Mikel Donahue

Mikel Donahue's character and style depicts an honesty that is true to the people and places he portrays. His exposure to western art came at an early age by visits to Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and what was then, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Living near Tulsa, he feels very lucky to be so close to two of the most treasured resources a western artist could have. Influenced by his Grandfather’s cowboy way of life, all he ever wanted to do was draw, paint and raise horses...today he’s doing just that. His involvement with working ranches and the Quarter Horse industry gives him what he says “is a unique perspective to his art”. He and his wife Christie, breed running quarter horses on their place outside Broken Arrow, OK. After a 30 year career as an art director, Mikel is now devoting all his energies to his art. He feels his design skills provide for strong compositions and a good understanding of light and color. He feels there is no substitute for observation and participation, “you can’t paint it if you don’t know it”.

In 2010 Mikel was awarded the prestigious “Premier Platinum Award” and the “William E. Weiss Purchase Award” at the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, he also participated in the Prix de West at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. He has work in many private collections and museums and is participating in several shows throughout the year. In 2009 he won the “Artists’ Choice Award” at the Buffalo Bill Art Show, that same year he was the featured artist at the Americas Horse in Art Show and Sale at the American Quarter Horse Museum in Amarillo, Texas. He was honored with a one man show at Remington Park in Oklahoma City during the 2009 Quarter Horse race meet, only one other artist has ever been invited to do so. He won “Best of Show” two out of three years at the WRCA Art Show & Sale. He has been featured in Art of the West, American Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Horseman, American Cowboy, America's Horse and The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal magazines.

Mikel is currently represented by Trailside Galleries, Altermann Galleries and Settlers West Galleries. He works in colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic and oils. Mikel has donated works to benefit the fund raising efforts of many organizations, including the American Quarter Horse Association and the WRCA Crisis Fund to name a few.