Dawna Thorstad: February Spotlight Artist at Downtown Art Gallery
Mon Feb 3, 10:00 AM - Sat Feb 29, 3:00 PM

The Downtown Art Gallery in historic downtown Titusville has chosen Dawna Thorstad as its Spotlight Artist for February. An exhibit of her paintings will be on display all month at this fine art gallery featuring local artists..

Dawna was raised in Titusville where she played in the river, surfed Playalinda and developed a lifelong love of nature, the outdoors, and life on the water. Dawna may be part gypsy, part mermaid as she hasmoved often, to many exotic locations, always near the ocean. From Costa Rica, to St. Croix, to Honduras where she and her husband, who she met in Titusville, managed a dive resort in Guanaja. Then they worked with Windstar Cruises teaching diving all over the world where a “work” meant they got to spend 4 hours a day underwater!. Several years were spent in the South Pacific and Polynesian culture continues to influence her paintings.

Dawna works in watercolors, alcohol ink and acrylic paint on a variety of surfaces. Her work is more impressionistic than realist, reflecting her love of color. Recently she has experimented with acrylic pouring. It is challenging to give up control and trust the process as colors flow together. In all her work she begins with an idea but often finds that the paint leads her in an unexpected direction. Dawna says”The thrill of making art does not come from perfect technique and design, but from honestly sharing experiences, ideas and observations from one person to another. And it’s FUN!”

Dawna’s subjects reflect her many life experiences, her love of water, the bright tropical colors But the loss of her parents and sister also imbues the paintings with longing and meaning. From bight abstract to more subdued watercolors, Dawna’s work covers a variety of techniques, subjects and feelings as the viewer joins her journey of discovery.

Dawna’s paintings, as well as the work of other local artists, can be seen at the Downtown Art Gallery, 335 S. Washington Ave, downtown Titusville. The gallery is open Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 11 am to 3 pm. For more information call the gallery at 321-268-0122.