Robert Joseph Donaghey

 Artistic Biography

My fondest wish is to live my life on a rich spiritual path, and to express what I learn in my work along the way

Rob with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 1968

I often find myself trying to express my love and reverence of wildlife and the divine design of Nature through my art work, it’s very difficult to put these concepts into words because they are inherently ineffable and intrinsically intuitive, so I try to express them in carefully thought out symbolic images. In a painting I can capture an entire knowing or belief that would take an endless conversation to convey

Working 2008

I always strive to get a little of everything I know into an image.

  With fine art work I always try to use natural colors that fit the best decorator color schemes (as a decorator should ), even in photorealism, I will consider the emotional impact of the colors (as the colorists did), and the flow and movement of the elements (as the modernists have), and will add elements that flow from my subconscious (as the surrealists will ) , I put in the most enlightening spiritual things that I learn (as a visionary artist could ), and of course I love the glow and play of light ( as the lumanists would )

Sequoia 2007

I would love to find a way to inspire a true love of nature and wild life in the hearts of our young people, if I could, the world would become a garden of Eden inhabited by happy gardeners and inspired naturalists.

Hiking with my beloved Roberta, Lake Tahoe 2006

I enjoy illustrating things that are experienced or felt but which can't be seen with the eyes, such as love, music or spirituality

Anything that I find deeply inspiring or challenging or teaching, ends up being expressed visually and finds its way into my work, it's the equivalent of Journaling for me 

Getting ready to play with the Spinner Dolphins - Kelakekua Bay Hawaii 2005

"  Great Art always tells a great story  "

Robert grew up in Lake Tahoe California and has since lived in much of California and Hawaii. He is a very experienced outdoor adventurer and is an ardent environmental activist.

In person Robert is a soft spoken and sensitive gentleman with a very creative sense of humor.