Sandra Dawson

Sandra Dawson's paintings can be characterized by intensive attention to the surface of the image, an interest developed during her original training as a printmaker. She typically begins by applying thin layers of plaster to a wooden structure before applying acrylic or oil paint. Some surfaces are etched or marked with other media such as pencil. The overall effect is one of textured depth, age, and a suggestion of history. Text is included in many of the images, and has always been an important component of Dawson's work.

Dawson's images have in common a personal connection to the expression of her memories, emotions, and beliefs. Her concerns include her belief in the interrelationship between natural elements, people, the past and present, and the immense power that she sees in individual objects or beings. Her work with children has been an influence, at times contributing whimsy or emotion to her images. By presenting her concerns in a layered and evocative way, Dawson endeavors to strike a responsive and perhaps emotional chord with the viewer.