My paintings capture and preserve glimpses of the humorous yet revealing nature of human social interaction.

Filled with sensual charm, the characters in my pictures unveil their story through body language and compelling facial expressions. I intertwine humor with a touch of “attitude” to create paintings that entice viewers to look a little deeper. My pictures catch pivotal moments when people let down their guard, openly display their thoughts, and make that all-important connection – no matter how brief.

When in a crowd, I find myself searching for faces for my next painting. This provides the opportunity to meet interesting people that I would not otherwise have the chance to meet. With new faces and life stories surrounding me, I never run out of ideas.

Shy by nature as a child, I surrounded myself with books. As I grew older, I discovered movies from the 30′s and 40′s. Old movie posters intrigued me and have greatly influenced my work today. I paint realistic characters that could virtually step off the canvas, but my painting style also includes a touch of whimsy. This allows me the freedom to portray character “types” that come across as flirty, pouty or mischieveous.

Vivid, bold colors bring a vibrancy to each painting with words or quotes often appearing as “hints” to the narrative. I create casts of characters that are as seductive as they are endearing.

Dawna Boehmer