In 2020, Dawn Van Ness converted a portion of her garage into studio space after relocating to a wetland community along the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. With her children now attending school full time and while working virtually as an executive assistant, she has focused on developing new artwork, participating in regional exhibitions, and illustrating children’s books.

Van Ness is largely self-taught, shaped by a lifelong engagement with art alongside formal studies in literature and communication. While she took studio courses during her time at a liberal arts college, her academic path ultimately led her to complete a Bachelor of Arts in English followed by a Master of Science in Mass Communication with a concentration in journalism. Along the way, she developed a strong foundation in digital tools, photography, research, and online platforms—skills that now support both her creative practice and flexible, remote work.

Her studio practice spans acrylic and oil painting, with ongoing exploration in oil pastels and mixed media. Having access to a dedicated studio has allowed her to return more fully to oil painting, while also experimenting with a range of materials depending on setting and circumstance. She works across environments—sometimes in her garage studio, other times outdoors—responding to light, weather, and the everyday presence of birds, insects, and coastal air.

Van Ness’s approach to materials is intuitive and adaptive. At times this includes upcycled surfaces; at others, traditional canvases and tools. The emphasis remains on process, responsiveness, and making use of what is available. She has participated in multiple open-call exhibitions in North Carolina and Virginia, including group shows, a guest exhibition with a folk artist, and a solo exhibit at a public library, and continues to expand her exhibition record.