Dawn Joy ~ Artist Bio

"I love to create whimsical innovative characters with vibrant colour, childlike simplicity, abstract form, and dimensional texture. I never thought I could draw until one day in the year 2001, I decided to attempt drawing by closing my eyes and sketching a cat from my imagination. I opened my eyes and it was magic. I had something I could work with if I erased parts and connected the dots. And so this creative journey began and soon an abundance of animal critters and characters were springing to life from my imagination. It is always a delightful surprise to see what pops out next. My entire life, I had been searching for a meaningful way to create and I finally discovered it. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I could become an artist and every day I feel so grateful for this gift."

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Dawn Joy is a self-taught artist who began painting from her imagination 9 years ago specializing in cave art and whimsical animals. Working in acrylic on canvas, paper collage, and digital media, her images have been licensed for advertising and conference brochures and posters. Original paintings are in private collections in Canada, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand. Greeting cards, fridge magnets, buttons, and prints are available in retail gift stores.

Memberships: Juried Member Island Illustrators Society and the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), member Community Arts Council (CAC) Greater Victoria.

Galleries/Retail Stores: Sooke Harbour House Gallery, Legacy Gallery, Sidestreet Studio Gallery, She Said Gallery, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Campus Medicine UVIC, Victoria, B.C.

Awards: Runner-up Peoples' Choice Award Best Artist - Moss St. Paint-In, July 2008, SPAC 50th Anniversary Show and Sale, April 2003, Juror's Choice Award and Patron's Purchase Award. - CAC of Greater Victoria Juried "Look" exhibitions, informal, Peoples' Choice Award, 2001.

Exhibitions: 2010: Fresh Cafe Selkirk Waterfront, Sidney Fine Art Show, FCA Fall Show, Moss St. Paint-In, Sooke Harbour House "Earth, Fire, and Brush", IIS Naughtie Bits Show, CAC Look Show, 2009 FCA Vancouver Human Figure Show, 2009 CAC Look Show, 2008 MacPherson Playhouse FCA Show, 2007 Sooke Fines Arts Show (juried), 2006 Spirit Bears In The City Commission for B.C. Lions Club Society titled: "Was It Just A Dream? ~ A Tribute to John Lennon, 2006 Saanich Municipal Hall Centennial Banner, "Cats Having Fun In Oak Bay" Show - Frame-Up Gallery, Christmas Show 2005 Craigdarroch Castle, SPAC Spring Show, May 2005. - Federation of Canadian Artists, "Spring Show", Victoria, 2005 & 2004 (juried) - Community Arts Council of Victoria, "Self-Portraits" exhibition, 2002 (juried) - Out-Of-Hand Gallery "For the Fun of It", 2002. Victoria BC

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