Donni Athey, Artist

Donni Athey is a very dear friend of mine, I was lucky enough to meet her in her favorite environment, surrounded by horses and in the saddle. Over the past two years of knowing and working with her, I have seen her grow and evolve as a person, and watched her gain confidence through her art. You can feel it off a person when they are in a spot that ignites something in them. For Don, when she is around a horse, she is unstoppable. This is something we really bonded over, both of us use horses as an escape from the world and a place to just be ourselves and be present.

As such a humble and caring person, I am glad that Donni can express her love for these animals through her art, because I know she would never openly gush about the topic or feel she can find the right words. There is something special about that, somebody with such an amazing talent that doesn’t feel the need to brag or show off, and is still always open to ideas and expansion. Because of that, I am using this time to not only promote her art that is for sale through the Klein House Art Print Program, but also highlight my amazing friend behind the prints.

There are times in life where you meet people that are just good, and you know that your relationship with them will last a lifetime and help nourish your life, never take away from it. Everything from how they handle day-to-day living, or moments of hardship and struggle, you know that they are there no matter what- and you would do the same right back. I am lucky enough to have Donni as a part of my team, and only hope she always feels the same from me. Nights have been spent laughing until we can’t breathe, dancing at work through a sea of horses, and going on runs to Dutch Bros to order the drink I can never seem to remember the name of (but I know its her favorite). But there have also been times of pure vulnerability and connection over the things we don’t yet know how to manage, heartache, and hesitation; and I don’t think it would be as easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel if it wasn’t for our friendship.

Read more about Donni and the story behind her art below, or visit her artist page and shop her prints here

Where are you based out of?

CO Colorado Springs/ GA Savannah

When did you start creating?

I have been creating art since I was 3 or so

What is your favorite medium and why?

Graphite, because I have been doing it the longest and love the many ways you can use a pencil and blend it.

What is your motivation and/or inspiration behind creating?

I get inspiration from many things in my surroundings but I would say horses are my main inspiration for most of my art pieces.

How does creating make you feel? What do you do to get into your groove and stay motivated?

Creating makes me feel productive and help me distress a lot of the times. My motivation comes in waves and art block is a real thing but when I do start drawing I can draw for hours on end.

What is your favorite piece you have created so far? Why?

I really like this peace called “Friendship” because I love the composition and trying this art style a little more and loved how this one turned out.

What are your goals as a creator?

My goals as a creator is to create something I love and share it with people that also love what I create and maybe inspire young artist to create as well.

What is your favorite memory of you practicing your craft?

I would have to say my favorite memory is when I would go out to a local stable to life draw the horses there in the late evening and watch the sunset go down.

If you could tell yourself one piece of advice when you were just starting out, what would it be?

STUDIES, practicing studies for anatomy or references is the best way to learn how to draw a certain thing.

Do you notice any common themes throughout your work? Why do you feel your art has said theme(s)?

Horses, horses are my passion and I get inspired by them every day so drawing them only seems fitting.

Are there any creatives that you truly look up too? Why and if there was one thing you could ask them, what would it be?

I couldn’t say I have one specific artist I look up too because I look at many artist to try different art styles and different techniques when it comes to drawing.

What in your personal life has influenced you to create what you do?

My influence has definitely come from my learning disability and school was really hard for me so I turned to art and learned I was pretty good at it.

Do you critique your own work in ways that people outside of the creative community might not understand?

I think everyone does because everyone is there own worst critic but mine would be I always think something is off and/or could be fixed.

How would you like to be remembered through your pieces?

As a crazy horse lady that saw the beauty on horses.