interview with dawn winter

January welcomed our newest artist, Dawn Winter,  as part of our show "Triple Play".  Read below to learn more about this contemporary abstract painter from Austin.​

Tell us a little bit about your life before you became an artist.
 I began painting after a trip to Santa Fe, NM inspired me to exploring this new opportunity to explore my creativity.  Prior to becoming an artist, I had (and still have) interests in design and architecture. The use of color and our surroundings in which we live were subjects in which I was drawn towards and I've spent many hour pouring over design and architecture resources. I was busy as a stay-at-home mom and the idea of painting abstract paintings hadn't even crossed my mind.  My life was filled with managing the details of raising kids, maintaining a home and several community activities. The closest to painting was painting the interior walls of my home! 
        
Did you do art or artsy things growing up?
While younger, I spent many hours making collages from photos cut from magazines and I enjoyed coloring as a young girl.  Illustration and drawing were never of interest and I enjoyed playing around with painting, but on a very limited basis.
      
When did you start to make art and why or how did you make the decision to do this?
I began painting after a trip with my mom to Santa Fe, NM inspired me to return to Austin to explore painting. I was in my early 40's and prior to Santa Fe, NM while I had been impressed with other's paintings, I hadn't given any thought to myself painting.  As my mom and I meandered through the many galleries, I became more and more enthralled with both the sculptures and paintings.  I was awestruck with their beauty and and also was curious how the artists created their work.  Upon returning home to Austin, I began asking questions about the process of painting and eventually found my way to a local art store to purchase my first art supplies.         
 
Who was your first mentor or person of inspiration?
 I was inspired by paintings in which the use of colors, layering and the depth that artists created.  Also, with the notion that each person can have their own individual impressions or ideas of images within paintings.  So, for this reason I admired several abstract artists.
         
 
Who is your favorite artist?
Clyfford Still and Helen Frankenthaler are two of my favorite artists as I find their work fascinating.