“I was born in Greeley Colorado in 1950, and was encouraged by my grandmother from an early age to draw and paint.
I majored in art at Colorado State University, and left school to work as an artist for Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, where I illustrated ancient Indian classics for 15 years. In 1980, I began to paint in plein air in addition to my illustration work, and then joined Walt Disney Feature Animation, working as a Background Painter on “Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” supervised Backgrounds on “Lion King” and “Tarzan,” and continued to work on various films until 2012. Since coming to Hawaii, I have been painting the beauty of the Island as well as the Hawaiians carrying on the traditions of their ancestors. I feel that this island is a special, sacred place, and the landscapes and people carrying on the traditions of the native Hawaiians are a source of unlimited inspiration for me. I think that it is especially important at this time to reconnect with the ancient wisdom of the Hawaiian people and to preserve their reverence for the land they endeavor to protect and preserve.” – Douglas