Medium of Choice: Gouache
“I love to use Trekell brushes! When I'm out in the field I want to know that I can find materials that are consistent, well made and reliable when everything else around me is chaotic. And that's exactly what I find with these brushes. I've been putting these brushes to the test and can't wait to always expand my collection to see what else I can bring to the table."
Justin Donaldson is a traditional artist specializing in plein air landscape painting in gouache and watercolor. He and his family live and travel full time across the American West, chasing light through national parks and wide open spaces, painting the sights and wonders they encounter along the way. His practice is rooted in presence — capturing the beauty of a moment as it unfolds, whether that's the shifting shadows of a canyon wall or the quiet stillness of a morning in the backcountry.
Recently awarded Plein Air Magazine's Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Justin has been an active presence in the plein air competition circuit over the last several years, steadily building both his practice and a dedicated following drawn to his honest, observational approach to painting. Alongside his work in the field, Justin teaches gouache painting through his online courses, where he brings the same directness and clarity to instruction that he brings to the easel.
His teaching cuts through the frustration that so many painters feel with gouache's unpredictability, offering practical, experience-tested approaches rooted in a deep understanding of color, pigment, and light. His work draws on a rich study of the masters — from Zorn to Sargent — while remaining firmly grounded in the landscape directly in front of him.
