“As long as I can remember I’ve had a deep love of nature, formed by exploring the woods, creeks, and ocean shores of North Carolina, the tide pools of California’s Monterey Coast, and the forests, lakes, and rivers of Minnesota. A lifelong fascination with plants, rocks, and shells met me on my painting journey, which advanced in earnest in 2019 at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art. I approach my work as a vehicle to connect people to nature, encouraging us to be more observant of the incredible power of nature’s design and inspiring greater respect and reverence when we are given the call to protect it. The technique I use most often is the British drybrush watercolor style, which involves painting many thin layers of wash on special hot press paper before building more vivid colors. My subjects include ornamental plants, but I am most often drawn to native plants and have developed a special appreciation for their medicinal qualities. Lately, I have expanded into painting seashells from the east and west coasts of the U.S., imbuing them with a spiritual role to help mend our country’s rifts and calling that collection ‘From Sea to Shining Sea.’ They are my emissaries for peace.”

Dana has a B.A. in Italian and an M.S. in Human-Centered Design, both from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and The Garden Club of America. Two of her paintings are included in the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden’s Florilegium, and others are in private collections. A selection of five medicinal native plants were part of a collaborative multimedia project called “Converging Consciousness".”