Fine Art Studio, the Prices will always be marked with the same Retail Price. But as I have stated earlier when buyer/ collectors purchase directly from me I give a 20% discount off the Retail Price. I have chosen to do this because with direct sales I do not incoure the overhead costs which Galleries charge that range from 25% to over 50% or more of the retail price. I like giving the break to my collectors which has definitely reaped rewards for me in the form of more sales by my established collectors. My works of art prices range from $125 for a 4 in x 6in to $575 for a 3ft x 5 ft Acrylic Painting.

Contact Info:

• Address: Donna Carver Fine Art Studio
  228 N Alarcon St Studio 2
  Prescott, Arizona 86301
• Website: www.donnacarver.com
• Phone: 8054020247
• Email: davdon21@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davdon21/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davdon21/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaCarver21

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