1 - Your name: Dawn Turner
2 - Your shop name and address: Dawn Turner Designs:http://www.dawnturnerdesigns.co.uk/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dawnturnerdesigns
3 - Describe your artistic style in three words: Patterns, textures, random!
4 - When did you first start glass work, and how did you get started?
When I was doing my A-Level art, 5 or 6 years ago. During the experimental phase of a particular project, where I had been exploring patterns that I had seen repeated in tree forms, a riverbed, the body, maps, I was doing some printing with lino cuts - this developed into casting into plaster forms, which I then slumped glass over - I'd done a stained glass course a few years before, and *liked* it but never felt the reaction that I did to this "WOW!" I'd finally found a way to express the imagery I wanted to, but without painting it, which I am not very good at.
5 - What do you love most about your craft?
Opening the kiln is STILL a surprise, I love not quite knowing what it is going to look like until it comes out - and I just love that you can do so many things with, and to, glass to produce endless different effects.
6 - If you could take a class with any artist (in your field or otherwise) who would you choose and why?
I really, really, really cannot pin this down - there's lots of glass techniques I'd like to learn more about and master, so that's a huge choice of artists - however, he's not glass related, and actually I don't think one of my favourite artists teaches - land artist, Chris Drury, but I love his work, and that he sees the same links between the microcosm and macrocosm as I do and that science is a constant them in much of his work.
7 - Do you have a favourite piece of your work that you can share with us?
It has to be "Epiphany" -
8 - Where do you find your inspiration?
I probably would have to say mostly scientific imagery; whether it be at molecular level or space satellites fascinate me endlessly - I love how images, patterns, textures from inside the body can be indiscernible from something in outer space. I also love how science, such as repeating patterns, manifest themselves in nature time and time again - I am equally fascinated by the endless variation in colour and pattern of a twilight sky, or the texture left on sand by the tide.
9 - What’s your favourite technique within your medium?
I think it has to be bas-relief, or kiln carving - particularly using lino cutting tools to carve plaster blocks - I feel this probably expresses my own creativity the most and I find carving the patterns incredibly absorbing.
10 - Where do you create your work?
At my studio, part of an open workspace with five other artists, Shed 2 Studios
11 - Do you have a favourite colour scheme or range when you’re creating pieces?
I would happily make everything in red if I could! And I am currently in love with iridescent glass.
12 - Can you give us a quotation/lyric/piece of advice that sums up your approach to life and your craft?
"Try it and see/give it a go" and "what's the worse that can happen?" - both regularly said to me by two of my art tutors during my foundation year, and the two really do go hand in hand I think.
13 - The most serious question of all: if you could meet any fictional character, from TV film or literature, who would it be and why?
Am I allowed to say? Currently, it would have to be Steve McGarret from the new Hawaii Five-O, cos he's hot!! Or does that make me shallow? Hmm, otherwise, Thomas O Malley, the alleycat, I think he'd be cool to be around!
14 - Finally, what are your plans or hopes for your work in the future?
My ultimate goal would be to see some of my work displayed in public art in somewhere like a hospital, inspired by and designed for that specific location.
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Don't forget to check back for the next insight into our members - and thanks to Dawn for this week's interesting read!
Hazel
