Donald Demers was born in 1956, in the small rural community of Lunenburg, Massachusetts. His interest in painting maritime subjects began while spending his summers on the coast of Maine near Boothbay Harbor. Crewing aboard schooners, square-riggers and other traditional craft have provided both the foundation for his technical expertise and the vision to transfer his first-hand experience to the canvas. His love of sailing has not diminished over the years.
Don acknowledges his high school art teacher as the most formative influence in his early training. He continued his education at the School of the Worcester (MA) Art Museum and Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA.
His professional career began as an illustrator and soon expanded into the field of marine painting. A move to Maine in 1984 marked a shift in his career in which illustration yielded to marine and landscape painting. Illustration serves as a diversion from the demands of fine art and over the years, Reader’s Digest, Sail Magazine, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, Yankee, Downeast and most recently, the prestigious National Geographic magazines in addition to several book publishers, have called on Don to create visual illumination for the written word .
Feature articles on his paintings in a number of publications: American Artist, Yachting, Nautical Quarterly, Nautical World, Offshore and Maine Boats and Harbors have generated great interest in his art and his story, while texts such as Concordia Yawls, the First Fifty Years by Elizabeth Meyer, Marine Painting and Yachts on Canvas both authored by James Taylor, Yacht Portraits published by Sheridan House, A Gallery of Marine Art by Rockport Publishers and an instructional textbook entitled Marine Painting Techniques of Modern Masters by Susan Rayfield and published by Watson-Guptill provide insight into his technique, philosophy and vision.
Don’s diversity has enabled him to offer his expertise to clients ranging from American Airlines to the National Park Service, with projects as varied as creating art for national television advertisements and designing art glass for Steuben.
Demers’ body of work has expanded over the last several years to include the study and creation of landscape paintings based on 19th century methods and philosophies. Created in consort with painters of similar inspiration, it has been widely acclaimed and honored throughout the country.
He is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists and has won a record number (9) awards at the Mystic International Marine Exhibition, Mystic, CT. His illustrations have been recognized four times by the Museum of American Illustration in their national competition as representing the finest examples of work in the field. A master of communication about his art form, Mr. Demers conducts workshops for artists and lectures on his art and maritime experiences. His audiences include museums, art clubs and associations, yacht clubs, historical societies and educational institutions.
In addition to creating original works of art, Demers publishes selected paintings as Limited Edition Prints. For information regarding paintings and prints or lectures and workshops, please contact:
DON DEMERS' EXHIBITION HISTORY
1985
1988
1989
1992
1995
1996

1997

1998
1999

2000


2001






2002

Eighth National ASMA Show, Newport News, VA
One-Man Show, Mystic Maritime Gallery, Mystic, CT
Ninth National ASMA Show, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD
Tenth National ASMA Show, Schaefer Gallery, Mystic, CT
One-Man Show, Robert Wilson Gallery, Nantcuket, MA
Two-Man Show, Robert Wilson Gallery, Nantucket, MA
"A Seagoing Dynasty, The Pattens of Bath", Maine Maritime Museum.
Eleventh National ASMA Show, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
The Cummer Museum of Arts and Flowers, Jacksonville, FL
Three-Man Show, Tree’s Place, New American Luminists, D. Demers/W. Davis,/J. .McGurl
One-Man Show, J. Russell Jinishian Gallery
Portrayals of Patrick O’Brien Stories, Seaman’s Institute
One-Man Show, J. Russell Jinishian Gallery
Three-Man Show , John Pence Gallery, D. Demers/W. Davis/J. McGurl
Three-Man Show, Tree’s Place, New American Luminists, D. Demers/W.Davis,/J.McGurl
One-Man Show, J. Russell Jinishian Gallery
Twelfth National ASMA Show, Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis, MA
First USA Riverfront Arts Center, Wilmington, DE
Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Invitational
Contemporary Artists Paint Yosemite and the Eastern Sierras:
A California Art Club Invitational, Haggin Museum
On Location-Coast to Coast-Small Works by Nine American Artists, Tree’s Place
Three-Man Show, John Pence Gallery, D.Demers/W. Davis/J. McGurl
St. Botolph Club, Marine Art Exhibition
Marine Masterworks, One Man Show, J. Russell Jinishian Gallery
Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Invitational
Plein Air Painters of America, Catalina Island

Major Galleries that carry Mr. Demers' work:
Additional Galleries that occasionally carry Mr. Demers' work:
J. Russell Jinishian, Fairfield, CT
Tree's Place, Orleans, MA
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Riversway Gallery, Eliot, Maine 03903
R. Wilson, Nantucket, MA
Mystic Maritime Gallery, Mystic, CT
Art of the Sea, S.Thomaston, ME
Riversway Gallery Eliot, Maine 03903

© 2002. All rights reserved. All works of art shown herein are copyrighted by the artist.