Booties In My Briefcase: Living Is An Art… Print Giveaway!

Kim has been writing a lot about her passions in her latest posts… she asked what your passion was and what you wish you had more time for… this made me think of one of my very talented family members (Aunt Dawna) who truly lives her passion. She has a fabulous husband who is very supportive of her and all her passions. Her passion is painting. I am lucky enough to have a portrait painted by her which my parents have displayed above their fireplace! She is an amazingly talented person. Please see below for my interview with the artist and enter the giveaway for her “Living Is An Art” Print!

Artist Statement: My paintings capture and preserve glimpses of the humorous yet revealing nature of human social interaction. The characters in my pictures unveil their story through body language and compelling facial expressions. I paint humor, attitude, and those pivotal moments when people let their guard down, openly display their thoughts, and make that all important connection – no matter how brief.

I started painting as a child and took private art classes as I was growing up. My parents wouldn’t let me go to art school…they said I could go to college and be an art teacher. I got mad and majored in English/Communications instead and didn’t paint again for 30 years. Meanwhile I sewed, designed clothes, wove, dyed, beaded, quilted, and did woodwork. About 15 years ago I was working on a hand dyed portrait quilt when I thought “Surely it would be easier if I just painted the portrait.” Of course…I was wrong! Painting is very difficult to do well. But that’s when I started painting again – almost 30 years to the date when I quit.

I love to paint people; I started out painting portraits, but have progressed into figure paintings which tell stories. I’ve been called a “Sarcastic Norman Rockwell”. I love seeing an interesting person, walking up, introducing myself, and asking if I could photograph them for a painting. I’ve met the most interesting people that way! The ABC series started with a quirky little ABC painting I did for my granddaughter, Alexis. I refined the idea and painted “Living Is An Art” which is really The ABC’s of Living. That gave me the idea to paint the ABC’s of Cincinnati and then Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio, Washington D.C., and Chicago – all places where I have relatives. Once I did Cincinnati, then my relatives started asking me to do their city.

Currently I’m doing outdoor art shows, selling on my website and Etsy, and several retail shops carry my cards and prints. I’m getting together that all important portfolio to start approaching galleries.

Major Shows: Wyoming Art Show, Hyde Park Square, and Summerfair in Cincinnati. Gold Coast and One of A Kind Shows in Chicago. I have a solo show coming up March 2012 at the Sharonville Arts Center in Sharonville, Ohio.

Major Awards:
$1000 Amos Shinkle Award at Duveneck Art Show 2010
People’s Choice Award @ Wyoming Art Show 2005
Community of Wyoming Award @Wyoming Art Show 2006
Wyoming Business Association Award @ Wyoming Art Show 2008

Thanks so much to Dawna for offering our readers a very special giveaway!
The giveaway print is Living Is An Art pictured below.

To enter, please simply leave us a comment telling us which Alphabet Letter you’d like to make more time in your life for…We will run the giveaway for two weeks, ending at NOON on October 30th and will announce the winner using Random.org! Good Luck!

Dawna’s website is www.dawnaboehmer.com . You can also find her art blog there and at

www.cincyblogs.com under the Arts section.
www.dawnaboehmer.com 513-874-1481
Dawna Boehmer,
Dawna Boehmer’s Studio LLC