Wildlife Artist Dawn Senior-Trask of Moonhorse Art Studio
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Artist Teaches Doland Students

By Jeri Nellermoe, The Plainsman

Art is all around you, and the best stories are about the people and places you know.

Those are concepts artist and writer Dawn Senior tries to pass on to all the students she works with through the artist in residency program.

Senior is spending this week in the Doland school system working with grades K-12.

"I like to let students know that they have a unique place they're living in, and each of them has an important life," said Senior.  "That's where they can get material for their writing and art."

Senior is a Wyoming native.  Her family owns a small publishing company there.

Most of her art work centers on oil painting, woodcuts and sculpture.  She illustrates books and is in the midst of writing a novel.

Senior spends anywhere from two to six months a year traveling to various schools as an artist in residence through the Wyoming and South Dakota Arts Councils.

As she enters each new community, Senior looks for the unique qualities of the area.  "Kids in all towns think, 'this must be the most boring, ordinary place in the world'."

But Senior has reminded the students in Doland that not everyone has a chance to see something as common in this area as hogs or cornfields.  She encourages them to "capture their everyday lives -- the conversations they overhear or the stories that have passed down.  Each town has its own particular characters.  The greatest writers are those that can bring those characters to life for others."

Senior is spending most of her time in Doland teaching the kids how to make linoleum block prints.  The work brings back memories for Senior.  "That's how I first started as a professional artist," she said.  "I was 12, and I made some linoleum prints.  I printed several on note cards, packaged them and sold them."

Even before that, Senior knew she would be an artist.  "In fact, that was the main argument I got into with other kids in the second grade.  I'd say, 'I'm an artist,' and they'd say, 'You can't be an artist, you're not grown up!'  But I said that didn't matter -- I was an artist."

Children have artistic abilities, but the confident "I can do that" attitude often fades.  Some students will stare at a piece of paper, afraid to make a mess of the white, open space, said Senior.

"Sometimes I tell them to just start scribbling.  Or if we're writing, I'll show them one of my rough drafts," she said, digging out a sheet from her briefcase.  The page is barely legible, filled with scratched-out lines and rewritten sentences.

"I show them it's not the end of the world if you make a mistake.  Sometimes you just have to start."

While art programs are often the first to go when budgets are tight, Senior says she thinks schools are beginning to understand the importance of creative work.  "Without being encouraged to express themselves, it's easy for a child's mind to remain closed and to stay limited in what they think they can do in life."

If you would like more information on our artwork or would like to place an order, email Moonhorse Art Studio or call us 307.327.5381. We look forward to hearing from you!