Don Grzybowski's art exempliffes dedication to, and skill in, the media of pastel. Primarily self-taught, Don became a semi-professional artist in 1968, with the encouragement of art educator, William Pierce. Don now paints professionally in his home studio in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and while he concentrates mainly on pastel, he is not limited to that media.

An artist's artist, his unique combination of technical application and dramatic use of light and shadow, most notably in his award winning paintings of marbles, have won the praise of discriminate judges and patrons throughout the United States and abroad. The wide range of subject matter adds to the appeal of this versatile artist, and the number of commissions he receives validates the popularity of his work. Don is an "Artist Worth Watching", says Art-Talk, a newspaper published in Scottsdale, Arizona, for art collectors and galleries.

His work is in private, public, and corporate collections throughout the world (including the Johnson's Wax collection), his work is represented in many galleries in the Mid-west and Western United States, and continues to win hundreds of awards, including many "Best of Show" and purchase awards. He was published by American Master Foundation in 1988, has produced many one-man shows sponsored privately by art collectors, corporations, and museums, has held demonstrations and workshops in several states, and is a regular contributor to many fund raising auctions, including PBS TV and a 1990 fund raiser sponsored by Colorado's First Lady, Bea Romer, for the Association of Retarded Citizens (now Citizens of Community Living).

Don has exhibited in the 4th Annual Salon International du Pastel Exhibition in Compiegne, France; the Western Regional Art Show in the Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming; the Kansas Pastel Society International Shows in Wichita, Kansas; the Western Art Association Invitational in Caeser's Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada; the Oklahoma Wildlife Arts Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Rooftop Western Wildlife Show in the Historic Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado; the Oconomowoc Invitational Festival of Arts, Cardinal Stritch's Mile of Art in Milwaukee; the Watertown Festival of the Arts; and many others.

Don's work has hung in the Oshkosh Museum of Art, the Bergstrom Museum of Art, the West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, and the Ozaukee Art Center in Wisconsin, and the Pioneer Museum and the Foothills Fine Arts Center in Colorado. He has held many one-man shows sponsored privately by art collectors, corporations, and museums, and is a signature member of the Kansas Pastel Society.

Methods

Pastels

All pastels are rendered on 100% rag museum board, a material notoriously difficult to work on with pastels. This method results in archival permanence and presents a softer, finer look that further enhances the appeal of pastel.

Don skillfully blends the full palette of pastels to create a color mood that sets him apart from other pastelists. His style can vary from loose and sketchy, even impressionistic, to an appearance of very fine detail. Whichever style is used, he draws the viewer into an intimate relationship with the pastel, creating a feeling of involvement and nostalgia.

Serlgraphy

Don's serigraphs are one-of-one originals that are geometric, yet contemporary in design, theme, and color, using simple forms in transparent, translucent, and opaque inks. He displays his mastery of color in bold tints designed to excite the imagination.