Sheldon Dawson - Artist Profile

 

 

Sheldon Dawson balances both a successful career as a freelance illustrator and a long-standing commitment to produce and exhibit fine art that explores his own personal vision.

 

Sheldon’s acrylic and mixed media paintings depict the rich inner landscape of a seeker. The scenery is not always pleasant — sometimes dark, mysterious or jarring — at other times hopeful and illuminating.  He often uses animal or semi-human characters to reflect his conviction that we are unfinished creatures ourselves. In many of his paintings these figures struggle to evolve, to transcend themselves. Often these characters wear bird costumes or mechanical wings as symbols of their spiritual aspiration. Web-like structures in many of his paintings represent an infinite labyrinth of consciousness through which it is possible to advance and evolve.

 

His paintings have been exhibited in several galleries in Winnipeg and Calgary including the Winnipeg Art Gallery where he has participated in both the Grand Jury 6 and Grand Jury 7 exhibitions. In 2007 Sheldon became a member of Medea Gallery, Winnipeg's oldest artists' co-operative. His work and that of other member artists is exhibited continuously throughout the year at Medea Gallery in the heart of Osborne Village.

 

After a 25-year career in the advertising industry, Sheldon has devoted the last seven years to the publishing world where he specializes in illustrating children’s books and educational materials. In the last five years, Sheldon has been nominated three times for the Best Illustrated Book Of The Year Award in Manitoba and three of the books he has illustrated have been nominated for the McNally Robinson Book For Young People Award.