Donnie Nahlen

Donnie P. Nahlen, Artist.:  I was born in Houston, Texas, and raised throughout the south-western states until I reached my early twenties and moved to Montana in 1977.  I started drawing at the age of 10.  By the time I was 16, my art expressed the realism of street life and and ghetto art in the cities with re-known realism that I maintain in every picture I produce.  From 1977-1993 I was a competitive artist in art shows throughout Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming.  I presented many of my own shows as well as two and three man shows.  Since 1977 I have been commissioned as a free lance artist.  I have painted several large murals in casinos, dining establishments and office buildings.  I illustrated artwork for the Montana Prospector Magazine during 1980-1982.  I did an album cover for the country-western band “The Drifters”. I have donated artwork for the Montana Special Olympics as well as for Amateur Boxing Clubs and fundraiser organizations to aid cancer patients.  I have taught art for the University of Montana’s Extension Program.  In 1993, I was a free lance artist for Kochman Consulting Company.  Through this company I won the Montana Addy Award noting me as Montana’s # 1 Illustrator with the Advertising Agencies for 4 colours or less. – In 1993-1995, I was chosen as exclusive free lance illustrator for two separate advertising agencies:  Icon Graphics and Liberty Communication. – Since 1993 I have been doing artwork (pen and ink etchings for Montana Marble, Inc.  My artwork is held in many private collections throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  I currently have 4 limited edition prints on the market am in the process of composing 6 additional pieces which I hope to have on the Market (with prints) within the year.  I am extremely advanced on a professional level with pencil/graphite work, pen and ink etchings, and water colours and pastels.  I prefer water colours to oils only because they are far more of a challenging medium to work with than oils.  Sincerely,  Donnie P. Nahlen, Artist