K.M. Jackson

Hello everyone. Today I’d like to introduce you to an artist I found via Google, Dawna Morton.  I found Dawna in an unlikely way. Quite a few Sundays ago I was on the run, literally, to take the DD to 2 dance shows and had the vision of a Moody Sunrise in my head because it was a moody kind of day. So… long story, short I searched Google for a moody sunrise image and Dawna’s work came up with many others but her’s just jumped out at me. I put it up, said on my post, “image from here” and linked to her blog and ran out the door with the DD, running late as usual. The next day I hear from Dawna.. Lesson here: I should have asked before putting Dawna’s image up on ye old blog.

But Dawna’s work at DlmtleArt is gorgeous and it should be seen and talked about. She’s kindly agreed to do a blog interview here. So let’s chat with Dawna.

 Dawna Morton self portrait

Hi Dawna. Thanks so much for being here today. Please tell us a little about your background.

How long have you been an artist? Is this something you’ve always done? Did you study at school?

I grew up in the inner city area of Portland, Oregon. I have 2 brothers, a sister, 5 step brothers, and 5 step sisters. My Husband and I have 5 kids and a dog, and live on a forested half-acre overlooking the Columbia River.

Although I did not seriously start trying to sell my artwork until three years ago, I have always enjoyed art. Starting with a childhood love of late night coloring, several ceramics courses and an art class in middle school, followed by some more art classes in high school, I went on to major in Fine Arts at Brigham Young University with the intention of entering the illustration program. Then after my Sophomore year of college I married my high school sweetheart, and my family became my full-time top priority–as it should be 😉 It was not until recently that I started putting more of an emphasis back on developing my talent as an artist.

You paint and do photography? Please tell us what you love about both mediums?

As a child I was shy, introspective, and quiet, so expressing myself visually was and still is easier than in conversation. I have always loved to play with color, and there is something about the creative process that is relaxing and therapeutic, causing my worries and cares to all fall away while I lose myself in the process and feel of moving the brush, pen, or pencil across the paper. Although I use many different mediums, watercolor is by far my favorite because I love its ability to capture the essence of sunlight.

Photography is great because it gives me a creative outlet when life is too hectic to paint. I also love how since I have started selling my photos as well as my art, I find myself constantly on the lookout for the beauty that surrounds me. It gives me an excuse to get out of the house and go hiking, or just poke around the yard whenever the sunlight is “just right.” Recently I’ve been having fun experimenting and learning some new photo editing techniques to come up with something new and imaginative.

Your love of nature is clear in your work. Is there a subject matter that you prefer or does it flow for you?

At first my favorite subject was people–specifically people in my life and events involving them that were nearest and dearest to my heart. Even now, hope, joy, love, spirituality, and family are often themes in my art. It is perhaps because of how sunlight, water and other nature scenes symbolically express these themes that I am so fascinated with them as subjects.

Since recently my life has been chaotic and hectically busy, lately I have been working on some less time intensive exercises to move away from photo-realism in my paintings by doing things like looking at a scene for 5 minutes, then painting it entirely from memory.

I know you are a busy mother too. How do you manage your artwork and your family? What’s a typical day or week like for you? Is any day typical?

I had a good laugh when you asked whether any day is typical. Some days I’m not sure there isany such thing. Dealing with a toddler, an infant, and three school-age children requires a lot of flexibility. I have to do a lot of playing things by ear and make the best use of my time based on whether the baby is crying, what the toddler is getting into, or if anyone is having a complete meltdown. My schedule is constantly in flux based on the kids’ developmental stages and activities–so I quite frequently have to learn to readjust my daily schedule.

Managing my family and having time for my artwork is a bit of a balancing act. I try to make the most of all the little moments during the day when there is the opportunity to get two or more things done at once–all while trying to get enough quality time in with my family. I find that things like preparing ahead, being creative in my use of leftovers, making sure the kids all have adequate age appropriate chores, and taking time for spiritual nourishment as well as family fun helps keep things on a more even keel.

I love that advice and it would help so many of us working moms!

Thanks so much for being here again. You can contact Dawna for custom pieces or prints or greeting cards at:

Best,

Kwana