(b. 1953, Boston, MA. Lives and works in Bellingham, WA.)

Francis Donovan is a self-taught artist who has been active for his entire life. His career spans more than forty years and his works are inspired by his close observation of his surroundings. As an avid world traveler, Donovan displays on canvas the essence of disparate cultures. In his own words, Donovan “infuses the canvas with the colors of Brazil, the crispness of Iceland, the romance of France and the classics of Italy, Greece and the Orient.

Donovan seeks to express the extraordinary in the ordinary. His painting style varies and can be classified as primitive, expressionist, or even folk. He is an artist who observes and absorbs the local culture and transports its intrinsic style and symbolism onto canvas. Donovan strives to both capture the eye and touch the soul.

The viewer can find common motifs in Donovan’s works: visual structures, animals, and patterns are taken from folk objects and antiques while the figures often represent his peers: artists, intellectuals, friends. Traditional lace work has been of interest to him in recent years and it appears both as stencils or as applique on the canvas. Taken together, Donovan’s works are representative of his deep connection with his community and surroundings.

During his career, Donovan has experimented with a variety of media and techniques. He works in sculpture, creating wood sculptures that are reminiscent of the art by the native tribes of the world. His technical skills have no limits and he often experiments with pushing the boundaries of the technical, stylistic, and aesthetic expectations.

Francis Donovan has exhibited all over the world. His works are part of many public and private collections.

Above: Francis Xavier Donovan, Tertulia, 2007, Oil on canvas, 54 x 80 in.