“The Mystical Desert” – Oil paintings by Dawn (Sangdrol) Blanchard

“In Northern Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation, there is a layer of earth the Navajo (Dine’) call “Chinle” meaning ‘Where all things come together.” We know it as the painted desert’. The Dine’ consider this area of the reservation to be a very sacred place, only miles from the spectacular Grand Canyon. Its colorful layers of earth are made of ancient minerals, including dinosaur bones and petrified wood.  Because of the mineral composition, this area is considered healing and purifying by many. Quiet, peaceful, ancient – mystical.“

 

Sangdrol will be sharing poetry written while hiking and painting these ancient mounds in hopes of helping others experience this location on the earth as a true magical place that can touch everyone’s heart through seeing and listening to its true beauty.”

SEE DAWN’S ART

About Dawn
Dawn studied design and fine art at Northern Arizona University, coming out in 1990 with numerous awards such as the New York Society of Illustrators first place scholarship. When one of her large paintings won first place in a women’s show with the Contemporary Art Gallery on the square in Sante Fe, she knew painting could be more than a hobby. While today she is a UX Designer for the U.S. Forest Service, she finds time to continue to paint original oil paintings every chance she gets.

Dawn’s contemporary landscapes seem to have a sacred energy that speaks to the viewer of natures power. Her diverse palette and expression of patterns and shapes in nature tell the story of an artist who understands what touches the heart, and opens our understanding of the spiritual connection we all have with the earth.

Dawn’s artwork shows the obvious influence of great artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Maynard Dixon and even Van Gough. Her work has been accepted into shows and galleries across the southwest (Santa Fe, Sedona and Tucson) and are already in many private collections.

Having just returned to the southwest in 2020, she feels the opportunity to create a new collection of Arizona and Colorado landscapes is an exciting and long awaited step towards renewed creativity.

“We can all find our true nature in nature. Trust your own heart.”