

Donna Lutz VanderPlas is a visual artist and educator residing in Grand Rapids MI. Originally from Long Island, New York and the suburbs of Philadelphia, she received her BFA degree and pursued a career in illustration in San Diego, CA. Along life’s journey, a job transfer sent Donna and her husband to Grand Rapids MI. She became involved with a community of artists and began to work as a full time artist with a concentration in watercolor painting and graphite drawing. While sharing a love of learning with her children and teaching numerous workshops at their school, she obtained an MA degree in art education. Donna taught art at Jenison High school for 18 years and was an adjunct faculty member at Kendall College of Art and Design. Throughout her career as an artist, she has received awards from various art competitions and exhibits. Donna’s work is in private collections in the US and the Caribbean. She has had the distinct pleasure to be selected as an Artprize artist for six years. Art has been an integral part of her life, influenced and inspired by her family, her students and the experiences of life.
These are Donna's official ArtPrize entries from this year and past years.