Desatnick is a very personal painter and paints a maximum of 40 paintings a year. His portraits of Native Americans are based on real models. He is successful in working with Native Americans as an artist because he views Native Americans as artists themselves. Their fine crafts of jewelry making, beadwork, basketry and weaving come naturally. The models usually bring their own museum-quality dress and accessories to the modeling sessions, which either take place at the reservation or the sunny south side of his studio.

This portrait artist is not a storytelling artist but a realist. He interprets what he sees and shares his emotions on canvas.