Salem ArtSpace

Founded by Dawn Brindle, Salem ArtSpace is a place where students can gather to learn, create, and grow as artists. It is a space for fine arts classes and also serves as a base for Dawn’s community outreach and other commercial endeavors. 

About the teacher

Dawn has a BA in Studio Art, and has been practicing for over 30 years.  An independent freelance artist, she specializes in the creation of fine art and commercial art, curating solo and group art shows, and teaching students of all ability levels in any two-dimensional medium. 

Dawn tries to constantly explore and remain “outside the box”, and so her genres and subjects always vary. She feels this helps her to continue to grow and explore as an artist. What intrigues her most about being an artist is that it allows her to really “see”. It is easy to go through the day at a fast pace, without noticing what is around us.

She likes to experiment with different mediums, but has found that she is mostly drawn to watercolors and acrylics. She generally works with a very limited palette. She likes the freedom of knowing she can create any hue she needs from just the three basic primary colors. ( She also uses black and white with acrylics).

Teaching Philosophy

Everyone has the innate ability to create. As young children, we do so freely. As we mature into adulthood, fear takes over and many lose touch with their artistic selves.

Learning to draw or paint is about re-kindling that freedom. Dawn encourages people to “go back to kindergarten”; play, splash paint, make messes, and enjoy the process. Technical skill develops naturally with time, practice, and gentle guidance.

Dawn's classes are geared toward a wide range of students, from children to senior citizens, from beginners to those who are advanced “veteran beginners”. Choices of subjects and mediums are as varied as the artists who use them.