Hatfield, Don

Don Hatfield is one of the most innovative impressionists of our time. His style of painting softly blends figures of realism with the gentle touch of classic impressionism. Don strives to create paintings that bond themselves to the viewer. In the vein of romantic impressionism.

He shows the viewer that beauty can arise from one stirring moment; a family reunion? a young boy searching for shells on the beach or the warmth of the sun touching a mother and her child. His paintings carry light and form to a new and extremely personal degree.

Hatfield says he is preoccupied with the effect of light on form. The beach, with all the purity of its light on sand, water and figures, is a frequent setting for his stories; and his paintings are stories. "On the beach," Hatfield says, "the viewer is given enough space to have his own reaction."

Don's work is traditional in both concept and technique, portraying strong, quiet emotions through subtle, rich textures and warm inviting hues. Don did not always dream of being an artist. He studied philosophy, theology, and literature and it was not until he met the well-known portraitist, Charles Cross, that he really began to explore his talents as a painter. Cross was impressed with Don's "innate color sense" that was displayed in the soft pastel colors of his oil paintings. Cross encouraged Don to pursue his talents by becoming his protégé.

Two years of study with Cross was not enough to convince Don to focus all of his energy on the world of art; he abandoned his short career in art to pursue a career in ministry. However, his desire to become an artist was too strong to ignore. In 1979, on the advice of the premier portrait painter Ray Kinstler, Hatfield moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to pursue painting once again.

Hatfield eventually moved back to Los Angeles to fulfill his creative potential under the master tutelage of Sergei Bongart, who had a tremendous influence on him. "He was a wonderful presence," Don says' "a great teacher." It was during this time with Bongart that Don diligently worked and perfected his style that we recognize today.

In his development as an artist, Don had the added influence of modern cinematic interpretation. Affected by the new mastery of color on film, in advertising and television, he felt a need for a more intoxicating light, another dimension to the beach attraction. Seeking a truth in the paint itself. He documented that fleeting essence of the tender, the humorous, the enchantment of a special moment in time. This unique impressionistic style has brought him great acclaim in the art world, as well as a solid artistic identity of his own.

Don's paintings hang in many important private and corporate collections throughout the world.