About the Artist

Don Kolstad was born in Southern California in 1952. Don remained there until he attended the University of Utah on a Football and Baseball Scholarship. While attaining a degree in Psychology he began to study art for the first time as his minor.

It was during that time he realized his great love would be to become an artist.

After leaving college Don worked in the music industry as a promotional manager to set up concerts for Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Chet Atkins and many other country stars of the time. In 1982 Don decided to try a career as a full time artist and Alaska seemed the most beautiful place on earth to work as a painter.

Don works primarily in watercolor and oil paints along with other media to keep a fresh approach and to stay challenged. Don has been President of the Alaska Watercolor Society, owned a gallery at the Anchorage 5^th Ave. Mall, created limited edition prints and posters, been a juror for art shows and had numerous one-man shows around the state of Alaska and West Coast. Don has also been the featured Artist at many fund raising auctions including the Mayors Ball and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to mention a few. Commissions over the years include: the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Magazine, Anchorage Hilton, Simon and Seaforts, Chef’s Inn (Blues Central), American Legion of Alaska, KTUU TV, Hunting and Fishing calendars, designs for a women’s clothing line for Nordstrom, painted the helmet of Olympic Gold Medal winner Tommy Moe, cover art for Anchorage Visitors Guide (Summer and Winter), US Air Force and recently paintings for the Alaska and Caribbean Cruise Lines. At the Anchorage Museum of Natural History and Art in November of 2006 Don’s work was part of an auction of "Great Masters of the North" , one of the two only living artists featured.

The last several years Don has been teaching watercolor and oil classes and giving workshops, along with his work in the studio and Plein Air painting. He continues to challenge his work with new ideas and techniques and is more interested in where the work is going and not where it's been. In Don’s words," I have a wonderful life with my wife and family and I am very blessed to be painting year after year."