HomeARTISTDon Krotee: Architecture, Watercolor, and the Art of Observation

Don Krotee: Architecture, Watercolor, and the Art of Observation

From a young age, Don Krotee showed a natural inclination for drawing and painting. His early exposure to the arts came through his grandmother, a successful amateur artist based in New York who nurtured his creative spirit. As an adolescent, Don would spend hours beside her, mixing colors and assisting with her artistic projects. In turn, she taught him the fundamentals of drawing and painting, instilling in him a deep appreciation for artistic expression that would later become a defining part of his life.

Though his formal path led him into architecture, Don’s early foundation in art became the backbone of his creative and professional identity. Architecture, with its balance of precision and imagination, provided him a framework to merge structural understanding with a painter’s eye for light, form, and atmosphere.

Bridging Architecture and Art

Trained and educated as an architect, Don developed a career rich in visual creativity. Over the years, he produced countless architectural illustration works that demanded not only technical skill but also artistic sensitivity. This combination of design and fine art reflects a common thread among architects who evolve into accomplished artists. For Don, architecture was not a separate discipline from art but rather an extension of it, a structured form of visual storytelling.

His professional background sharpened his sense of perspective and composition, two elements that continue to define his paintings. Whether capturing a cityscape, a quiet coastal view, or a fleeting play of light, Don’s work demonstrates the meticulous observation and spatial awareness of an architect infused with the emotional depth of a painter.

Painting En Plein Air

Today, Don paints primarily en plein air, embracing the immediacy and unpredictability of outdoor painting. This practice allows him to immerse himself in the natural environment and respond directly to shifting light, color, and atmosphere. His plein air pieces are not merely depictions of scenery; they are reflections of moments experienced and emotions observed in real time.

He maintains a studio in Corona del Mar, a location that offers both inspiration and community. Beyond his studio, Don also operates an event gallery and manages his architectural firm in Anaheim Hills, balancing multiple creative outlets under one umbrella of artistic vision. Each space studio, gallery, and firm serves a different purpose in his life but is united by his enduring commitment to creativity and craftsmanship.

Rediscovering Watercolor

In the 1990s, Don renewed his passion for transparent and other watercolor styles, a medium that perfectly complements his architectural discipline and plein air practice. Watercolor’s fluidity and unpredictability challenge precision, allowing Don to explore freedom within structure. Through layering, washes, and transparent tones, he captures the delicate interplay between man-made design and organic beauty.

By the early 2000s, his dedication to watercolor had earned him numerous opportunities to exhibit his work. He participated in many shows at The Artists Village and presented his paintings in his own gallery in Santa Ana. These exhibitions not only showcased his technical skill but also introduced viewers to his distinctive approach, where architectural precision meets painterly spontaneity.

Professional Recognition and Exhibitions

Don’s consistent engagement with regional art societies throughout the 1990s and beyond helped him establish a solid presence in the Southern California art community. He began showing and submitting work to regional societies and taking on commissioned projects professionally, marking a pivotal step from passion to profession.

His paintings, often inspired by the coastal and urban landscapes of California, reflect a sensitivity to environment and light. Don’s architectural background gives his compositions a sense of grounded balance, while his watercolor technique allows fluid interpretation and emotional resonance. Whether depicting historical architecture, harbor scenes, or serene coastal views, his art captures the harmony between human creation and natural beauty.

The Artist’s Philosophy

Underlying Don Krotee’s work is a deep respect for observation, place, and process. His paintings are meditations on the act of seeing how light defines form, how color evokes mood, and how perspective shapes experience. This philosophy extends from his architectural mindset, where every line must serve a purpose and every space must tell a story.

As a watercolorist, he embraces imperfection and chance, allowing pigment and water to interact naturally. In this way, Don finds balance between control and freedom, echoing the duality that defines his life as both an architect and artist. His art becomes a dialogue between structure and spontaneity, precision and play a visual reflection of how discipline and creativity coexist.

Continuing Legacy

Throughout his career, Don has remained an advocate for artistic growth and community engagement. His studio and gallery spaces serve as environments for exploration and exchange, inviting others to experience art not as a finished product but as an evolving process.

Even through the challenges brought on by the COVID era, Don’s dedication to painting and exhibiting endured. His continued participation in local art scenes and professional societies demonstrates his belief that art should remain accessible, alive, and continually shared.

Conclusion

Don Krotee stands at the intersection of architecture and fine art, a place where technical mastery meets emotional resonance. From assisting his grandmother in her New York studio to exhibiting watercolor works across Southern California, his journey reflects a lifelong pursuit of visual harmony. His paintings, whether created en plein air or within the quiet of his Corona del Mar studio, speak to the beauty of observation and the enduring connection between art, place, and the human spirit.

Caroline Margaret
Caroline Margarethttp://showcasemyart.com
Contact: Caroline@showcasemyart.com
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