Original Artwork by Donna Catotti

 

Donna Catotti (b. 1950) is a versatile artist currently working in oil, pastel, serigraphy, and sculpture.  Surrounded by mountains and oceans, wildlife and gardens in beautiful Haines, Alaska, Catotti and Goldberg Art Studio is shared with artist/husband, Rob.  You are invited to review here Donna’s latest paintings for upcoming shows, as well as older original paintings that are still available for sale.  Paintings can be shipped on approval with deposit.  For serigraphs or giclees by Donna or Rob click the appropriate heading above and you will connect with www.artstudioalaska.com.   Also, you can visit  www.robgoldberghandmadeguitars.com.

What’s New?

*ENTERING JURIED COMPETITIONS WITH SUCCESS, I have shown in New York at the National Arts Club or Salmagundi yearly for the past twelve.  “On the Edge of Time” showed in NYC in Dec. 2023 and will be in the 12th Annual Booth Museum Artists Guild this summer.  One of my newest paintings “Dad’s Amaryllis” is currently showing with CLWAC at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, CT.  “Sunset Colors at Crescent Beach” is currently a the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation in Watkinsville, GA.

I have just finished three new serigraphs “Alaska Fireweed V”, “Alaska Forget-Me-Nots”, and “White Pass, Skagway, Alaska”.  They will be posted to www.artstudioalaska.com soon and will be out in the galleries this summer. 

Very exciting for me is that my sculpture “Hot Summer Day” is finally at the Laran Bronze foundry in Philly where three bronzes are currently being cast.  I expect it to be ready to show by mid-summer. 

And we are hosting our 7th Studio Incamminati workshop in Haines, Alaska this June 3-7, 2024, with Kerry Dunn as instructor.  There are still a few spots. 

PLEASE SEE FULL LISTING OF SHOWS ON THE RESUME PAGE.

THE 7th STUDIO INCAMMINATI “IN YOUR TOWN” PAINTING WORKSHOP in HAINES, ALASKA has been scheduled for June 3-7, 2024!

The “Portrait Painting Workshop” will be taught by Kerry Dunn from Philadelphia.  For more information see poster below. For packing list for Alaska scroll to the bottom of the page.  Registration is at www.studioincamminati.org.

*2024 STUDIO INCAMMINATI PAINTING WORKSHOP IN HAINES, ALASKA, JUNE 3-7

Catotti and Goldberg Art Studio will be hosting Kerry Dunn as instructor for a Studio Incamminati oil portrait painting workshop.  The workshop will take place in Haines June 3-7, 2024.  Studio Incamminati, founded by Nelson and Leona Shanks, is a non-profit four-year school for contemporary realism in Philadelphia.  Check it out and register online at www.studioincamminati.org or call (215) 592-7910.  Cost is $639.  Our instructor will also do a Wednesday evening portrait painting demonstration, open to the public, at the Haines ANB Hall from 6-9pm.

The class will be held at the Haines ANB/ANS Hall in the center of town within walking distance to hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, raptor center, the beach, the pool, the boat harbor, local brewery and distillery.  Easels will be provided if needed, though you might want to bring your own plein air easel to paint on the weekends or evenings.  It stays light until 11 pm in June.  Studio Incamminati will provide a list of painting supplies on their website.  Bring all listed supplies with you, or mail USPS ahead c/o Catotti and Goldberg Art Studio, Box 1154, Haines, Alaska 99827.  If you use UPS, the address is 55 Haines Highway, Haines, AK 99827. Odorless mineral spirits will be available for purchase for those flying in.  (Mark your oil supplies in checked baggage “vegetable oil only/no solvents” for TSA inspection at airports.)  Arrangements can be made with your hosts to ship wet paintings after they dry.  Please travel with the box you’d like them shipped in, if possible.

