Don Longo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Don, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
In my retirement, I fill my days working in my studio in our backyard for hours at a time, creating artwork. I love painting and creating new compositions from abstraction to realism. Some days I just let my creative juices flow onto the canvas and other days I delicately place paint here and there to create a story book image of my hometown landscapes from back in New England.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Early Inspiration
I was raised in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, a region renowned for its natural beauty. The rolling hills, serene valleys, and sparkling lakes and rivers served as a constant source of inspiration and sparked my lifelong passion for painting. Living near Stockbridge, I frequently visited the Norman Rockwell Museum and his former home. Whenever possible, I would ride my bike there to admire his work and, on occasion, catch a glimpse of him in his studio.
Academic Foundation
During my college years, I pursued a major in Physical Education while minoring in Art. This combination allowed me to take drawing and painting courses alongside dedicated art students, further developing my technical skills and artistic perspective.
Professional Career
Following graduation, I relocated to Texas to earn a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and obtain a teaching certificate in Art—an ideal blend of my academic and creative interests. Over the course of 37 years in public education, I taught both Physical Education and Art, enriching the lives of countless students through movement and creativity.
Upon retirement, my spouse and I built a studio in our backyard, enabling me to continue exploring my artistic passions. I began exhibiting my work in local galleries and art businesses, where I discovered that many people were drawn to my style and subject matter. This positive reception motivated me to keep painting in ways that reflect both my personality and artistic sensibilities.
Current Endeavors
Today, I sell my artwork through my personal website and participate in occasional pop-up art shows. One of my most supportive venues is the Daniel Padilla Gallery in Dallas, where I exhibit two to three times per year alongside other local artists. These events offer a vibrant platform for showcasing diverse artistic expressions to the public.
I continue to paint daily, as time permits. My studio serves as a sanctuary—a place where I can escape the noise of the world and immerse myself in the expressive power of color, texture, abstraction, realism, and design.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Early Artistic Influences
From a young age, I was immersed in a creative household. My parents regularly crafted handmade gifts for friends and family, instilling in me an appreciation for artistic expression. My mother was an avid knitter, producing everything from sweaters, gloves, and hats to large afghans that adorned our home. My father, in his spare time, worked with wood—building furniture, framing artwork, and crafting small keepsakes for the children. He also frequently painted rooms in our house and in the homes of neighbors. I deeply admired their creativity and dedication to making things by hand.
My father worked full-time at a local paper mill and often brought home large pads of paper for me to draw and paint on. These materials kept me engaged daily, and I spent countless hours in the upstairs loft of our backyard barn, freely exploring my imagination through drawing and painting.
A pivotal moment in my artistic journey occurred when I was eight years old. After the passing of my last surviving grandmother, a burial company visited our home to present a design for her tombstone. My parents were dissatisfied with the proposed artwork, and I offered to create a design myself. Inspired by various religious images, I developed a unique concept and presented it to them. They were moved by the result and requested that the headstone company reproduce it. They agreed, and my design was engraved on her tombstone.
This experience was the first clear affirmation of my talent for drawing and design. Since that moment, I have continued to create art with passion and purpose.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, in my Painting II class in college, we were instructed to go outside of our comfort zone and paint with a variety of materials, surfaces and images. So to introduce us to this different direction, the instructor took us to a slaughter house. He told us to bring only a red conte crayon and our sketchbook. We didn’t have any idea as to why other than those directions. Once we got there, he told us to draw the cows being killed and to get up close to them to find designs we could paint and color. Many of us got sick and refused to follow his directions. From that moment on, I didn’t want to be in that class again. I told my parents about it and we decided to move into full study of Physical Education and use Art as my minor. I decided at that time, to just go full head into a Physical Education Degree and not take another art class at that college again. I didn’t touch a brush, a pencil or anything related to art till many years later. An art class opened up in the high school I was teaching at I was offered a position in that one class. All my other classes were teaching Physical Education and Coaching. After some deliberation, I decided to teach that one art class. From then on, my passion for art and creativity opened up again. I was thankful for the offer and now look back at it as a moment in time that changed my life for the better.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friend is my husband Al Dawson. When we met for the first time many years ago, we sat and talked for hours. It was one of the best moments in my life. After many hours of talking, I felt like this person is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. He was extremely engaging, smart, compassionate, educated and humble. We both seemed at the right place in our lives where we were searching for a companion, someone we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with. He and I had the same ideals and values. He and I shared our dreams and what we both wanted in our lives. He possessed empathy and love for all. He talked about his family values which were the same as mine. He showed that he was dedicated to his profession and wanted to help others in theirs. After a few years of dating, we decided to marry and spend the rest of our life together. So I guess I should say what really matters to me, is the love of others, the show empathy for others when needed, the caring for those who may have less than you and to be a helper whenever others need it and don’t have it. My husband Al shows those attributes daily and I hope I do as well.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I was born to bring art and humanity into this world. My artistic ability is inbred into me. My parents were artistic, and my upbringing was full of creativity. I saw it in my mom and dad’s creations. They allowed me the freedom to paint, draw, build and create anything I wanted as long as I cleaned up afterwards…LOL! They encouraged me to explore the world through education and travel. They supported all that I wanted to pursue. They instilled great morals in me through discipline and direction. They taught me compassion of others as well as all my family members too. I am very grateful to God for all He has given me and allowed me to experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.donlongoart.com
- Instagram: don_longo
- Facebook: Don Longo
