Meet Donna Caselden

We recently connected with Donna Caselden and have shared our conversation below.

Donna, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

There’s a special person in my life, I consider her to be my mentor. She’s the reason why I became a professional painter. As I struggled with self doubt about my artistic ability she told me that I had to believe in myself. I’ve never forgotten that. Even now, when I’m struggling with a painting, not sure if it’s right or not, I think of her words. And more often than not, she was right, because somebody ultimately falls in love with the piece, and purchases it!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an award winning experimental artist known for diverse techniques and mediums, most notably contemporary paintings ranging from impressionistic to abstract. My work has been positively reviewed by various publications including USA Today and New England Home, and has been displayed in museums, galleries, universities and private collections throughout the country, including the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts. I also take part in the Corporate Art Program through the DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum. I am represented at Gallery on Jarves and One Dock Square, both in Massachusetts, and at The Christopher Hill Gallery and Casa Design in Napa Valley, California. I also have a studio at SoWa in the design district of Boston.

As an experimental contemporary artist, my artwork is constantly changing. I trust my intuition, and that allows my artwork to evolve organically. Whether I’m working abstractly or on something that’s somewhat representational, I find myself falling into the painting, and emerging upon its completion. I love that, and hope that this is also how it resonates with the viewer.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Learn as much as you can, from as many people as possible. Everyone has their own style of teaching, and can offer helpful advice, whether it be one small piece of information or a bucketful.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

My husband was instrumental in helping me build my career. He was there helping me build my studio in my home, and setting up my Boston studio. He helped transport paintings that were too cumbersome, and hung my first show for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: HTTPS://www.donnacaselden.com
• Instagram: @dcaselden