Painter’s Bio:

I began painting on a regular basis in college, having drawn since I was a kid. Early works experimented with a variety of styles, although rarely pushing abstraction to the point of a completely non-figurative depiction. A general preference for warmer colours also began to appear.

While studying Fine Arts at Concordia University, I began to move towards a more representational style. With the aid of Professor Yves Gaucher, it became clear that painting actual items or subjects worked best for me. Soon after, Professor Guido Molinari impressed upon me his beliefs in the universal elements of painting, regardless of style or levels of abstraction. This led to a long series of Giorgio Morandi inspired “bottle” paintings, where I would set a handful of the same objects on a simple backdrop. It combined painting from life with an arranged and simplified design.

After graduating, I continued with the bottle series, but wanted to loosen up my style and brush marks. Recalling some plein air works done during summer visits to the Eastern Townships, and an increasing admiration for the works of Tom Thomson, I decided to work outdoors, starting with cityscapes done in and around the port of Montréal. Eventually I moved to pure country settings, void of human construction.

My current landscapes are once again a combination of actual items and a careful use of placement. While every scene depicted exists, the choice of cropping, along with a more flat picture plane, results in an abstract leaning design. This lack of depth allows for areas of strong colour to move into the foreground. The abstract elements are there to heighten, or compliment, what I enjoy most in painting.

A warm palette is something I have always favored, both in my own works, and those of others. Aspects of my paintings are arguably built around presenting colour. The numerous thin trees are real, but could also be interpreted as lines separating areas of colour. Landscapes offer an abundance of warm hues, all the while allowing for innumerable visual interpretations.

Although I do not think I will be heading towards total abstraction, I may alter levels of distortion to explore where it leads. Painting is a progressive endeavor, and it is important to discover what works best for you.

.........Sören Dawson

D.E.C. - Creative Arts - Dawson College

B.F.A. - Art History & Studio Art - Concordia University