Meet Dawn Stratchko

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Stratchko.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My love for painting began in elementary school at the Currier Museum of Art at an intensive Summer art program in Manchester, NH. At the Currier I learned drawing, oil painting and weaving. Once I learned how to draw in charcoal and learned how to mix colors, I knew I was on my way to become an artist. I loved it! In my junior year of high school, I attended another summer intensive fine art program at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME for pre-college students. At MECA, I was introduced to sculpture, painting, color theory, and 2-D design. I learned about the Dada art movement and artist Jean Arp. Also, during high school, my art teacher showed a movie to our class on Georgia O’Keefe and I was in awe! Jean Arp and Georgia O’Keefe were large influences on how I saw things and influenced my artwork. I remember in the Georgia O’Keefe movie of her saying, “Have you ever really looked at a flower?”

In 1989 I went to Maine College of Art and completed my first year, but was disillusioned on how I was going to make a living and entered into the life of retail management. I missed designing but began seeing art in clothing. It wasn’t until 1996 that I began taking college business courses and was introduced to the computer. After my first computer class, I decided to go back to art school to could finish my fine art degree and had a focus of graphic design. I graduated in 1999 and pursued a career in advertising and publishing for the next 17 years. I pursued another degree and achieved my Bachelor of Science in Applied Technology from Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global) in 2015. During my unemployment, I enrolled in an online Skillshare course and learned how to make repeat patterns from your own paintings and edit them in Adobe Illustrator (my favorite program). The art instructor was Bonnie Christine and is an inspiration! Now I am getting my patterns printed on material and making them into scarves and dresses. I am always drawing, painting and always making patterns – I am hooked! It is my passion.

Please tell us about your art.
I am a painter and abstract artist. I mainly work in acrylic, gauche, Caran d’Ache, and alcohol inks. It depends on my mood if I use one or all painting mediums. I paint on canvas, wood panel, mixed media panel, and Yupo paper. I use a wide variety of all different kinds of brushes and items to apply paint and ink to my work.

I get great inspiration from flowers, trees, lakes and beaches. I also pray and meditate every morning before I start my day; this is vital for my inspiration and guiding source.

I want to share the joy and passion with others. People can view and purchase my paintings, scarves, and cards. I am launching a fashion line so people will be able to wear my art this fall 2018. I am going through the first stages of having 2 dresses manufactured at Clothier Design Resource located here in the USA, with two of my original painted designs. This new plus size dress line will launch this September 2018 and will be sold online. For a preview, please see my website at www.dawnstratchko.com. I also have scarves, greeting cards, and professional wall art canvas prints done on canvas of my work on Etsy.com.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I have grown inward to the spiritual side of my own soul and the beauty of nature instead of focusing on turmoil and press releases. Our everyday world is extremely busy and fast. I like to use the technology and instant use of it to share beauty of your soul and the beauty of nature. Life is much more beautiful when you fall in love have passion for the simple beauty of the smallest things in life that bring joy.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
To see all my work, please see my website at www.dawnstratchko.com. My current paintings, scarves, and greeting card line are for sale on “etsy.com” at www.etsy.com/shop/DawnStratchko. You can also follow me on Instagram at dawnstrat521.

Contact Info:

• Address: 409 Union St. Leominster, MA 01453
• Website: https://www.dawnstratchko.com
• Phone: 978-413-7918
• Email: dawnstrat521@yahoo.com
• Instagram: dawnstrat521
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/DawnStratchko

Image Credit:
Danielle Watson.

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