​Born: Spokane, Washington

Came to California: 1963  

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EDUCATION

B.A. Fine Arts, Washington State University

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​SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2010        “Abstracts”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
                “Abstracts and Clouds”, Sandra Lee Gallery, San Francisco
                 “Honoring Artist Donna McGinnis”, Thomas Bartlett Interiors, Napa, CA
2009        “Earth and Sky”, Gallery One, Petaluma, CA
2008        “Abstract Paintings”, Palette Art Gallery, Healdsburg, CA
2007        “From Landscape to Abstraction”, Cohen Rese Gallery, San Francisco
                “Earth”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
                “Landscapes Remembered”, Gallery 391, Gualala, CA
2006        “Landscapes and Vistas”, Chelsea Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
                “Pacificus”, Chelsea Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2005        “New Works 2005”, Twelve Twelve Gallery, Burlingame, CA
2004        “New Landscapes”, Gail Harvey Gallery, Santa Monica
                “Landscapes”, Bechtel Corporation,  San Francisco
                “Landscapes”, Lurie Fine Art Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
2003        “New Vistas”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
                “Landscape Memories”, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2002        “Oil Paintings”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
                “Mood Landscapes”, Ramsden Morrison Gallery, San Diego
2001        “New Work”, I. Wolk Gallery, St. Helena, CA
                “Donna McGinnis”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2000        “Landscapes Remembered”, Museum West, Palo Alto, CA
                “Recent Paintings & Drawings”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
1999        “Domestic Realism”,Shorenstein Company, San Francisco
1998        “New Work”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
                “Drawings”, Pima College, Tucson, AR
1997        “Common/Uncommon”, I. Wolk Gallery, St. Helena, CA
1996        “Pencil Drawings”, Reed Whipple Museum, Las Vegas, NV
“Paintings in Oil”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA                                           
“Objects: Common and Extraordinary”, Greenwood Gallery, Seattle,
                “Drawings”, C.I.T.Y. 2000 Gallery, Reno, NV
1995        “Paintings and Drawings”, The Gallery, Burlingame,CA                                            
“Common Objects”, Maturano Museum, Ridgecrest, CA
                “Pencil, Paper and Water”, Thistle Dew Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1993        “Paintings and Drawings”, Patricia Stewart Gallery, Napa, CA
                “New Work”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
                “Large Watercolors”, Merced College Art Gallery, Merced, CA
1992        “Paintings and Drawings” Olga Dollar Gallery, San Francisco
                “The Common Object”, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
1991        “Paintings”, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, OR
                “Works on Paper”, St. Francis Foundation, San Francisco
                “Works on Paper”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
1990        “The Empowered Object”, Harleen and Allen Gallery, San Francisco
1989        “Drawings and Paintings”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
                ”Three Women Artists From California, The Eva Cohon Galleries, Chicago
1988        “Pastel Paintings”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
1987        “Drawings and Paintings”, Marin Theater Co., Mill Valley, CA
                “Works on Paper”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
1986        “Pastel Paintings”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
1985        “Oil Pastel Paintings”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
1984        “Drawings”, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA                         
                “Drawings”, Allport Associates Gallery, San Francisco
                “Drawings”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
1983        “Drawings”, Seipp Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
1982        “Drawings and Watercolors”, Allport Gallery, Larkspur, CA
                “Messages”, Dominican College, San Rafael, California
1981        “Large Drawings”, Allport Associates Gallery, Larkspur, CA
1980        “Drawings and Collage”, Anna Gardner Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA
1979        “Objects and Images”, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
                “Drawings”, Marin Civic Center Galleries, San Rafael, CA

