Lubbock, Texas born and raised Donna Cristy followed her husband to Bismarck five years ago and now can’t imagine living anywhere else. Donna is a nurse practitioner working in Women’s Health at Sanford, where her husband Kirk is Chief Financial Officer.

Donna is also an artist, self-taught in oils and palette knife, producing vibrantly-colorful landscapes that caught the attention of The Capital Gallery. She currently has 17 pieces on display, paired with historical artist Michael Haynes of Colorado in the gallery’s “Spring Back Exhibition,” showing through June at 109 N. 4th Street.

“I just love color—saturated—brilliant—and especially enjoy using a palette knife,” Donna says.

Although self-taught, she feels fortunate to have been mentored by successful artists including Dreama Tolle Perry, Wilson Bickford, and Gayle Leve’e.

She and Kirk have been married over 30 years and have three grown children and four grandchildren. Donna is thrilled to have her first major exhibition in her adopted hometown and serves as a role model for others who find joy in art later in life. Waiting until their youngest child left home for college, she immersed herself in creativity. Proud of her status as a mother, grandmother, and nurse practitioner, she is now pleased to be also known as “Donna Cristy—Artist.”

For more information go to thecapitalgallery.com or donnacristyfineart.com.