An Artist’s Passion for Denali
Donna’s obvious natural talent, coupled with her extreme passion for detail, led to her Master’s Degree in Medical Art from the University of Illinois in 1980. This afforded her the opportunity to work for the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Minnesota as an illustrator. But not long after, it was her love for the Alaskan wilderness that truly directed Donna’s artistic career.
Lured by her experience working with the National Park Service as a backcountry ranger and naturalist, Donna left city life behind and chose to make her home in Denali. With access to hundreds of miles of Alaskan wilderness, available from just outside her front door, it is where she raised her family and founded Tonglen Lake Lodge. Since then, she has produced over 80 limited-edition prints fine art prints in oil, watercolor and pencil – most of which are sold out.
For Donna, her time spent in the wilderness will never be enough. Stirred by the sheer wonder of its miracles, beauty, sounds and smells, she is able, through the meticulous details of her images to feel a mysterious connection to it that brings her inner balance and peace.
Through her hours in nature, she is able to begin her process with an image in her head that is later filled in by details supplied by photographic references, either her own, or the works of Tom Walker and Martin Grosnick. She is especially fixated on the power of the eyes to bring intimacy to a portrait, which is why the LION image, inspired by a Tom Walker trip to Africa, has become one of her favorites.
Click on the below art images to see the full image.
Polar Breeze ed/500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Oil original painting
The windswept, Arctic home of the Polar Bear
$105.00
Last Light Ed/500. Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Oil original painting
A Denali Wolf searches with the last light of the day
$60.00
Seward Sonata Ed.500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Oil original painting
Humpback joyful choreography
$60.00
Arctic Hare Ed/950 Limited Edition Print
Watercolor original painting
A winter hare in camouflage
$25.00
Raven Mad ed/500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Watercolor original painting
The Mysterious Raven
$30.00
California ed/500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Watercolor Original painting
A commissioned image in honor of this beautiful and diverse state
$65.00
Lynx ed/600 Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Pencil original and hand colored print
One of Denali’s more elusive residents
$50.00
($225.00 for six print Wildlife Portrait portfolio)
Martin ed/600 Fine Art limited edition print
Watercolor original
Racing Alaskan Husky from the Magician litter
$40.00
($125.00 for four print Sled Dog Portrait portfolio)
Sapphire ed/600 Fine Art limited edition print
Watercolor original
Racing Alaskan Husky from the Gems litter
$40.00
($125.00 for four print Sled Dog Portrait portfolio)
Brezhnev ed/600 Fine Art limited edition print
Watercolor original
Racing Alaskan Husky from the World Leaders litter
$40.00
($125.00 for four print Sled Dog Portrait portfolio)
Watchful Eye ed/750 Fine Art limited Edition Print
Oil original
A sow grizzly watches over her carefree cubs
$90.00
On the Trail to Shakloolik ed/500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Watercolor original
A musher’s nightmare
$75.00
Mt McKinley ed/1000 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Watercolor original
A view of Denali from Wonder Lake
Sea Lion ed/500 Fina Art Limited Edition Print
Pencil original
Napping on the coast of Alaska
Sea Otter ed/500 Fine Art Limited Edition Print
Pencil Original
An afternoon repast for our favorite sea mammal entertainer
Fox ed/600 Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Pencil original and hand colored print
A cunning and adaptable canine
$50.00
($225.00 for six print Wildlife Portrait portfolio)
Lion ed/600 Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Pencil original and hand colored print
Power and majesty
$50.00
($225.00 for six print Wildlife Portrait portfolio)
Grizzly ed/600 Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Pencil original and hand colored print
An endearing look from Denali’s favorite
$50.00
($225.00 for six print Wildlife Portrait portfolio)
Cheetah ed/600 Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Pencil original and hand colored print
The World’s Fastest Land Mammal steals a look
$50.00
($225.00 for six print Wildlife Portrait portfolio)
Please email your order(s) to lodge@tonglenlake.com with the subject line “Art Order”.