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010        “New Possibilities”, Gallery One, Petaluma, CA
                “Mid-Spring Gala”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
             “Artist Event”, SFMOMA Artists Gallery
“Ira Wolk Memorial Scholarship Benefit”, St Helena, CA
2009        “Keeping Art Alive”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2008        “30th Anniversary Show Invitational”,  SFMOMA Gallery, San Francisco
                “Artfully Yours”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2007        “Triton Triumph”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2006        “Art for Life Auction & Exhibit”, Santa Rosa, CA
2005        “San Francisco Art Institute Auction” San Francisco
                “Small Treasures”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2004        “Landscape:  The Eternal Solitude”, Lurie Fine Art Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
“Group Show”, Galleria Store, Minneapolis, MN
                “Landscapes Real and Ideal”, Oakland Museum of California
                “Interpretation of a Landscape”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
                “Group Show”, CFA Gallery, San Anselmo, CA
2003        “Attitudes Toward Color”, Gualala Art Center, Gualala, CA
                “Small Treasurers”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2002        “Interpretations of a Landscape” William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
                “Nature Done Our Way”, Glass Garage Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA
                “Gallery Favorites”, William Merrill Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2001        “The 90’s Revisited, Grantees 1990-99”, Marin Arts Council, Larkspur, CA
                “A Celebration of Women Artists”, Museum West Fine Art, Palo Alto, CA
                “San Francisco Art Institute Auction 2001”, San Francisco
                “Landscape Revisited”, Museum West Fine Art, Palo Alto, CA
2000        “Sonoma Museum of Visual Art Auction”, Santa Rosa, CA
                “ Artrails Preview Exhibition”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
                “Conversations with the Landscape”, Marin Foundation, Larkspur,  CA
                “Surroundings”, Gallery One, Petaluma, CA
1999        “San Francisco Art Institute Art Auction”, San Francisco
                “Landscape Invitational”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
1998        “National Drawing Invitational”, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
                “Northern National Art Competition”, Rhinelander, WI, Juror: Betye Saar
1997        “Grant Recipients Exhibit”, Susan Cummins Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
                “California Small Works”, California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
                “Granted” Marin Community Foundation, Larkspur, CA
                “Works on Paper”, Berkeley Art Center National Annual, Berkeley,  CA
                “Contemporary Realists”, Switzer Gallery, Tiburon, CA
                “San Francisco Art Institute’s Annual Auction”,
1996        “Fiori di Maggio”, Collectors Gallery, Oakland Museum, Oakland
                “Drawings: Realism to Abstraction”, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA
                “A Big Bloomin’ Show”, The Gallery, Burlingame, CA
                “Group Show”, Museum West Gallery, San Francisco
1995        “Natural Inspirations”, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
                “Microcosms”, Greenwood Gallery, Seattle, Washington
                “KTEH Art Auction”, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
1994        “A Matter of Taste”, I. Wolk Gallery, St. Helena, CA
                “Still Life”, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA
                “Objects, However Humble”, California Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
                “Intimate Views”, Olga Dollar Gallery, San Francisco
                “Multi-Media Exhibit”, Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, CA
1993        “Miniatures”, Gallery Route One, Pt. Reyes Station, CA
                “Self-Portraits”, Edith Caldwell Gallery, San Francisco
                “Drawing First”, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco
                “Miniatures II”, Olga Dollar Gallery, San Francisco
1992        “Art in Embassies”, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
1991        “Still Life”, Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
                “Drawings and Prints”, The Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery
                “California. Small Works 1991”, California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
                “Naturescapes”, Alameda Superior Court, Oakland
1990        “Contemporary Realist Painting”, California College of Arts, Oakland
                “Group Show”, Jessel Gallery, Napa, CA
                “Artist’s Equity Exhibition”, SOMAR Gallery, San Francisco
                “Group Show”, Harleen and Allen Gallery, San Francisco
1989        “Drawing Exhibit”, College of Marin, Kentfield, CA
                “Selected Work”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
                “An Exhibition of Miniatures”, Harleen and Allen, San Francisco
                “100 Artists 100 Ways”, Artisans, Mill Valley, CA
1988        “Group Show”, Van Straaten Gallery, Chicago
1987        “Pastel Paintings”, Dubins Gallery, Los Angeles
                “Gallery Artists”, Van Straaten Gallery, Chicago
1986        “Small Works”, Susan Cummins Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
                “Airport Cafe”, San Francisco Airports Commission Gallery
1985        “Paintings”, The Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery
                “Marin Arts Council Invitational”, Larkspur, CA
                “Recent Acquisitions”, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
                “New Dimensions in Drawing”, Allport Gallery, San Francisco
1984        “It Figures”, College of Marin, Kentfield, CA
1983        “Recent Acquisitions”, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
                “Five”, Allport Associates Gallery, San Francisco
                “Small Prints and Drawings”, Allport Gallery, Larkspur, CA
                “Gallery Artists”, Quadrum Gallery, Boston
1982        “Subjective Realities”, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
                “Works on Paper”, Richmond Art Center, CA
                “Still Life ‘82”, Anna Gardner Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA
                “57th Crocker Art Museum Annual Exhibition”, Sacramento
                “San Francisco Arts Festival”, Moscone Center
                “Seventh Falkirk Annual”, San Rafael, CA
                “Fairfield Art Show”, Fairfield-Suisun Arts Council, CA
1981        “Marin County Exposition”, San Rafael, CA
                “56th Crocker Art Museum Annual Exhibition”, Sacramento
                “College of the Mainland National”, Texas City, TX
                “Triton Museum of Art Annual”, Santa Clara, CA
                “Drawings”, Allport Associates Gallery, Larkspur, CA
                “National Drawing Exhibition”, Minot State College, ND
                “Achenbach Acquisitions”, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
1980        “Marin County Exhibition”, San Rafael, CA
                “Drawings”, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Gallery
                “Gallery Show”, Allport Associates Gallery, Larkspur, CA
1979        “Works of Marin”, Allport Associates Gallery, Larkspur, CA   
                “20th Century Drawings”, Allport Gallery, Larkspur, CA
                “Fourth Falkirk Annual”, San Rafael, CA
                “Drawing Exhibition”, Guggenheim Gallery, Orange, CA
                “Hangable; All Media Show”, Market Plaza, San Francisco
                “l6th Annual Statewide Art Show”, Santa Rosa, CA
1978        “Contemporary Drawing”, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
1977        “Gallery Artists”, Rose/Bernardi Gallery, Sausalito, CA

