Dawn Alene Phelps was born April 12, 1958, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The youngest
of five children of Harold and Robyn Phelps she became known at an early age for
her vivid imagination and remarkable creativity. Dawn was a self-described
artist who's art education began with an art class in high school which she
signed on for when she realized (upon hearing a recording of herself singing)
that she would not have a future in music. She went on to earn a Bachelor of
Science in Art from the University of Oregon in 1982 and later a Master of Arts
in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She was, at
various times in her career, a waitress, a seamstress, a graphic artist, a
tutor, a school teacher and a visual artist. She was a painter who most recently
worked for McMenamins, painting hanging art, furniture and murals.
Dawn was once described as a “vivaciously eccentric artist who refurbishes
furniture with whimsically elegant makeovers and paints garden pots with
life-sized faces that suggest an animated conversation between Picasso, Gauguin
and Matisse.”
Her art work was seen at Open Studios, Brooklyn Neighborhood Walk, Last
Thursday and many local art shows. She said, "My work is heavily influenced by
my 10 years of teaching and making art with children. For them the joy is in the
doing. I strive to achieve the same ease and whimsy in my work." She taught
kindergarten at North Marion School district and later worked as an Artist in
Residence in the Portland metro area.
One of Dawn’s proudest achievements was that she hiked the entire Pacific
Crest Trail, from the Mexican to the Canadian border in 1986 with a friend. She
was happiest in the outdoors and besides hiking she loved gardening and left
glorious gardens in every place she ever lived.
Known for her great social ideas, Dawn started a monthly Work Party with women
friends in 2000. This group still meets monthly at a different house each month
to do jobs for two hours. They have painted, gardened, built paths and torn out
entire basements!
Dawn died of cancer September 25, 2007 at home in Portland, Oregon leaving
behind a huge group of loving friends, neighbors, art buddies and a large
extended family including four siblings, MaryBeth, Lee, Susie and Lynda.
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