Al Dornisch - Wildlife and Nature Artist
Alcuin C. "Al" Dornisch
1931 - 2023
Al is a self taught artist and naturalist having spent most of his life working at his art and studying the world's wild creatures and the out-of-doors.
While living in Minneapolis he fell under the tutelage of Les Koubla, a world renowned wildlife artist.
Al is the winner of several state conservation stamp contest in Minnesota, South Carolina and Maryland.
He has published 2 natural history books for children: North American Baby Animals and African Baby Animals, and now he is working on Asian Baby animals.
Al and his wife Carol, his help-mate of 56 years, live in a semi rual town in Pennsylvania.
When not painting, Al continues to consult and teach in the powder metallurgy industry, where he has spent 54 years working in this industrial technology. Al was recently honored and named a Fellow of the American Powder Mettallurgy Institute.
Alcuin C. "Al" Dornisch, 91, of Ridgway, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Penn Highlands Elk.
Al was born October 27, 1931 in St. Marys, son of the late Alcuin "Doc" and Charlotte Myers Dornisch. A graduate of Central Catholic High School, Class of 1951, Al continued his education, earning a degree in English from Gannon College in 1958.
On August 6, 1955, Alcuin married his beautiful bride, Carol Klatman, in the St. Mary's Catholic Church, and together they shared 67 years of marriage.
Al and Carol raised their eight children (and countless foster children) in Minnesota, where Al founded the Hennepin Technical Center, focused specifically toward the powder metal industry. While Al was most proud of his family, second to that was his pride for his "Hennepin Kids" who went on to be leaders in the powder metal industry globally.
Al was a self-taught artist with an expertise for capturing wildlife in its natural habitat in such detail that his paintings were often mistaken for photography. Painting up until the day he died, Al took great joy both in creating and sharing his artistic talent with customers-turned-friends who visited Al and Carol at the many art shows they participated in throughout Al's life.
Al's commitment to building a fair and just world for all is surpassed only by his love for his family, especially his beloved and devoted Carol. His incredible legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and countless extended family and friends who will have to work hard to match his enormous heart.
Click Here to See Al Dornisch Original Paintings for sale at Ashley's Art Gallery.