One of the prettiest places on the planet, Haines is located in a temperate rainforest on the ocean at the upper end of the Inside Passage.  Come before, stay after.  There is so much scenery to paint, things to see, do, and explore here.  A vacation planner, with a complete list of accommodations and services, is available by calling the Haines Visitor Center at 1(907) 766-6418, or online at www.visithaines.com .  Your local hosts, Donna Catotti and Rob Goldberg, are happy to answer questions and help you plan your trip.  Call us at (907) 766-2707 or e-mail: catotti.alaska@yahoo.com.  If you are uncertain about Southeast Alaska weather, please keep reading below for a list of personal items you might wish to bring.  Weather permitting or not, we will plan to host a barbeque and campfire at our studio/home and gardens on the Sunday evening before the workshop.  If you wish to travel the short distance to the tundra on Chilkat Pass in Canada you will need to bring your passport.

Access to Haines is possible by road through Canada (Whitehorse is the nearest Canadian airport), by an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry from Juneau (a 4 ½ hour trip which usually requires an overnight due to early morning departures) 1 (800) 642-0066, an Alaska Fjordlines whale watching tour which departs most days from Juneau at 4:30pm (907) 766-3395 (cheaper than the small plane or a hotel), or a 30 minute small plane ride (Alaska Seaplanes) from Juneau International Airport (907) 766-3800.  Alaska Air and Delta fly to Juneau.  Rental cars are available in Haines, though you probably won’t need one.

Hope to see you in June!

Donna Catotti

PACKING TIPS FOR PAINTING WORKSHOP IN HAINES, ALASKA

Haines is located on the ocean in a temperate rainforest.  Summer weather in Southeast Alaska can be quite variable, with Haines being much drier at 50-60” per year, than most other communities in the region.  Some summers it doesn’t rain for three months.  If you come to Alaska for one week, you might get 50 degrees and rainy all week or you might get 75-80 and sunny all week.  If you stay two weeks, you will probably get some of both.  June usually has the best weather and it stays light until 11pm, so there is lots of time to do things after the workshop each day.  The birds start chirping again around 2 or 3.  It is best to pack with layers to accommodate all conditions.  Some things you might consider are:

Are you planning to plein air paint in the evening?  (There are some locally made all-natural bug products available that work quite well.)

Will you have a car or will you walk around town?  Everything you need is close enough to walk.  I usually travel with an umbrella, and often take my exercise at home with one, however most locals don’t use them as it is often too windy and everyone has good rain gear.

Do you plan to hike, swim (we have a public pool), play golf, rent a bicycle, take a float trip, go kayaking or fishing?  If you are an avid outdoors person, you probably know what to wear for your favorite activities in inclement weather.  If you are adventurous enough to try new outdoor activities, please feel free to call or email for advice.

Many a young Alaskan bride has worn her Extra-tuff boots under her wedding dress.  In other words, you needn’t ever dress fancy.  Anything goes, just about anywhere.  If you like to dress up for dinner, you are welcome to (there are a few good restaurants in summer).

THE LIST:

  • Good walking shoes, or ones you like to stand in all day while painting
  • Hiking boots or rubber boots (only if you are planning to do activities that require these).  If you take a raft trip through the Eagle Preserve, the outfitter will provide raingear and boots
  • Visor and sunglasses
  • Warm ski cap, for inclement weather, light gloves optional for outdoor painting
  • Raincoat that can double as a warm coat over a sweater or vest
  • Fleece vest (optional)
  • Rain pants, optional if you are intending to do some serious outdoor activities
  • 2 T-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts, 2 pullovers or sweaters (laundromats are available)
  • 2 pants and one shorts, in case we are lucky with the weather
  • Undergarments and warm socks
  • Swimwear if you like to exercise at the pool
  • Whatever you are comfortable wearing while you paint
  • Toiletries, medicines, etc.
  • Camera
  • Binoculars if you enjoy them
  • French easel for plein air work, if you intend to do that, or for the workshop if you are fussy about your easel
  • Painting supplies as listed by Studio Incamminati for the workshop
  • Passport or passport card if you want to go up on the tundra in Canada (40 miles away)

Most everything except art supplies is available in Haines should you forget something.  Art supplies are currently not available in town.

Please call Donna Catotti (907) 766-2707 or email catotti.alaska@yahoo.com with any further questions.  See you in the summer!