Don Olea

Although a native of San Diego, CA , Don and his wife have lived in Gallatin, TN for the past 24 years. He has more than 30 years of professional experience as an award-winning illustrator, photographer, digital and watercolor painter. Olea has been an artist all his life, starting with simple pencil drawings as a child, then charcoals and pen and ink. His grandfather gave him his first camera when he was a sophomore in high school in 1979 and that began his love of capturing the world around him on film. As the computer age ushered in a new era of graphic designers and digital photography, Olea gravitated toward commercial art and advertising design as well as newspaper and magazine design. Working as a commercial artist he was able to take advantage of both his drawing and photography skills. Olea spent 10+ years as a photographer and graphic designer for sister publications: Billboard Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and Amusement Business Magazine in Nashville and Los Angeles. The music, entertainment, and sports industries have always been among his favorite subjects to paint or draw. However, in an effort to expand his subject matter, he turned his attention to depicting historical military art. Olea has been inspired through his watercolor and digital paintings, to honor and tell the story of those who came before him serving with honor and distinction. Men such as his grandfather, Virgil Clark, who was a SSGT with the 2nd Marines, 1939-45 and his brother, Bernie, who was a SGT with the 502nd/101st Airborne, 1941-45. As an Airborne Infantry veteran who, coincidentally, also served with the 502nd in Berlin, 1984-86, Olea’s creative work is a labor of love. His realism style serves the historical military art genre well and helps to tell their story to fellow veterans, family members and enthusiasts. As a proud veteran and artist, Don Olea will not let the flame of patriotism vanquish. AWARDS 1994, ADDY Award, Photography, Reno, NV June, 2019 — 1st Place in PIXARRA’S “Wildlife” Digital Art Competition June, 2020 — 1st Place in PIXARRA’S “City” Digital Art Competition November, 2020 — 1st Place in PIXARRA’S “Sunset/Sunrise” Digital Art Competition January, 2022 — 1st Place in PIXARRA’S “Emotions” Digital Art Competition August, 2024 — Best of Show, DAC Juried Art Expo, Water Media, "Merry Christmas, Mom, from The Ardennes Forrest, 1944" August, 2024 — 1st Place, DAC Juried Art Expo, Water Media, "Top It Off" August, 2024 — 2nd Place, DAC Juried Art Expo, Water Media, “Heavy Metal” September, 2024, 3rd Place, Best in Show, MCVC Veterans Art Showcase, Water Media, "A Short Interlude"