Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Dodson

Hi Donna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Like every kid, I enjoyed making art, but when I reached the 7th grade, I could only choose two elective classes. This meant dropping out of my art classes in favor of chorus and a foreign language (French). I continued to make many types of arts and crafts with my friends and family and such as macrame, candle making and weaving but I never thought of it as a career until I met my Sunday school teacher who was a very talented painter. Every graduating high school senior in my church received a print of his contemporary crucifixion painting that was based on the bible verse John 3:16. He also had a solo show in the vestibule of my church of his abstract paintings interpreting the Book of Revelations and it totally blew me away. I had no idea that you could create images based on your imagination. That left a lasting impression on me although it wasn’t until I graduated from college, that I discovered my own talents for making art.

In the past 35 years, my artwork has been featured in over 30 solo exhibitions, I have been invited to participate in 25 public art projects, and I have exhibited my sculptures in over 125 group shows for local, national and international audiences. My art work has been critically reviewed hundreds of times, I have given numerous lectures for a variety of audiences and I have won many grants and awards. I am proud to share that my work in held in over 80 private and 10 public museum collections. Even as I reflect on all that has been given to me, I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

As a freshman in high school, I ran on the cross-country and spring track teams. When I was a senior in high school, I decided to run the Boston Marathon and my coach was kind enough to support my desire. I trained with my friend who was an exchange student from Peru but I ran it alone. I finished in twice the time it took Bill Rogers, and I was very proud of my accomplishment.

When I decided to pursue making art, I approached it like running a marathon meaning that I knew I was committing to it for the long haul. In the beginning of my career, chose to support myself by working in a variety of odd jobs where I could learn new skills such as carpentry, house painting, picture frame making and as an architectural millworker. But I quickly realized that physically demanding jobs competed with my time and energy for making art. So I made a career transition to working in libraries since I enjoyed the work, and it kept my body and soul intact. But as my work became more successful and my time was in more demand, I eventually left my library job to pursue my art work full time.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I am well-known as a woodcarver of amazons, goddesses and wondrous women. I am most proud of carving the world’s first and only life size all female chess set and for my Seagull Cinderella public art controversy. What sets me apart from others is my patience, perseverance and my work ethic. I am very dogged and determined to have the career I want.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?

I am so fortunate to have had some really great mentors along the way such as Joseph Wheelwright, Boaz Vaadia and Carole Feuerman. I am truly grateful to all of the collectors who have purchased my work and to the galleries who have taken a chance on me, most recently Abigail Ogilvy Gallery in Boston and Los Angeles. Last but not least, I appreciate the opportunities I have been given to share my work with the public art in a wide variety of art museums throughout the country and to work with such talented and hard working curators including Shannon Bailey at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis Missouri, and Beth McLaughlin at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton Massachusetts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.donnadodsonartist.com/
• Instagram: @donnadodsonartist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnadodsonartist
• Twitter: @artistdonnad
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDonnadodsonartist/videos
• Other: https://donnadodsonartist.blogspot.com/

Image Credits
Brian Wilson