Don, a Sedona resident for almost twenty years, is a Pennsylvania native. A
serious art student since the age of nine, he began professional study at the
Carnegie Museum in the 'Tam-o-shanter' and later 'Palette' classes offered
to selected young artists. His university training was completed at the Art
Center College of Design in Los Angeles where he graduated with a B.P.A.. in
advertising design.
Schairer's career includes animation and live-action film production as well
as magazine, newspaper and T.V. promotional design for agencies in New
Mexico and Arizona. He is currently the photographic editor and business
manager for national scenic photographers Bob and Sue Clemenz.
Don has taught watercolor and oil painting for twenty-five years, first at the
University of New Mexico, then at the New Mexico School Mines, and recently
with Yavapai College in Arizona.
He maintains an active painting studio in his home in Sedona, Arizona. In
1983, he was invited to join The Society of Steam Artists of America and has
exhibited in numerous art galleries and museum collections throughout the
Southwest.
Schairer's love of painting old machinery stems from their marvelous positive
and negative shapes and the limitless possibilities for design and texture.
He loves the challenge of depicting the hidden beauty in the discarded,
ignored, and neglected relics of our past.
Since his move to Sedona in the late 1970's, Don has developed an additional
passion, his artistic senses were captured by the majestic scenery which
surrounds him all seasons of the year. The ever changing display of light and
weather on the sandstone monoliths and desert vistas provide a lifetime of
painting opportunities.
Although adept with pen, pencil, oil paint and an occasional dabbler in
sculpture, his medium of preference is traditional transparent watercolor.
The challenge of disciplining this most perplexing of mediums to his personal
artistic vision is what keeps him producing new and ever more beautiful
works of art.