Original Oil - Dodo

I finally completed my Dodo painting this week. I thought this bird would be an unusual one to paint, as we rarely see any of them about nowadays!!

I’m very interested in strange and exotic animals at the moment, perhaps its taking an everyday creature and turning them into something more captivating.

I’m still trying to find a name for this wacky bird, so hopefully you all can help me via social media. I launched a competition on Friday to name my Dodo painting to be in with a chance of winning one of the first Limited Edition Prints to be launched of it next week…check out my Facebook page for more details on how to enter …loving all your ideas so far. This bird once lived in the beautiful island of Mauritius, east of the Indian Ocean. Dodo was a symbol; of stupidity in the past because it didn’t hesitate to approach people even when they were are armed with clubs. But the Dodo was portrayed as a very smart animal in Lewis Carroll’s book ‘’Alice in Wonderland”. So looking forward to reading all your name ideas for the title of my new painting of the Dodo….good luck everyone who enters!

Saturday Children’s Art Class
It was freezing outside this morning, but it was a warm and cozy oasis in my studio today.  We had a lovely last day of the January five-week course today with all my amazing young artists.  We did some fantastic paintings using acrylic paints.

My student Sara, was put forward by her school to enter this years Texaco Art competition the closing date is the 23^rdof February. This children’s art competition is open to anyone, all the details are on their website www.texacochildrensart.com

Sara is a very talented young artist and she already clearly has her own distinctive style at only 8 years old. Here is a painting hanging proudly in her school. I wish her all the best in entering her artwork and look forward to bigger and better things to come from Sara.

Pictured Above - Dancing Lady by Sara

One of my passions apart from my paintings is to inspire young people to get involved in art. I love to do my school visits and bring all my artwork to the children’s classrooms and talk to them about my paintings in the hope that I inspire them to use they imagination and creativity, as I feel this is what my work is all about. Creativity has no boundaries and art is assessable to everyone and with a little bit of guidance and ideas lots of children and adults can enjoy working on different projects from home.

Children's Art Competition
I’ve decided to now make it my mission to encourage children to get their coloring pencils, felt tips or paint’s out at home and by creating an artist of the month art competition. You can now upload your child’s artwork onto my page or messenger and everyone will be given a spot prize for their first entry … the artwork can be of anything, the more imagative and unique the better. Everyone who enters will receive a spot prize and the winner will receive a voucher to one my workshops and a little Dawn Crothers goodie bag.  Feel free to get working on those masterpieces. Please send entries to my Facebook page timeline and tag with #dawncrothersartist