Many ingredients come into play when Doreen Ong approaches a piece of watercolor paper.  Similar to how she engages life, Doreen has a relentless curiosity about her subjects and a meticulous approach to her work.  Before she ever sits down with a piece of paper and applies a stroke of watercolor, many hours are spent preparing, especially in researching the subjects she paints.  She relies on the hundreds of photographs she takes each year for her inspiration, then goes a step further and uses a variety of resources to enhance her knowledge about the chosen subject.  Sifting and sorting ideas, facts and features, helps her actualize her images.  Although her primary tool is a brush, occasionally, she also uses a variety of techniques that will enhance the piece, incorporating textures developed using salt, cheesecloth, splattering and anything else that comes to mind.

Art had always been one of her interests starting in elementary school and grew to include photography and jewelry design during high school.  She grew up in Pasadena and continued her education at San Diego State University earning a B.A. and a teaching credential.  After college, she moved to Mammoth Lakes, California, her favorite place to ski, and began to teach at Mammoth Elementary School where she remained for twenty years before moving back to San Diego County and settling in San Marcos. 

Doreen states, “I believe art is a celebration of beauty, and in my paintings I try to reflect that feeling.  I don’t offer any social commentary in my work--just an attempt to communicate my interest and appreciation for the wonders the world of nature offers.”