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​AWARDS/COMMISSIONS

2009        Abu Dhabi Chalet, United Emirate States
2008        18 Large Oil Paintings, Pelican Hill, Newport Beach, CA
2007        Oil Paintings, Commission, Kaiser Hospital, Santa Clara, CA
2004        Cash Award, Salute to the Arts, Sonoma, CA
2002        Watercolor Paintings, Macy Stores, Chicago
2001        Oil Paintings, Four Seasons Aviara, Carlsbad, CA
                8’x10’ oil painting, Prego Restaurant, Howard Hughes Center, Los Angeles
2000        Watercolor Paintings, Prego Restaurant, Beverly Hills, CA
                Oil Paintings, Napa Valley Grille, Westwood, CA
1999        Watercolor Paintings, Pharmacia and Upjohn, New York
                Oil Paintings, The Hagendones, Couer d’ Alene Resort, ID
1998        Cash Award, Northern National Art Competition, Rhinelander, WI,
1997        Paintings, Four Seasons Aviara, Carlsbad, CA
                Cash Award, Berkeley National Exhibit, and Juror: Gary Garrels,
                First Place Cash Award, KTEH Triton Museum Exhibit, Santa Clara, CA
1996        Marin Arts Council’s Individual Artist Grant, San Rafael, CA
                Paintings, Conrad Punte Del Este, Uruguay
                Cash Award, KTEH Triton Museum Exhibit, Santa Clara, CA
1995        Drawings, Lyons Restaurants, Foster City, CA
1993        Drawings, One Market Restaurant, San Francisco
1992        Award, Gallery Route One, Pt. Reyes, CA
1991        Pastel Drawing, ITT Sheraton, New York
                Paintings, Grand Hyatt Waiea, Maui, HI
1990        Painting, Royal Lokilani, HI
1989        Drawing, Sherwood Hotel, Taiwan
1988        Drawing, Kahala Hilton, Hawaii
                Pastel Drawings, Saks Fifth Avenue Stores, New York
                Drawing, Hyatt Waikiki, HI
1987        Drawings, Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
1982        Best in Show Graphics Cash Award, Fairfield Art Show, CA
                SECA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Nomination
                The Grumbacher Art Award
                Best in Show Cash Award, Bay Arts ‘82
1981        Purchase Award, College of the Mainland National, Texas City, TX
                Best in Show Award, Artisans Competition, San Rafael, CA
                Cash Award, Marin County Exposition, San Rafael, CA
1979        Best in Show Award, Marin Society of Artists, Ross, CA
                Best Drawing, San Francisco Woman Artist Show, Jerrold Ballaine, Juror
1977        Cash Award, Falkirk Second Annual, San Rafael, CA

 

​TEACHING/RELATED EMPLOYMENT

2010         Lecture, Valley of the Moon Art Assoc., Sonoma, CA
1998        Lecture, San Rafael School District, San Rafael, CA
                 Reed Union School District, Tiburon, CA
1995-98 Dixie School District, San Rafael, CA
1997         Slide Lecture, Indian Valley Artists, Novato, CA
1996        Lecture, California College of Arts, Oakland
1995        Artist’s Lecture, Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest, CA
1993        Gallery Lecture, Merced College, Merced, Ca
198l          Lecture in Drawing, Sonoma State University, Cotati, CA
                 Lecture in Drawing, Indian Valley College, Novato, CA
1963-64 Color Consultant, Fiberboard Company, San Francisco                  
1962-63 Illustrator, Literary Magazine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
                 T.V. Slide Designer, KWSC-TV, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

