Think Martha Stewart and Snoop hanging out, making unexpected things happen. Sugar coated bundles of detail and slight oddness combined to make work that is arresting and uncanny.

 

I'm Dawn Kraditor Waters and I create paintings, usually portraits with fiber, paintings with paint, and wearable art. I was first exposed to felting on a trip to Amsterdam. A friend then taught me the basics and I created scarves and swanky wraps. I wondered if I could make a portrait. I had not seen one made of fiber, and I had not created one in any medium. My chihuahua was my first subject. It worked. The next few…not so much. I kept at it until the likenesses were recognizable. I use fiber and a felting needle. It's like tattooing, but with wool.

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I'm fascinated by traditional Slavic ceremonial floral headdresses made of paper and have interpreted them with fiber. I now add flowers to all kinds of subjects. I'm happy to say photographer Steve McCurry (iconic Afghan Girl National Geographic cover, 1985) has given me permission to recreate his photos. His subjects are all inspiring.

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Many fiber artists begin painting with paint before they explore working with fiber. I did the opposite. I've fallen in love with watercolor painting. I now go back and forth between fiber and paint.

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I came to this art relatively late in life after leaving a career in communications and advertising. 

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Please contact me for price, commissions or exhibition inquiries.  dawnwatersart@gmail.com  804.837.3296

 

 

For prints, canvas prints, tote bags, pillows & other products that feature my art, click              CV is here.