~ by Rebecca Hazell
Energetic and engaged, Doreen Tawse-Smith was born in Glenavon, Saskatchewan, but
grew up in Winnipeg, where her talents were
first recognized: in grade eight she was chosen
for special art classes and was the one her peers
turned to for posters or art projects.
But adult responsibilities relegated art into
the background. Doreen became a travel agent,
transferred to Edmonton, met her husband and
began a family. She painted in oil when her three
children were small. And there were more moves:
to Ottawa for several years and then to Vancouver.
In both cities she worked in hospital offices, and in Vancouver she also managed the office of a private
investigation firm, which she mildly describes as interesting! Another move took the family to Whitehorse,
Yukon.
She returned to painting when she and her husband retired to Vancouver Island, especially after settling in
Duncan about eighteen years ago and connecting to the Cherry Point Artists group. She has been a Cherry Point
member ever since. She took watercolour workshops and lessons from many artists including Cim MacDonald,
Pat Fischer, Victor Arcega, Linda Faulk and Harry Heine, and got hooked on this clean, easy-to-manage medium.
She also joined CVAC when its offices were located at Providence Farm.
Doreen works realistically, with bold colour. She’s a prolific painter. She says that after she begins a
painting, she might start to doubt its potential, but she perseveres, finds possibilities, and ends up generally
happy with it. She loves doing portraits, but also enjoys painting animals, landscapes and, occasionally, flowers.
She looks for what moves her – sometimes subject matter, sometimes colour – and takes photos for reference.
She always keeps in mind what will sell, too. Otherwise, she will run out of room in her home! She also produces cards from
paintings, which are available at shows she participates in; she has been in all the Cherry Point and CVAC shows since joining.
She modestly says she couldn’t believe it when she sold her first painting, but it was the first of many. At the request of friends
she started doing portraits, and now new clients find her either through referrals or after seeing her work in shows.
In addition to her painting, Doreen volunteers at the hospital auxiliary and, of course, for Cherry Point Artists.
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