Dawn realized her talent and love at the age of nine.  She pursued the arts while attending Shawnee Mission High School.  After receiving a National Nomination from New York in High School, Dawn attended KU as an Illustration major.  However, she finished her BFA in painting with minors in photography and illustration.

During Dawn's final years at KU she developed carpal tunnel and was unable to use a brush to apply paint to canvas. During that time she was required to complete her portfolio for finals. She brought in every mark-making object she could find, stretched a 4'x5' canvas, and proceeded to search for a new way to paint.  Out of this experience the No Brushes technique came to be.

My work is a relationship between artist and canvas, an on going conversation of spirited energy and personal encounter.  By focusing on the process of painting I keep realism work fresh. Fluidity, movement, closeness and abstraction are key approaches to achieve the energy I search for. Gesture, line and organic shape are the elements focused on within the imagery.  A reference is used to begin each piece, which may or may not remain in the work, but it will initiate the deliberate mark making.

 The canvases are created while laying flat and no brushes are used.  Acrylic paints are diluted into a squeeze bottle.  The squeeze bottles are then used to create loose gestural lines.  Layered washes (puddles of diluted paint) will follow, guided around the canvas by my  fingers and sticks.  Several thin, translucent layers will build up to create the imagery.  Many unpredicted discoveries happen during this process and improvisation takes over.

 Since graduation Dawn has joined several art organizations and received several local awards for her work. Her style is distinct and recognized in the local community.  Dawn has also participated in several highly ranked national juried shows (Chicago, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Texas).  Private and corporate collectors own her work.