PERSONAL HISTORY:

I was born in November of 1947, in Madison, Wisconsin. They called me Jeannie, and I started my adventure in a small house beside my grandparents, on the shores of Lake Wabisa. My father was a school teacher and we moved several times in those early years, South Dekota, Montana, then Wyoming, where he taught grades six through twelve in a small country school house.

Father continued his education and became an Architect. His new profession changed my future and destiny. As a curious child, I clung to his side watching him create Standard Oil Gas Stations for work and incredible mansions for pleasure.

My Mother taught me to see with my eyes and my heart. She gave me the creative tools needed to discover the best in life. My father inspired me to dream. He told me stories with his pencil, drawing the characters as he imagined them. His talents went unpublished, but forever remembered. He lost his life when I was twelve. With his passing, I became an adult, with all it's responsibilities. Circumstance made no time to remain a child.

Mother remarried and my stepfather was in the civil service. As I passed through my teens, we moved dozens of times, but always seemed to end up in Los Angeles, California. Through my adolescent frustrations, I watched Walt Disney develop and create his magic kingdom. I dreamed of being an artist and animator and wanted to work with Disney Studios.

I was born with the gift of imagination and artistic talent. Our family was rich in love, but poor in resource. Everyone has different circumstances, and often things don't happen the way one would wish. Sometimes things get in the way of personal goals, like taking care of others first. There was no money to go to college, and my assistance was needed elsewhere.

Some people learn by going to school, and others learn by doing. It's really hard and takes longer out of school, but the education is just as important. Success is about hanging on, when others give up. Some people accept things the way they are, and others change things to make them better. Courage doesn't always roar like a lion. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says; I'll try again tomorrow.

Fate played no favorites and I learned life's lessons in some of their harshest forms. Through it all, I continued to collect information, experience lessons, and improve my talents. It has been difficult, but the adversities and struggles of survival, have given me an understanding and knowledge that far surpass a formal education. My father once said. "There are always possibilities as long as you have your imagination, a dream, and someone to share them with."

So, here I am after all these years, a successful wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, foster mother, just "Mom", and professional woman. With a life time of stories to share, and a dream to complete, I am allowing my imagination to lead me through this labyrinth of my life. It has been an adventure with a never ending story, as I continue to experience imagination.

CHILDREN'S BOOK & ILLUSTRATION:

Conceptual Imaging is the Language of Vision. Illustration opens the eyes of imagination. By combining technology and old-fashioned common sense, Donna J. Setterlund offers a complete perspective in developing and visualizing projects.

Donna's first love has always been art and creating quality and life-affirming entertainment for children. Writing about and painting images from her own world, sparked an imagination for a continuing adventure in creative development. Generally speaking, all of her books and illustrate stories are from events of everyday life.

Her collaborative nature and highly creative conceptual and illustration skills justify her leadership roles in concept/project/product development.

As a conceptual imager, graphic artist, visual communications specialist, and animator, Donna J. Setterlund presently continues to contract to engineering planning, construction, graphics, advertising, and design firms. Her leadership skills in design, 3-D illustration, and conceptual/intellectual property development are corner stones in supporting and inspiring feasible products and services.

A portfolio with information, example books, and sampling of illustration materials is available upon request or at:

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

As the founder of Dandy Enterprises and Golden West Associates, the creative drive and energy behind their continued product and service development, Donna J. Setterlund brings creative diversity, design depth and mission continuity to all the Project Initiatives.

Areas of Professional Focus: Conceptual Imaging, Graphic Design & Illustration, Project Consulting, Visual Communications Specialist, Proprietary Product Development, Computer Animation.

Professional Skills: Architectural Draftsperson, 3-D Modeling Sculpture, Illustrator, Commercial Art, Artist and Illustrator, Writer and Published Author, Photographer, Construction Contractor, Journeymen Sign person, Woodworker, Fashion Design and Multimedia Production.

Professional Strengths: Leadership in developing quality creative products, Unique Combination of Creative Talents and Artist Abilities, Team development and consensus building. Rapid assimilation of concept, procedures, communication and technical approaches, Visual communications adaptations and refinement.

Additional Experience: On running local and surrounding community involvement including Educational Advisory Arts Council, Motivational Speaker, Art Instructor, Licensed Foster Parent.