Dotty Hawthorne, Artist
"Her mastery of the Central Coast landscape can make you forget the other plein-air gypsies scrabbling at the gates." Bill Beeson, art critic

"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, 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, watercolor, and oil. Her paintings have been displayed and won numerous awards in local, regional and national juried shows. She is represented by and is co-owner of The Gallery at the Network in San Luis Obispo.  Dotty frequently demonstrates at area art associations, has taken part in juried plein air painting festivals and participates in the Open Studios Tour of Arts Obispo.  Her paintings have been featured in nationally distributed publications such as INTERNATIONAL ARTIST Magazine, WATERCOLOR Magazine published by American Artist, North Light Magazine and in "SPLASH 5; The Glory of Color published by Northlight Books.

    Focusing on environmental concerns, Dotty is active in SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters' Enterprise) and in ARTCENCO, a monthly critique group. She is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and the Central Coast Watercolor Society, an Artist Member of  The California Art Club and a member of CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) and the Oil, Pastel and Acrylic Group of the San Luis Art Association.

    Ms. Hawthorne 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 and Ray Roberts.

    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.

    Her studio is located in beautiful Squire Canyon near San Luis Obispo, California, and is open by appointment (805-595-7054).


RECENT SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

"Hearst Castle Plein Air Invitational" 2009, 2010
"PASTELS ONLY" International juried exhibition of the Pastel Society of America, Awards 2006, 2008
"PASTELS USA" International juried exhibition of Pastel Society of the West Coast 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
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
PLEIN AIR PAINTING FESTIVAL - SLO Art Center - 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
McConnell Gallery "Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables" Invitational Exhibit, Spring 2003; "We Live Here" Invitational Exhibit, Fall, 2003
Village Art - Arroyo Grande, Ca. - Five solo exhibitions
Yearly benefit shows presented by SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment)
ADAMS GALLERY, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. Solo exhibition
Paso Robles Library - Solo exhibition, 2007