Gael Linford Donovan was born in Palo Alto, California to Lois Linford Brooks Donovan and John Farrington Spencer Donovan on April 4, 1949. Her parents moved shortly afterwards to Carmel. It was in her beloved family home that she passed away on May 18, 2021.
Gael grew up in an environment of art and a bohemian lifestyle. Most of the family friends were members of various art communities. Her mother was an internationally celebrated portrait artist and a passionate explorer of the arts and the ideas of all cultures. She took Gael along for the ride. As a young girl, Gael experienced Asia, the South Pacific, South America, and Europe where she spent 1963 attending Lac Leman Boarding School in Switzerland. Here she developed some lifelong international friendships. Gael graduated from Santa Catalina School in 1967 and Willamette University in Salem, Oregon in 1971. At 27, she and her mother returned to Japan to study with a master screen maker. This event was of great influence on her and created many long-term friendships with Japanese artists. When she returned home to Carmel, she took a job as the seasonal ticket manager for the Carmel Bach Festival.
In 1978, the Carmel Art Association, where her mother was an exhibiting member, needed a secretary. They hired Gael, as she would say, “because she could type.” She would stay for two decades, the last eleven years as the director of the CAA. As such, she was instrumental in organizing major historical exhibitions and the publication of distinguished books chronicling CAA artists that have made important contributions to California art.
In 1998, Gael decided to become serious about her own art. She retired from the CAA and headed to the studio. Although Gael was continuously creative her entire life, working in a variety of mediums, she found her way with the paintbrush. In 2005, her skill won her acceptance as an exhibiting artist at the CAA. Gael also served on the board of directors of the CAA.
An avid reader, Gael’s interests included everything new to things of the past. When she turned her attention to a subject, she would immerse herself in it. From building a spinning wheel, fabric coloring, to family histories and computer science, it was all on her schedule! As an expert in computer searches, she delighted many of her friends by handing them printouts of their family ancestry. Gael was also a gourmet cook that believed a recipe was only a starting point. She felt, just like life, everything can be improved upon and enjoyed in different ways. Her house was always warm and inviting with her traditional Thanksgiving get-together feast, the Christmas brunch, and the yearlong trading of food experiments. Although very private, once one knew her, they would discover a compassionate, intuitive person. She possessed a keen intellect, a willingness to listen, and was always interested in her friend’s lives. Those who were lucky enough to know Gael will sorely miss her but will treasure the memories of this remarkable lady.
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