The outdoor paintings are characterized by quick calligraphic brush application over colorful washes and a quality of spontaneity. “I enjoy paintings that have the involvement of a novel, but when painting outside,” Fay prefers “the mood of a short story.”A native Californian, Fay graduated with a Fine Arts Certificate from the California College of Arts and Crafts, completed graduate work at the Art Center College of Design, and had a 35-year career as an art and information director before concentrating on fine art. An award-winning artist in both commercial and fine art, Fay teaches and exhibits extensively, with many one-man shows and murals to his credit. His works are in important corporate and private collections in this country and abroad.Fay is a member of the National Watercolor Society, California Art Club, and Buenaventura Art Association, and is past vice-president of both the Oxnard and Gold Coast Watercolor societies. The latter awarded him an honorary title of Master Mentor, related to his watercolor teaching efforts. Among Fay’s students are those that attend his annual - and acclaimed - weeklong seminars at Yosemite National Park and Montecito-Sequoia.Fay’s work has been exhibited in the Stary-Sheets Gallery in Laguna Beach, Carmel’s Fireside Gallery, Coriell Gallery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the James Waterbury Gallery in Camarillo, where he is represented. His murals and commercial art are represented by Professional Art Services in Mission Viejo; he has recently completed mural commissions for Baxter Medical and Polar Air Cargo.“Don always presents a very interesting program,” said Virginia Gunderson, the former longtime SPSA president, who noted visitors and guests are always welcome to attend society demonstration meetings.
Fay: SPSA demonstration artist dabbles in transparent watercolor
November 07, 2008
Santa Paula News
An artist who has been dabbling in transparent watercolors, Don Fay of Santa Barbara, will be the featured demonstration artist at the Sunday, November 9 meeting of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesAn artist who has been dabbling in transparent watercolors, Don Fay of Santa Barbara, will be the featured demonstration artist at the Sunday, November 9 meeting of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts. Non-members are also invited to the 2 p.m. meeting, to be held at the SPSA Depot Gallery - located at the corner of 10th and Santa Barbara streets - and enjoy light refreshments.SPSA President will also announce the society will be sharing space at a special East Main Street holiday shop for the season while the historic Depot is undergoing renovation.While working in many medias, including audiovisual publications and exhibit production, Fay’s current emphasis is on transparent watercolor. He enjoys two styles.One manner is favored by the English and Europeans where the darks are painted first. These are studio paintings and are usually more considered in drawing and detailed textures than his plein air paintings.
