ABOUT DAWN

As a life-long learner committed to exploring my own creativity and to helping others discover their abilities, I’ve devoted the past several decades to creative exploration through writing and the visual arts.

I enjoy sharing my skills and experiences with people to help them discover the joys of creativity and owe a great deal to the artists and other creatives who have inspired and encouraged me along the way.

Over the past ten years, I’ve discovered and explored a passion for painting and drawing, in particular abstract portraits, landscapes and non-representational work using a variety of media—oil and cold wax, acrylic, charcoal and ink. During this time, I travelled to Italy, Mexico City and the north coast of Scotland to study painting.

In 2019, after living in Canada’s far north (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) for almost twenty years, I left my full-time job behind and relocated to Edmonton, Alberta in order to devote more time to my art. The people, landscapes and artists I encounter continue to inspire me and I’m excited to be sharing my work with you!

 

Education

York University, Toronto, Ontario
  • Specialized Honours BA, French Translation, 2001
Pamela Caughey
  • Powerful Design and Personal Color (online course – January 2019)
  • Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques (online course – July 2019)
  • Watch Learn Grow (master class – ongoing)
Gillian Lee Smith
  • Portraits – Your Art, Your Way (online course – March 2017
  • A Moment in Time (Gardenstown, Scotland – October 2016)
  • Drawn to Expression (online course – February/March 2016)
Julian Hyzler
  • Easel and Lens/Artist in Italy Art Workshop (Chuisi, Italy – October 2015)
Shawna Lampi-Legaree
  • Drawing I (Yellowknife, NT – September 2015)
Kate Thompson
  • Fractured Portraits – (online course, 2015)
Jane Davenport 
  • Viva Frida – Mexico City, Mexico (April, 2015)
Jeanne Oliver
  • Studying Under the Masters – Jeanne Oliver (online course, 2014)

Exhibits

Faces of Abstract (November 2017)
  • Joint exhibit in Yellowknife with Adele Bisaillon
Aurora Arts Society
  • Member’s Exhibit and Sale (2014)
Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY. Permanent and travelling collection.

Teaching and workshops

Ecole Sir John Franklin High School Oil and Cold Wax Medium workshop (Yellowknife, NT – November 2018)

Art Date (workshops in Yellowknife)
  • Exploring with watercolour (November 2017)
  • Resistance is futile! Gouache Resist (May 2017)
  • Intro to portraiture (July 2016)
  • Don’t be afraid to cover up! (July 2015)

Memberships

  • Arts on the Ave Edmonton
  • NWT Arts Society
  • Artists in Canada