A native New Mexican, Brackett studied at the University of New Mexico as a fine arts major. He studied with Kenneth Adams, Millard Sheets, Robert E. Wood, and Milford Zornes. A member of the American Watercolor Society, Don paints primarily in oils now, preferring the textural qualities of the medium.
       His work is in numerous collections including Texas Tech University, Museum of Albuquerque, Sunwest Bank, Albuquerque, Sangre de Cristo Fine Arts Museum, Pueblo, Colorado, Carlsbad Museum, Carlsbad, New Mexico to name a few.
       Don is a plein-air artist, described as a painters painter. His work evokes the mystery and vibrancy of the northern New Mexico landscape and the Southwest.