Sunday, October 21, 2012

Lake Crescent, Again





Here are two images showing a bit of the process for this piece, beginning with the finished product. This first photo is not the best one possible as I was too cold and lazy to take it outside to photograph, the best place to take photos of artwork (it's about 40 degrees out there and I've become a weather wimp since I moved North. The second photo shows step one: scary in its wildness. This was an amazing day at Crescent Lake, wild clouds and the light changing by the minute. This first under-painting is so intense I was afraid I would not be able to pull it off. The difference between the two pictures is several weeks, layers of paint, and lots of contemplation.

This is another work from Lake Crescent, which is one of my primary sources of material. One of my favorite places, a place of great power and mysticism, wild spookiness, great depths. The painting has not yet told me what it's name is, once I have it, along with a better final picture, I'll post both.


Happy painting!
Dawn

Monday, February 27, 2012

The studio has been one hopping place so far this year. I've had a good show at Port Townsend Gallery this month, "Industrial Arts" which comes down February 29th. Please stop by if you haven't had a chance to see the work, 715 Water Street, Port Townsend Washington.

In other studio news, "The Last Horizon" won the purchase award at the CVG Show in Bremerton Washington. This is one of the region's best shows, and I was honored to be in such good company as well as to win this award. The purchase award means that the Kitsap County Arts Council bought my work to hang in a public space, as yet to be announced.

My next big gig begins the same week: "Power of Place" opens March 3rd at Max Grover's Gallery. I'm very excited to see my work exhibited there as Max has a great space for viewing art. This body of work deals with my ongoing studies and explorations of the power of place. It's diverse in media and subject matter, but it all comes back to this core. All places are powerful, but they have different character whether it's a deep dark forest, an ocean, a train yard, or a boat yard. Some are intrinsically powerful, some gain their power from the number of people who use the place for whatever reason. My pieces of interstate traffic, for example, are about a truth and power that comes from their function, and the fact that so many people rely on this system. Light reflecting off of a stream of cars is very similar to the light reflecting off of a raging river; these things share a similar power. We are influenced in subtle ways by our immediate environment, whether or not we are actively paying attention to it.

Come and talk with Dawn and Max at a reception during Gallery Walk on Saturday, March 3rd, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.

Max Grover Gallery is located at 630 Water Street, Port Townsend in the back of Sideshow Variety. For more gallery information, phone 360-385-5051 or visit maxgrover.com







Friday, January 27, 2012

Landscapes, Human Spaces







When we think of landscape, I think our minds automatically jump to images of the romantic era--great sweeping vistas, ideal views, the simple calm beauties of the pastoral, the great impressive fervor of the romantic sublime. But the translation of landscape has changed as much as our relationship to place has changed. We are no longer removed, no longer remote from these places. We know so much more about the nuances of our immediate environment. Landscape is where we live: it is where we work, pay rent, and commute. It is our community, both natural and human-made. These things have been on my mind lately, which brought about this series of the industrial landscape in my town. They are fascinating both emotionally and visually. I particularly love the boat yard at night or in the early dawn--there's so much that happens down there, from people lifting boats out of the water, welding, varnishing, rebuilding vessels of all types. It's a fascinating place.


This is not the entire series, and you can see more of it next month at the Port Townsend Gallery where I will be a featured artist along with fiber artist Ginny King. Come and talk to us about our work next Gallery Walk on Saturday, February 4th, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. Port Townsend Gallery is located at 715 Water Street www.portownsendgallery.com

Cheers!
Dawn