DON BELL BIOGRAPHY

Don Bell Artist in his studio with one of his Elephant studies.

Approach to Painting & Creating.
This element of my work is determined mainly by the subject matter, surroundings and my mood at the time. I usually create compositions that are simple and focused on critical elements of the subject, with as little surrounding visual interference as possible, except when it enhances the subject’s context or assists to lead the eye to the main item.
As a designer and artist, I am fascinated with almost all manner of subject matter and am constantly experimenting and learning, however my first love, wildlife is constantly embedded in my soul with aviation art a close second.
I have an insatiable inner drive to produce art and designs which are of the highest quality and I suffer from the perfectionist’s dilemma of not knowing when to end a work.

My mission.
My mission is to produce excellence at all costs. I receive enormous satisfaction from mentoring others and donating my time and works to worthy causes which benefit humanity and the environment.

Art Philosophy.
My philosophy is to enjoy every facet of creation and my own gift of creativity, unconditional love for those close to me and to leave a legacy that inspires, brings joy and is a delight to the end owner.

History.
Don was born in 1948 in Queenstown, an inland frontier town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. At the age of six years moved to the coastal city of Port Elizabeth in the same province, where he has lived ever since.
He started drawing and painting at a very young age and took private tuition in oil painting with the renowned fine artist and lecturer, Andre’ Vancoillie. He also took water colour lessons with Paul Lavender.
On matriculating in Art at the Port Elizabeth College of Art in 1968, Don progressed into architecture and graphic design with a special talent for architectural perspective and commercial illustrations for corporate and government clients.
Do has owned his own architectural, graphic design and marketing consulting company since 1978, but it was during his first tented wildlife safari in 1989 into wilderness areas of Botswana’s Okavango Swamps, Savuti Marshlands and Chobe River that inspired Don into painting for himself.
He quickly accomplished a good reputation for authentic, realistic wildlife fine art in oils and was soon being commissioned to do works for corporate companies and individual collectors.

Don’s work was used in corporate annual reports, calendars, product brochures and technical manuals. He has, over the years, completed hundreds of architectural artist impressions, commercial illustrations and artworks in many media forms such as mixed media, oil, pen and wash, felt tip pens, airbrush, water colours and pencil.

Don is currently a semi-retired business executive and is concentrating on all forms of art and painting. He has a studio at home and sells his works to buyers all around the world.
He specializes in architectural, wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, aviation and heritage art.

Social Responsibility Contributions.

Don contributes his expertise in advertising, time, paintings and artwork to numerous worthy community and environmental programmes to assist with fund raising and promotions.

A few are:
• Cape Leopard Trust Research Program – Cape Mountain Leopard painting and custom designed and manufactured Yellowwood frame.
• CANSA Eastern Cape – Painting of Nelson Mandela and custom designed frame for fund raising towards cancer awareness.
• Audi Terra Nova Award – Painting of Cheetah for fund raising and awareness.
• Toyota 4x4 Club – Painting of the famous Golden Gate National Park Mountain Buttress for fund raising auction.
• Fidelity Bank – Paintings of Elephant and Buck for executive golf day prizes and corporate office.
• St.John’s Church – Painting of the crucifiction and drawing of the church building for fund raising for missions.
• USA Carcinoid Cancer Foundation - The Zebra Ball - Stars for the Stripes – Donation of Leopard painting for auction ball.

Qualifications.

Matriculated in Art – Port Elizabeth College 1968.
Senior Professional Architectural Technologist - SA Council for the Architectural Profession.
Director of a consulting company doing marketing, advertising, communications, project management and architecture

Hobbies & Interests.

Drawing, illustrating, fine art wildlife & contemporary painting.
Photography.
Wood work.
Gardening.
Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Friends of the Port Elizabeth SAAF Museum:
Don belongs to the Friends in Port Elizabeth which is a voluntary organization that assists the SAAF Museum.

The SAAF Harvard trainer over Port Elizabeth.

Don Bell Art Gallery:
Don's art gallery is located in the SAAF Museum in Southdene Port Elizabeth. He has a wide variety of paintings and drawings on display and a portion of the proceeds are donated to the museum.

Addresses
Residential address 9 Belvedere Place, Lorraine, Port Elizabeth, 6070, South Africa.
Postal address PO Box 202, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa.

Contact Details
Telephone home +27 – (0)41 – 3673999
E mail don@gate-7.co.za

These are a sample of photos Don Bell has taken on his safaris into Southern African game reserves.

Don can produce works either from an open-brief commission, or a specific brief, or from client photos or sketches.

A photo of the sunset taken from my home in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port Elizabeth coastline taken by me from a helicopter.