Don Best

A local wood craft artist, Don is best known for his playful animal carvings. A house full of animals, dogs, cats and rabbits provide him with inspiration every day. Don studied art at Portland School of Art, now known as MECA in Portland Maine, back in the late 70’s. Although he majored in painting he has spent most of his life making 3/D objects. He develops most of his designs from sketching ideas mostly from memory and sometimes with a little help from photos. His work is carved in parts, then assembled He often wood burns, and finally paints them. He works on multiple pieces at a time and brings them through his process. When it’s time to get the paint out he might have a dozen pieces to finish