Artist’s Statement for Dana Steadman
“My background in art started at an early age, picking up watercolor painting at about the age of 12. My training in art growing up in Massachusetts was fairly limited, consisting of some encouragement from teachers in school. But rather than pursue a career in art, I graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Architecture. Following a move to Pittsburgh, I worked as an Architect for over 40 years. In 1997, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) held an exhibit titled “Art by Architects,” which I entered. My painting was published on the cover of the AIA Pittsburgh Chapter magazine, “Columns,” and my second career was started.
My interest in watercolors continued, and I took a few classes and workshops from several well-known Pittsburgh artists such as Joe Eiser, Ron Thurston, Kathleen Zimbicki and Frank Webb. I joined the North Hills Art Center and the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, serving as a Board member for both. Also I am a past member of the Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley, PA, and the Chautauqua County Society of Artists in NY.
The influence of my architectural training shows in my work, as most of my paintings focus on the built environment, with the inclusion of buildings, boats, trains and other manmade structures. I work strictly in traditional transparent watercolor on 100% cotton watercolor paper. Mostly I work from photographs I have taken while traveling, although occasionally I do work directly from life.
After retirement, I relocated to Savannah, to be with my family and to stay active in the vibrant art scene here. There is a lot of history and architecture in Savannah, which I like to try to capture on
paper. I belong to the Savannah Art Association and Arts on the Coast organizations, and regularly enter their exhibits. Plus I have entered several local outdoor shows such as Savannah Local Artists Market {SLAM}, Tybee Island Tour De Art, and the recent Gordonston Art Fair and Isle of Hope Arts and Music Festival.
My Paintings have won numerous awards at various shows, such as first place two years in a row at Chautauqua County Art in the Park, Mayville, NY, and others at the North Hills Art Center, Pittsburgh, PA shows over the years. My work has been featured in galleries such as the Sewickley Gallery and Frame Shop, Sewickley, PA, Kada Gallery and Relish in Erie, PA, Le Poire in Crafton, PA, as well as the Savannah Art Association Airport Gallery and Arts on the Coast exhibit at Photopoint Gallery in Richmond Hill, GA.
I have had mentions and features in articles in magazines and newspapers, and would like to expand my presence in Savannah. More recently my work is hanging in the Bobby Bagley Fine Art Studio in the Art Market in City Market in downtown Savannah.”
