New Feature Exhibition in September August 18 2022
WARM & COOL COLORS:
Landscapes by Don Sondag
September 3 - 24, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 3, 4-7 PM
Don Sondag, Lily Pads and Reeds, oil on canvas, 40 x 60 inches
About the Exhibition
Realist oil painter Don Sondag was encouraged by his parents to pursue his love of art from a young age. Growing up on the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, Sondag also developed a deep appreciation for water and the beauty of the natural environment. Over time, these passions merged, and he is now well known for his striking oil paintings of natural spaces.
For Sondag’s first solo exhibition at Arts on Douglas, he presents a diverse collection of these true-to-life landscapes, which include lake and canal scenes from his hometown of Winter Park, iconic beach vistas from New Smyrna Beach, and even the snowcapped mountains of Austria and other locations from his travels.
Sondag’s paintings exemplify a unique blend of plein air and photorealistic techniques. His larger work is created in his studio, while smaller landscapes are painted on location. About his technique, Don explains, “While painting each scene, I pay close attention to how the paint is layered on the canvas. I also use a variety of brushes and palette knives to achieve texture and detail.”
Perspective and color also add to the impact of Don’s work. Many of his paintings are wide, sweeping expanses that show off the splendor of the natural environment. His mastery of atmospheric perspective adds to the depth and clarity of each piece. Don also pays careful attention to the temperature of the colors in the scenes that he paints, which further enhances the mood, movement, atmosphere, and energy of his work.
Sondag concludes, “My goal is to transform a rich, impressionistic tapestry of color and brushwork into a photorealistic image. As viewers experience each piece from near to far, I want them to feel as though they have become part of the scene.”
Don Sondag, Morning Fences, New Smyrna Beach, oil on canvas, 30 x 48 inches
About the Artist:
Don Sondag graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, studied portraiture at the National Academy of Design and at the Art Student League in New York City.
Landscapes as well as commissioned illustration and portraiture drove his early career. Don has created illustrations for Harcourt School Publishers, and painted portraits of numerous prominent Central Florida figures, individuals and families, including Central Florida’s beloved Fred Rogers of the children’s television show: “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”.
Don’s art has been exhibited in many juried art festivals and plein-air competitions including Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Carmel Art Festival-Plein Air, and the Paradise Paint Out Islamorada Florida, among many others. His work has also been featured on the covers of publications for the Winter Park Land Trust and Winter Park Magazine.
Sondag has participated in group exhibitions at the Alice and Williams Jenkins Gallery, Crealde School of Art, McRae Art Studios, Orlando City Hall, and Gallery at Avalon Island, among others. In 2019, his work was featured in a solo exhibit titled “Venetian Canals of Winter Park: The Art of Don Sondag” at the Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park.