 

​BIBLIOGRAPHY

Karen Chassie-WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, 58th Edition 2004
Jann Lawrence Pollard- CREATIVE COMPUTER TOOLS FOR ARTISTS, 200l, Pg. 126-27, 141-42
Townsend Wolfe- NATIONAL DRAWING INVITATIONAL, “Donna McGinnis”, May 1998
Catherine Maclay-SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, “Defining Who We Are”, November 22-28, 1996
Gregory Crosby-SCOPE MAGAZINE, “Arts”, August 1996
Sandra Barnes-WHO’S WHO OF AMERICAN WOMEN, “Donna McGinnis”, 1995, 1996
Howard Junker-ZYZZYVA, “Artist Speaking”, fall 1993
Donna McGinnis-THE ARTIST’S MAGAZINE, “Create Softness with Steel Wool”, August, 1993
Sherl Lichtig-MERCED SUN STAR, “Artist Makes the Common Uncommon”, March 12, 1993
Roger Hayden-GRANTS PASS DAILY COURIER, “Sizes, Textures, Mysteries Mark Museum Art February 7,1991
Les Kranz-THE CALIFORNIA ART REVIEW BOOK, “Donna McGinnis”, 1989
Ann Segal-VIACOM 36 TELEVISION”, Excerpts From Conversations With Artists”, July 30 & 31, 1989
Al Morch-SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, “Drawing Close to Reality”, May 21, 1984
Thomas Albright-SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, “Arts Festival Pizza & Quich”, June 25, 1982
Susan Boettger-SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, “A Broad Spectrum of Works of Paper”, July 14, 1982
Lorelei Heller McDevitt-DESIGNERS WEST MAGAZINE, “Subjective Realities”, July 1982
Robert Flynn Johnson-SUBJECTIVE REALITIES CATALOG, “Donna McGinnis”, June 1982
Al Morch-SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, “Seven Artists Who Are Drawing Attention”, June 7, 1982
Phyllis Bragdon-MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, “Artists Offer Messages”, February 10, 1982
Phyllis Bragdon-MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, “Artist Achieves a Breakthrough”, Sept. 29, 1981
Frank Cebuiski-ARTWEEK, “Myths and Memory”, May, 1981
Ada Garfinkel-MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, “Skillfully Translated Works”, May 7,1980
Beverly Terwoman-ARTWEEK, “Artists of Marin”, September 15, 1979
Ada Garfinkeo-MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, “Transformation Common Theme”, March 27, 1979
Francine Richardon-WHO’S WHO OF AMERICAN WOMEN, 23rd Edition 2002
Katie Watts-PETALUMA ARGUS-COURIER, “On the trail of art”, September 27, 2000
Guild.Com-BEAUTIFUL THINGS, “Donna McGinnis”, September 2000
Janet Holman Parmer-THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, “Self-taught artist shows downtown” August 16, 2000

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Donna McGinnis was born in Spokane Washington and grew up in an artistic family.  Her mother was an artist, her grandmother a musician and her father a photographer.  Drawing came naturally to her, as she had very vivid memories of admiring her father’s black and white photography.  These silvery prints inspired McGinnis.  Through his love affair with the still image, McGinnis learned composition, Chiaroscuro (light and dark tonality), form and line, in essence the basics of formal art theory.  McGinnis took early private art lessons and later went on to major in art in high school and then was awarded her Bachelors of Arts at Washington State University.  After graduation, McGinnis moved to California and settled in San Francisco.  With a degree in graphic design, McGinnis soon found employment as a color consultant for Fiberboard Co.  Here she selected interior and exterior color palettes for housing developments.   It was during her spare time that she pursued her own artistic aspirations of painting full time.  With dedication, McGinnis began selling more and more until soon, her dream of becoming a professional artist became a reality.  She currently lives and works in Northern California and maintains a studio in Petaluma.  

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SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Olga Dollar                                                                                            Lisa Dubins
Mary Frank                                                                                           Chris Fredrickson
Dr. Roger Friedenthal                                                                          Edgar Garbarini
Deborah Koons Garcia                                                                        Anna Gardner
Wally Goodman                                                                                   Bill and Inger Fair
Dr. and Mrs. George Hexter                                                                Robert Flynn Johnson
Sammy and Tita Kahn                                                                         George Lucas
Bradley and Jody Ogden                                                                    Barbara Weinstock

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SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS