About the Artist
Don Iverson was raised on a farm outside of Sweetwater, Tennessee, forty miles south of Knoxville. Being a self-taught artist, many of his works reflect a young boy’s earlier perception of East Tennessee’s rolling mountains and varied landscapes.
Iverson, along with his wife Cathy, live in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Their home sits atop a Blue Ridge Mountain Range called Pigeon Roost. The sixty-five mile view serves as this artist’s inspiration. On the same ridge, 100’ south, you will find the Iverson Studio. This work-place, built and decorated by the artist himself, has the architectural style of an old-fashioned general store. Inside, one might be surprised to find all of the necessary modern conveniences. The east corner, a protruding octagon shape that overhangs the mountain, surrounds Iverson with six windows through which comes the early morning light. It is in the early hours that Don prefers to paint.
This simple mountain lifestyle is a strong contrast to the hectic business world in which Don has spent most of his life. Until 1987, he served as president of Iverson Outdoor Advertising in Orlando, Florida. The Iverson family determined to get back to basics. The company was sold and the decision was made to move to Banner Elk. The family’s secluded home was designed and physically built by their own hands. “The purpose in life is no longer making a living, but living,” Don often comments.
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The Iverson Family
The Iversons have three children. The firstborn, Nicole, is married to Steve Estes. They currently live in Collierville, Tennessee with the two oldest granddaughters, Natalie, and Raegan. Donnie Iverson is married to Jamie, and they live in Knoxville, Tennessee. They are the proud parents of twins, Sophia and Isabella, born in July, 2003 and Ava in 2007. Courtney , the youngest of the Iverson children, lives in Elizabethton, Tennessee along with her son, Jackson, where she operates the Iverson Gallery.
Don and Cathy are especially proud of their six grandchildren. All six refer to Don as "Pa" and thoroughly enjoy spending time with him. Don says, "This is the greatest! The love of grandbabies can only be understood by another grandparent.
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Iverson Paintings
There are few things in life that Don enjoys more than talking with “old timers” about the past. “I love history. When I am painting an historical piece, it is so easy to get lost in the past. When I work on an old train piece, I imagine the sounds and smells. Times were simpler then. People had time for one another. They focused more on family and visited with their neighbors,” Don says.
Iverson spends a great deal of time in research to be sure that his work is accurate. Most pieces require several weeks from start to finish. Strong emphasis on detail and the ability to contrast much darker colors with softer pastels result in a realistic perception. This artist is known for details.
Don also serves as a volunteer minister for the Church of Christ. He has a great appreciation for his Creator and often says, “I paint only what I see, or can imagine from what I have seen. The ability to reproduce a perceived object on a piece of watercolor paper is so insignificant compared to the object, and He who created it. Artists may paint rhododendron, but only God can create them. It was He who created the cobalt-colored sky and vermillion sunsets. As an artist, I stand in awe of the lighting techniques and tone values of Him, the Master Artist.” The Iversons also helped to establish two homes for parentless children in India. They have worked extensively among the tsunami victims in this same region. When it is difficult to find the Iversons it is likely they are in India.
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