Sculpture by Don & Deanna Batson

Both Don and his wife Deanna are currently taking sculpting classes at Sierra College in Raku and glazed ceramic. All Don's and Deanna's above pieces have been featured displayed at the Clubhouse.

Originally, Don Batson studied to be a concert pianist. He has played for the Arts & Flowers Show at the Miner's Foundry. Don is also a photographer and took the photos for both of the Art Club's Men's and Women's Calendars.

After retiring from a career as an aerospace engineer, Don developed an interest in ceramic sculpting. His earliest piece, a bust of his wife, Deanna, earned him a first at the 2004 Nevada County Fair.

After moving to Lake Wildwood, Deanna met Norm Brown, long time Art Club member, and started taking watercolor classes from him. When Don took an interest in ceramics and began attending classes at Sierra College, she was so impressed with his work, that she decided to go with him.

Deanna's first assignment in her sculpting class at Sierra was the "Gargoyle Lion" glazed ceramic mask. The piece gives viewers a glimpse of the powerful creatures that were used in the Dark Ages to keep evil spirits away.

As a child, Deanna always loved to draw and color. When her youngest child was still a baby, she was able to find time to take an oil painting class from a neighbor. Later, she went back to college to finish her degree in business, followed by a career at Hughes Communications as manager of video time share.

Deanna feels very lucky to live in Lake Wildwood where so many great artists are displaying their work in the Clubhouse.