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Dawn Tappen

Process-based abstract painter in Oceanside, California, owner of Tappen Studios and Creative Director of First Friday Art Walk Oceanside.

Oct 5, 2026

The Art and Life Podcast

The Art and Life Podcast

Painting, Community, & Courage: Dawn Tappen - No. 117

Oct 5 · 1h 14m

Taylor GallegosHOST
3:36
Like, was there an aha moment with it, or how'd it all work?
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:39
There...
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:40
Yeah.
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:41
So a long time ago, when I was in college, um, I went to school for illustration, and so I painted painfully realistically.
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:51
Um, and so my last semester, my favorite painting teacher was teaching an abstract painting class.
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:58
And so I was like, "Oh, it's upper division.
Dawn TappenGUEST
3:59
I need the units." I love, you know, her process of teaching.

9 MINS LATER

Taylor GallegosHOST
13:06
... what you've gotten from it, what you feel people get from it.

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