Barbara Donahue was born in a small country community near VanWert, Ohio.  One of her earliest memories is of her father bringing her pony into the house to eat her unfinished oatmeal off the kitchen table.  "All of us kids laughed till we cried as Chessie's hooves clattered on the wood floor," Barbara recalls.

  She was born with an interest in art and always had a notepad and pencil nearby.  Being the eldest child with no siblings close in age, Barbara spent many hours copying all the animals from her father's Field & Stream magazines.  One of her first jobs in high school was to paint Christmas scenes on local store fronts.

  Barbara continued her art education through high school in both Van Wert, Ohio and Scottsdale, Arizona.  She then enrolled at ASU majoring in fine art.  A few of her paintings during this time were exhibited at local hotels and cafe's. 

  Later Barbara was able to graduate with a degree in Fine Art while working & supporting her family.  She met and married Bob Donahue.  She continued her art education at Scottsdale Artist's School while raising their large family and assisting in the family business.

  Her paintings reflect Barbara's love of nature and the Southwest.  "There is beauty surrounding us from the mountains to the deserts."  The vivid colors in her landscapes mimic the surroundings of her home near Sedona, Arizona. "I love to observe the way light dances across nature and I try to reflect that in my work."  Painting supplies always accompany her and you may see Barbara along side the road capturing a scene with a load of groceries in the trunk coming home from the store.

  Barbara has taken workshops from John & Terri Moyers, Joe Lorusso, Joni Falk, John Burton, Howard Carr, Leslie DeMille and Gregory Hull.

  Barbara is a founding member of Arizona Plein air Painters and currently of member of Tucson Plein Aire Painters and Oil Painters of America.  You may contact Barbara at Donahueart@cableone.net for a list of representation.