Donna Merchant-Crooks has a kinship with nature, where she finds solace and inspiration. She spent years cooking and pulling mule strings in Idaho’s
wilderness, developing an appreciation for the rare and untouched. Today Donna’s wilderness is the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado at the base of Wolf Creek Pass. Her shop and studio are located on The 2Boss Lady Ranch. Raising hay and farm animals, and building endless fences, Donna and her partner enjoy a very peaceful environment. Donna enjoys fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and spending time with her family.

Donna is a self-taught artist and her creativity is easily sparked. Ask her if she has worked in a particular medium, and if she hasn’t, she’ll reply, “not yet”. She believes a person can do anything in increments. Her large and diverse body of work proves this.

Most of Donna’s works have been commissioned. These pieces have challenged her to face the fears of raw creation, working in mediums she hadn’t considered. The adage is true for the artist, “the more you create, the more creative you get.

Donna’s work can be found in collectors’ homes and businesses across the US.

As a lifelong artist I have worked in many mediums. Currently I create in wood and bronze. I design and carve doors,
mantles, and furniture… and sculpt and cast in bronze. My work often has a western flair though it is not limited to that style.

As of late, I am most interested in combining wood and bronze in the same piece. Both mediums have strengths that
compliment each other, while at the same time they provide creative and structural challenges.

I have surrounded myself with a team of professionals who care about detail and precision. “My Guys” in carpentry,
upholstery, and metal work are some of the best in their field. When I show up with an idea, we collaborate on the strongest and most functional execution. The finished product is not only beautiful, but solid.

I love entering a project on the ground floor, working with architects, designers and contractors to see how my part will fit into the whole picture.

It is also a pleasure to work directly with clients, translating their ideas and visions into form.

As an artist, I recognize that space when the muse comes into play and my work is transformed. I don’t understand how that bit of magic transpires, but when it does, I welcome the experience. This ultimately, is why I continue to work as an artist…the challenges, the growth, the magic…it’s all there.