Dawson Lapsley

I am a 65 year old white man who lives in place known for its apples and wine: Yakima, WA. My kids have all been raised here and consider Washington their home. I was born and raised in Western New York and South Eastern Ontario on the shores of Lake Erie. The water was my life. I began painting on a dare when friends of mine (taking a painting class at Buffalo State College) were painting draped cloth. I mockingly told them I could do that. A moment later my friend put paper, paint and brush in my hand and said, "Prove it.". I found that I not only could do it, but I really liked it.

I knew no artists at that time who could make a living at it so I studied design in my under graduate work and have worked in the world of construction for various Architectural firms most of my adult life (for the past 17 years, KDF Architecture). I studied painting, drawing, design, paper making at Phillips University in the late 70s and Buffalo State in the early 80's. I focused mostly on the practical skills associate with Architectural presentation - drawing, markers and water color. While in the Air Force through the late 70s I began painting in oils and developed a comfort with the pallet knife. But all this gave way to the practical needs...

1978-79 Studied at Phillips University, Enid Oklahoma
1982 BS In Environmental Design from State University of NY @ Buffalo, Buffal, NY
1992 MDIV from North Park Theological Seminary

2008 Larson Gallery, Biennial National Juried Photography Exhibition
2010 Larson Gallery, Biennial National Juried Photography Exhibition: Award winner for Portraiture
2012 Allied Arts of Yakima, WA, Light Yakima Photo Exhibition
2012 Allied Arts, Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Award Winner
2013 Larson Gallery, Member's Exhibition
2014 Larson Gallery, Central Washington Artists' Exhibition
2015 Larson Gallery, Member's Exhibition
2016 Larson Gallery, Member's Exhibition
2017 Oak Hollow Gallery, Solo Exhibition February 2017
2018 Larson Gallery, Central Washington Artists' Exhibition, Baha’I Faith of Yakima Award
2019 Larson Gallery, Central Washington Artists' Exhibition, Director's Award.