At the age of 7 Douglas was first exposed to art by a young lady in his 1st grade class who taught him the idea of actually “seeing” instead of “perceiving” the world around him. At 14 he was given an oil painting set for his birthday and taught himself how to paint.

 

In his 20s Douglas opened Orr Gallery in Aberdeen and began teaching young people basic drawing and painting. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree at Grays Harbor College before transferring to Long Beach CA in 1986 to pursue a Bachelor’s of Graphic Arts degree at California State University.

 

Douglas served as Vice President of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, where he designed and built the Richard Goad Theater, as well as contributing to the design and construction of many of the theater’s sets.

 

While in Long Beach, Douglas created the EXPO ARTS CENTER in a vacant 25,000 square-foot store. It now houses two 1500 sq. ft. art galleries, two theaters, rehearsal spaces, and a 5000 sq. ft. event hall. EXPO Arts Center now hosts thousands of guests monthly.

 

While Managing the EXPO Arts Center, Douglas also owned and curated monthly exhibits at his own gallery, Gallery Expo, whiched showcased local emerging artists and artists from across the country.

 

Douglas served as President of the Harbor Art Guild, is a board member of Our Aberdeen and has painted about half of the murals in Aberdeen. In Montesano he painted the FARM MURAL. and in Ocean Shores, one of his murals decorates the Convention Center.

 

Douglas can find a work of art hidden in every piece of discarded trash” he said “pieces of old furniture make wonderful art”.

 

Douglas now lives in Aberdeen where he is Director of the Aberdeen Art Center which actively cultivates a vibrant art community.