About the Artist

"Whether I am standing outside at my easel painting a landscape or in my studio working on a still life of cut fruit or a portrait of a unique individual, I am drawn to praise the Creator of all things. The beauty and complexity of created forms, the interaction of light, shadow and atmosphere, and the subtleties of color-these are all evidence of the One who creates and loves us. It is a privilege to be an artist and to closely observe these gifts."

            Dotty works in pastel, oil and watercolor.  The primary focus in her plein air and studio painting is to celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of the world around her. She has a deep love of nature and enjoys interpreting and celebrating the changing seasons, patterns in the landscape and observing the effects of light. She particularly enjoys plein air painting on location, but also spends hours in her studio completing plein air work, working on larger paintings  and painting still lives.

Her paintings have been displayed and won numerous awards in local, regional and national juried shows. After spending five years in the Pacific Northwest, Dotty and her husband  have returned to San Luis Obispo, CA, where they had lived prior to to their time in Portland.

            Her paintings have been featured in nationally distributed publications such as INTERNATIONAL ARTIST Magazine, SOUTHWEST ART, WATERCOLOR Magazine published by American Artist, North Light Magazine, in "SPLASH 5; The Glory of Color published by Northlight Books, and CALIFORNIA LIGHT, Paintings of the California Art Club.

            Dotty was recently awarded Signature Membership in the Pastel Society of America. She is also a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, the Northwest Pastel Society and the Central Coast Watercolor Society and a juried Artist Member of  The California Art Club. Dotty has paintings included in the permanent collection of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA, Marian Hospital in Santa Maria, CA and SESLOC in San Luis Obispo, CA.

             Dotty is represented by Park Street Gallery in Paso Robles, CA and is an active member of SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment.

            She graduated from Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, with a BA in Art, earned a Certificate of Completion from North Light Art School, and has taken workshops from leading painters including Arne Nybak, Don O'Neil, Polly Hammet, Robert Reynolds, Libby Tolley, Jim Kosvanec, Skip Lawrence, Albert Handell, Kitty Wallis, Ray Roberts, Brenda Boylan and Gabor Svagrik.

          Dotty has illustrated several books written by her daughters on Latin American village life. "Portraits of a Peruvian Town in Words and Watercolor" written by Shelley Hawthorne was published by Dog City Press, and "Walk These Stones; Encounters along a Costa Rican Village Road" was written by Leslie Hawthorne Klingler and published by Squire Oaks Press.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY OPEN STUDIO ART TOUR, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

COLORS OF CONSERVATION, Benefit for the Land Conservancy of SLO County, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

PASTELS USA 99 Voices in Pastel, Ruth Cabrera Art Award, second place Contemporary Realism, 2022

PASTEL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, "Enduring Brilliance" 2020

     Art du Pastel en France Award - 2020

NORTHWEST PASTEL SOCIETY, 34th Annual International Exhibit, Tacoma, WA, 2019, 2020, 2021

PASTEL 100, Pastel Journal, Honorable Mention 2019

LAVENDER FESTIVAL, Newport, OR, 2019, 2020, 2021

LAKE OSWEGO PLEIN AIR, Lake Oswego, OR, 2019, 2020

CHRISMAN FRAME & GALLERY, Solo Show, Lake Oswego, OR, 2019, 2020, 2021

RAIN SPARK GALLERY Seasonal Show, Guest artist, 2018

LAKEWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS Entrance Gallery, Solo Show 2018

FAV 15%, November 2017, March, April 2018, Bold Brush Competition

CHRISMAN FRAME AND GALLERY- Solo Show June 2017, 2020, Group Show 2018, 2020

106th GOLD MEDAL EXHIBITION - California Art Club, April 2017

MARYHILL MUSEUM - Pacific Northwest Plein Air Festival, August 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021

FINALIST - Bold Brush Painting Competition, December 2016 - Juror Eric Bowman

GALLERY AT THE NETWORK, featured artist, "Leaving My Muse". June, July 2015

"PASTELS USA" International juried exhibition of Pastel Society of the West Coast 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014

BOLD BRUSH PAINTING COMPETITION, Outstanding Pastel, March 2014

SAN LUIS OBISPO MUSEUM OF ART - solo show First Gallery "Seasons" November 2011

ART FOR THE PARKS, Coutts Museum of Art, Top 50 travelling show, 2013

AMERICA'S PARKS THROUGH THE BEAUTY OF ART, Top 101, 2013

Yearly shows presented by SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment 1993-2013

OLD PUEBLO FRAMEWORKS AND GALLERY, Tucson, AZ - Featured Artist March 2011

Paso Robles Festival of the Arts 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
"Hearst Castle Plein Air Invitational" 2009, 2010
SAN LUIS ART MUSEUM Plein Air Painting Festival, yearly through 2011
"PASTELS ONLY" International juried exhibition of the Pastel Society of America, Awards 2006, 2008

Fine Art Views BOLD BRUSH 15% FAV award - Nov. 2010, Feb. 2012

AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST SOCIETY - National Juried Exhibition
CENTRAL COAST FINE ART JURIED EXHIBITION - Award 2004
WATERCOLOR WEST XXXII - National Juried Exhibition
AQUARIUS Annual Juried Show, CCWS, Participant 1991 - 2003, First Place Award 2000 & 1994, Arne Nybak Award 2003, Merit Award 1998
CALIFORNIA MID STATE FAIR - First Place and Judges Award 1998, Best of Show 1997
WATERCOLOR U.S.A. National Juried Exhibition Patron Purchase Award - 1997, 1998
BRUSHSTROKES Annual Juried Show, OPAG, , First Place Pastel 2000, HM, 2001, Award, 2009
THE COLOR OF AUTUMN Annual Juried Show, Paso Robles, CA. 1996 - 2003, Awards, 1996, 1997, 2004
KCBX Wine Classic Competition Winner - 2000
Village Art - Arroyo Grande, Ca. - Five solo exhibitions
ADAMS GALLERY, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. Solo exhibition