Donna Angers

My work is politically based and emerges from a place of inspiration and social concerns. I must be inspired by the subject I am compelled to recreate upon canvas. It may be the stance of the person; the color of their skin; the shape of their body or what they are wearing. The best portraits are when the soul of that person emerges from behind his eyes. Even when I paint a tree or a rock, I become one with the object. Whatever it is, when I paint, I become excited, sometimes frustrated and finally satisfied as I see what I have created with the help of my ancestors, long deceased. I believe being an artist involves a social responsibility to incite change, and transform consciousness. It also to bring peace to a troubled soul. I believe if I had started oil painting at 13 instead of 63, I would have been a fashion designer. I love the lines that form the shape of the human body, and the texture of cloth and it's movement upon that body like a human tree fascinates me. When I was young, there were not many images of young, defiant, black women like the ones were described in the poetry of Maya Angelou such as "I'll Rise"...she writes, Does mu haughtiness offend you? .... .You may shoot me with your word, you may cut me with your eyes,, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise. Does my Sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I danced like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my things." I love my work to be powerful!

I was born in N. Little Rock, Ark in 1938. When I was six years old I moved to New Brunswick, N.J., home of Rutgers University, so college has always been in my blood, but I would not get my degree from Otis College of Art and Design in 2007 until I was 69 years old. I began oil painting when I was about 63 at the El Camino Jr. College. Today I still take classes there. I went started College when I was 19 and but after a few sessions my disease took control of my life. I moved to Los Angeles in 1961, married, lost babies at birth and most of my life was darkness until Jan 4, 1971 when I stopped drinking. I worked as a secretary, and a Medical transcriber in the day time and took every course I loved until even today. When I started oil painting at age 63, I finally matriculated. I applied to Otis College of Art and Design and graduated on the Dean's list in 2007. The great African American artist of LA took me under their wings and invited me join them in many of their exhibits. I have been extremely blessed to know these gifted life-time artist. I am the new kid on the block. I have been in the CA African Art Museum and with many other groups that are well know with great professional artist. I am grateful for their friendship and knowledge. I have been in the exhibit Day of the Dead in Los Angeles and many exhibits.