Ron Donoughe

Painting from life is something I try to do everyday. It has become a bit of a ritual. Some days I have no idea what will happen. This open-ended approach doesn't always work, but it does allow me the opportunity to explore ideas without preconceived notions.

I like to paint oil sketches on small wooden panels. These studies are in some ways "experiments". Much like the scientist in the lab, I'm finding out what works and what doesn't. Mostly, I just enjoy painting so it isn't important that all paintings be saved. Some are scraped off, some find homes and others that I'm still learning from are saved. A few of these studies may be enlarged in the studio. It is a process of learning from my own work.
Capturing light and atmosphere is the most important consideration. In fact I consider light to be my subject. That allows me to work on landscapes, cityscapes, steel mills and even interiors. Each time I paint I'm trying to capture a specific time, place and experience.