Meet Dawn Marie Pratt of Dawning Art in East Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Marie Pratt.

Dawn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been an artist, my parents would tell you I was born one! I have created since I was in diapers, always took art in school and enjoyed art classes of all types at the Multnomah Art Center in Portland Oregon where I grew up. When I graduated high school I spontaneously joined the Air Force in a quick hour after hanging out with friends at the downtown mall, I put zero thought into it- my parents and friends were shocked, but I was bored and ready to see the world. My Military adventure started like everyone else, Basic Training in Texas and my Technical School was in Mississippi. First base was a special duty assignment at Incirlik AB in Turkey for a year and a half followed by three years at RAF Lakenheath in England where my career was abruptly ended by a very serious car accident that brought me back to the civilian world as a disabled Veteran.

During my five years in the Air Force, the only art I was involved in was looking at all the museums and culture Europe has, I enjoyed learning about all the greats! I moved to Arizona right after getting out so I could enjoy the warm air and sunshine and I found so much more! I met and married my husband who luckily loves to encourage me to create, he has supplied me with a beautiful art studio filled with supplies and always goes along with all my crazy ideas! Our newest idea is being part of the Art Festivals in Arizona, we did our first one this December! I’m hooked for sure! Art is amazing and the community is even better, spending three days talking with like minded people and creators filled me up to the top with energy and love. So that’s where I am now! I’m looking forward to new artistic ideas and friendships and positive people to create with!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say, Yes it has been a smooth beautiful ride! Being involved in a car accident is never wonderful and getting out of the Air Force after only five years was never part of my original plan but because of that, I’m able to do what I do now! The military was great, it taught me control and discipline and respect for authority. But it also hindered my creative self, stuffed it into a ziplock bag and let it marinate for a few years. I had five years of tasty ideas and excitement and love to unleash on the world! That was almost 20 years ago, I got out of the military in September 2001 and have been actively creating ever since!

We’d love to hear more about your art.
Mainly I’m an acrylic painter but my style evolves every day, I enjoy painting with every type of medium and like to combine them to figure out new ideas, art is a journey that never ends. Talking with other artists opens new doors and new ideas, I never can say I have one style… I’m a crafter and an artist, so of course, art trends interest me and I always have to try the “new thing”. My favorite type of painting so far is probably a flow style painting, I like the freedom of it and the unexpected outcome. It has a mad scientist feel to it, I paint a lot of beaches and ocean waves and I would say that’s probably a style I might be known for right now. I have painted a lot of dog portraits, that seems to be a side niche that I have gotten into. And painting with kids as a group always makes me happy, I would like to start adult painting groups and love the idea of sharing Art with people who think they don’t have any talent- everyone is an artist.

What were you like growing up?
I was a crazy kid, loads of energy- LOADS! The school was not easy for me, as an adult, I look back and think I probably had ADHD or ADD, the teacher’s words never went all the way into me, I was easily distracted. I was always told to “calm down”, “turn down your volume” or “pay attention”! I could always doodle and draw and create with no problem though. I have always loved music and can remember lyrics to songs after hearing them only once or twice but can’t remember what I had for dinner last night. I have the same problems as an adult but now I can see myself as I am and can control myself for the most part.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 480-322-7550
• Email: dawnpratt123@yahoo.com
• Instagram: Dawning_art
• Facebook: Pratt Dawn

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