Donald Farnsworth

Drawings and etchings on Magnolia Editions Renaissance style paper

Etchings: During the past winter (2023-24), the Farnsworths traveled to Parma to deliver prints of the Parma Portraits to the artist's caregivers. Their journey took them through England, France, and Spain. Along the way, Don (Aldo) captured portrait photographs of various individuals—including servers, chefs, museum staff, deli workers, and friends—who expressed interest and were willing to pose for their likeness to be captured. These photos served as source images for Aldo's copper plate etchings. Translucent UV acrylic ink over-printing was used to bring vibrant color to these monochromatic etchings.

The Parma Portraits, La Gentilezza degli Sconosciuti, by Donald Farnsworth, is an homage to the healthcare professionals who saved his life during his five-week stay at Maggiore Hospital in Parma, Italy. In his drawings of the hospital staff, Farnsworth endeavors to encapsulate the unique qualities of the doctors, nurses, and researchers who proficiently diagnosed and treated his COVID-induced autoimmune disease with a combination of expertise and heartfelt compassion in October and November of 2022. Medium: chalk, graphite, acrylic, and colored pencil (mixed media) on Magnolia handmade paper.

Below The Parma Portraits is a collection of artist portraits and drawings that explore the hands of creators and artisans, serving as an experiment with different mediums on Magnolia's felt-marked linen and hemp paper. The incorporation of Renaissance-style handmade paper in these compositions instills a timeless quality, mirroring the enduring values inherent to the medical profession as well as the traditional methods utilized by artists working with their hands.