Dawn Howell

I create art like I breathe—instinctively, constantly, and because I need to. Painting is how I process the world, regulate my emotions, and return to myself. When I surround myself with color and images of the natural world, I feel calm and content, yet also lit up—vibrant, joyful, and alive. That’s the energy I pour into each piece, and what I hope others feel when they view my work.

My paintings are born from a deep emotional need to connect—with myself, with beauty, and with others. Color is my language, and nature is my grounding force. I’m drawn to softness and sparkle, to the tender magic found in wildflowers, butterflies, and stars. These recurring motifs—rainbows, moons, moths, mushrooms, caterpillars, pollen—are more than decoration. They’re symbols of growth, healing, and the quiet wonder we so often overlook.

Each piece is a meditation. I never begin with a rigid plan—just a feeling or color that wants to emerge. I work in slow, intuitive layers: first an underpainting that sets the emotional tone, then pastel skies that glow with light, followed by fine details that feel like tiny prayers—a shimmer here, a wing there. I often reference scientific field guides to honor the real-world creatures that inspire me, blendin...

Texas State University - Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising; Minors in Business Administration & French

Ho Ho Holiday, PxP Contemporary - Philadelphia, PA
Austin Studio Tour, 2324 Studios - Austin, TX
Realms of Fungi, ArtUs Co – Austin, TX
She Carries the Sky, Warnes Contemporary – Brooklyn, NY
Resonance, Visionary Art Collective – Brooklyn, NY
Portals, RTown Gallery – Grapevine, TX
Metamorphosis: 4-Year Anniversary Weekend Show, The Riches Art Gallery – Austin, TX
Happiness, Round Rock Arts at Penfold Theater Gallery – Round Rock, TX
Summer Sweetness, PxP Contemporary – Philadelphia, PA
Blooms & Beyond: A Virtual Flower and Garden Show, City Arts Center – Round Rock, TX
Imagine, Round Rock Arts at Texas State University – Round Rock, TX
7th Annual Members Only Exhibit, The Hive Gallery with Bee Cave Arts Foundation – Bee Caves, TX
Women in Art: Letting in the Light, City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture and Art on Main – Dallas, TX
Abstraction, Round Rock Arts at Penfold Theatre – Round Rock, TX
Ode to the Masters, The Hive Gallery with Bee Cave Arts Foundation – Bee Caves, TX
Celebrating Women, Round Rock Arts at Williamson County Jester Annex – Round Rock, TX
Women in Art, WIVA – Bee Caves, TX