Interview
Dawn Renee Darnell
Dawn is an artist, photographer, and author. She judges the Communicator/Davey/w3 awards. She has exhibited in Art Basel, ExpoMetro, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, and New York. Her international awards include 24 photography and 45 book awards. She has been honored in Marquis Who’s Who, Marquis Top Professional, and in the Millennium Magazine.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I have been a photographer for more than 15 years. One day in 2016, a lady in New Zealand contacted me and told me that she had a lot of my photos and that a dear friend of hers loved my work. She wanted to give my work to her friend. However, her friend did not put photography on her walls, only art. She asked me to draw the photo that she wanted. I said ok. I had not made art since grade school in the early 80's. A few days later. I ran into an old friend who went to art school. I asked him to teach me the very basics of drawing. He said, "You are so creative, just pick up a pencil and do it.” So, I went to the store and got wax, oil, and watercolor pencils plus charcoal sticks and soft pastels. With the photo at hand, I recreated it.”
What inspires you?
“Nature - the good and the bad. From butterflies to mountains to rattlesnakes to hurricanes.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Ones that cause emotions - of all kinds, from sweet, warm, fuzzy summers to poisonous spiders to the emotions of what anxiety or even trauma might look like in art form.”
“Nature - the good and the bad.”
How would you describe your work?
“Messy mixed with perfectness.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Sculptures are my favorite form of art. I love the Mustangs by Robert Glen. It's so real yet messy from the water. I was born and raised in Texas, I know it well. Michelangelo is by far my most favorite. Everything he made involved emotions. My stepdad inspired me the most. He made all kinds of sculptures, from bronze to wood. He knew my love of sculptures and tried to teach me. I never could grasp the concept. He tried and never gave up from the potter's wheel to carving walking sticks to building the Lincoln Memorial out of cigar boxes and straws to carving monkeys out of peach seeds. I can't wrap my mind around how you can take a solid object and see the vision to cut a sculpture out of it. If you want to impress me with a piece of art, it will only come from a sculpture.”
What is your creative process like?
“All of my art starts with one of my photos. I recreate it on paper before it gets put on canvas. Most of my art takes about 50 hours to make.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“To convey an emotion and freeze it in everlasting time. I feel that ExpoMetro is truly evolving art as we know it. To replace the advertisement with art from around the world, with a wide variety of art styles, is the essence of freedom of art and how art should be displayed. I absolutely love being part of it.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“If you can an exhibition anywhere, it's noteworthy. There is a lot of great art out there. I have art exhibits across the globe, but what truly excites me is Art Basel Miami, which I have had art there a few times, and ExpoMetro which I have also had several exhibits in.”
Website: www.adesertdawn.com
Other links: www.facebook.com/dawn.bevers
