Rocknoggins are the creation of Dawn Sorrell

Artist Bio: Dawn Sorrell

About the Artist

A brief encounter with the past. How did I get here?

Since I was five years old, the time I first discovered I could draw, I drew! I pursued art in one form or another thereafter, with occasional side journeys into money making endeavors. While pursuing my fine art degree in college I began to realize it was going to be very difficult to make a living as an artist. I turned to Graphic Art, the commercial side of art and felt this could be my fix. As it turned out, I lived unknowingly in a state of quite desperation biding my time until I could one day make the change to being a full-time fine artist.

After college, I married and moved to Japan where I exhibited oil paintings and hand-made picture frames. The frames were my lead-in to sculpting. With sculpting, I finally felt I was off and running and I had finally found my place in the world. The Kobe, Japan Earthquake in 1995 changed my direction. Most of my work was destroyed and I had to face starting over. I also suffered survivors guilt for a number of years and wondered how I could value my sculptures so much during a time when people where losing there lives.

Next was the REBUILD phase. I started a company with my husband and through myself into Graphic Art/Animation like a driven mad woman. We had a very successful business and marriage. Nine years later I realized - this is not what I want to be doing. It was time to take the plunge and start pursuing my life long dream. I divorced and moved from Colorado to Washington. In September of 2003 I purchased a barn (a house also came with the deal) and I set up my sculpting studio.

Okay, now I’m here and I can’t wait to get to work each morning. Financially it is a struggle but I’m keeping the faith and giving it my all! Life is good!

So, as I look up the hill at the fast approaching 40 mark I realize I’ve lost a little time and I’m ramping up the pace. Diane Sawyer once said, "If you’re over the hill, just pick up speed".

Education

  • 1985-1988 Fine Art University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
  • 1984-1985 Fine Art Cottey College, Nevada, MO

Grants/Awards/Publications

  • 1st Place – Crested Butte Art Festival, Crested Butte, CO
  • 1st Place – Fine Art Sculpture Competition, Puyallup Fair
  • Tacoma News Tribune article, "Whimsy in Stone"
  • Sculptural Pursuit Industry Award, Sculptural Pursuit Magazine
  • Artisan Northwest, July issue

Exhibitions

  • The Robert Daniel Gallery, Tacoma, WA
  • Two Vaults Gallery, Tacoma, WA
  • Handforth Gallery, Tacoma, WA
  • Lemontree Gallery, Tacoma, WA
  • Kebanu, Bend OR
  • Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
  • Art Concepts, Tacoma, WA
  • BKB & Company, Tacoma, WA
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
  • C.H.I.C., Kobe, Japan