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

Abstract artist Dawn Tappan joins Taylor Gallegos to talk about her creative process, from layered painting and sanding to using discomfort as a tool for discovery. She shares how her work evolved from realism into abstraction, why she values community in the arts, and how she balances creativity with the realities of business, pricing, and self-promotion. The conversation also explores AI, travel, and Dawn’s belief that art is woven into everyday life.Taylor Gallegos sits down with abstract artist Dawn Tappan for a conversation about process, community, and creative resilience. Dawn explains how she uses layers, sanding, and unexpected materials to keep paintings moving, why she values making art that feels fun, and how her approach has evolved from realistic illustration into a more intuitive abstract practice. The episode also touches on the importance of artist communities, supporting local art ecosystems, navigating the business side of creativity, and staying open to travel, learning, and change.KEY TOPICS* Dawn’s current series of paintings and how neon yellow helped break through a creative block.* Why she uses discomfort and “messing things up” as part of her process.* How she moved from illustration and realism into abstract painting.* Layering, sanding, and working with time as part of the artwork itself.* Her involvement in the Oceanside Art Walk and the value of community-based art spaces.* How she thinks about art as business, pricing, and self-advocacy.* Her perspective on AI, originality, and copyright.* Why she believes “everything is art” and why no one should call themselves a starving artist.NOTABLE QUOTES* “Stop calling yourself a starving artist.”* “Discomfort is actually a good thing.”* “The process is fun for me the whole way through.”* “Art is everywhere.”* “Everything is art.”GUEST BIODawn Tappan is an abstract artist known for layered, process-driven paintings that explore time, history, intuition, and playful experimentation. Her background includes illustration, realistic painting, and years of developing a more abstract and tactile studio practice. She is also involved in the Oceanside Art Walk and is deeply committed to artist community, creative mentorship, and supporting local arts.