Donna LaVance Sramek, A.A.P.L. S.W.A., is an established American artist. A Native of New York, she studied under a master in California and then on to Pittsburgh, PA. She is undertook one of the largest "major works" ever to be done by an artist in United States. The project "The Art of Ballet," features the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as the primary subject and will consist of over 100 paintings in oil and pastel, 400 studies in Conte and Charcoal, and Approximately 300 series of hand pulled lithographs.
The Artist has made a two year study of life styles, backstage activities and dance techniques by attending practices, rehearsals and performances of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The result has been a profound empathy - the necessary ingredient to a successful expression of the discipline, decimation and artistic interpretation that is the ballet.
Donna apprenticed under Thomas C. Leighton, S.W.A.F.I.A.L., of San Francisco, an internationally known master in portraiture and still life, who was probably the foremost paste list of all time. In style, technique and philosophy, she has followed in the path of Thomas Leighton and the other masters in her artistic lineage dating back to the Carolus-Durand atelier, out of which have come such masters as John Singer Sargeant, John Russel and Thomas Leighton.
The First public viewing of "The Art of Ballet" included works from several ballets and was views April 1-3 1978 in Heinz Hall Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA and later the balance of the collection was seen in January 1978. The Works project was then exhibited in galleries in San Francisco and New York. The works were presented by Artcetera and J.J. Gillespie Galleries.
PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO-------(See Last Photo) Honored for her contributions to the Arts by Artist Donna Sramek. On the occasion of the farewell dinner given by The International poetry Forum for Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, American impressionist Donna Sramek presented Her Serene Highness with a suite of lithographers from the Artist's "Art of Ballet" project.
Each of the eight lithographs was remarked with a drawing and personal message to Princess Grace commemorating her boundless commitment and contribution to the arts and ballet in particular.
In accepting the works of art, Princess Grace said, "Your beautiful lithographs shall have a good home, I shall enjoy them as will the students at our ballet school." The lithographs, each number "3" of its edition, is on display in the Princess ballet School in Monte Carlo.
WILL SHIP INTERNATIONALLY PLEASE SEND MESSAGE FOR COST