Donald A. Drown – friend, father, artist, master of light, lover of nature, child of God. Born, November 21, 1946. Returned to his Father, October 17, 2010. God bless you, my friend. We’ll cherish your memory forever. Keep the rubber side down.
Don A. Drown viewed the world through the lens of an artist who devoted his life to capturing the beauty, the drama, and the emotions of life through an array of mediums.
For thirty-four years, Drown brought news and entertainment to life as Director of Photography and camera operator on countless film and television projects for a virtual alphabet soup of networks including, ABC, NBC,CBS, FOX, CNN, MSNBC and PBS. Drown traveled the world for his work with National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time Life Films, the 1978 Winter Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics. His work as a still camera photographer, videographer, underwater camera operator, steadi-cam operator and film director brought an extraordinary dimension to his oil on canvas work that is as distinct and diverse as the man himself.
A native of Ohio, Drown developed a love of photography and adventure at an early age, at 8 he bought his first camera, processing and printing his own film. At 13 he started taking flying lessons, and got his first motorcycle at age 14. When he turned 16 he soloed and received his student pilots license. He went on to receive his airline transport pilots license. While exploring the skies he also developed a love of the sea and became a certified scuba diver. Through all of his adventures, Don always kept a camera at the ready. His talent for embracing the splendor of the natural world around him is apparent in his breathtaking wildlife photography.
In 2002, a health crisis and the recovery period that followed, provided the impetus for Drown to adapt his artistic interpretation to a new, less physical medium. He began to find artistic expression in oil painting. “In the past I had dabbled with oil and enjoyed it immensely, but never had the time to explore it. So, to give me something to do and as therapy, I started to paint, it became a passion!. I bought books on DeKooning, Klee, Berger, Picasso, Matisse and other artists of that type. I read, studied and looked at their works and style.”
Don found that his instincts for photographic composition served him well in his painting and without the physical barrier of a camera between him and the subject, he was able to discover an even deeper intimacy with his work. This awakened a renewed enthusiasm for his visual artistry. “I need color, saturation, contrast, angles and I love it when someone is staring at a piece of my art and a little smile comes across their face. I love painting, I love my works, and it’s my whole life!”
Don found inspiration for his art riding his motorcycle through the mountains near his home in North East Georgia where he built a private gallery. “I try to keep my work diverse. I paint what I like and what I feel. I try to keep 2 or 3 canvases or moods working at all times. When the mood strikes, I paint, when it doesn´t I ride.”
Drown´s eclectic works reflect a lifetime of images seen through the lens of a Master Photographer and Adventurer.