Dana paints outdoors year round and works in oils, watercolor, and ink. She has a BFA in Illustration from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and studied plein air oil painting with Joe Paquet at his studio in St. Paul and at the Madeline Island School of the Arts.

Most of her work starts on location. When she’s painting outdoors, she’s not just watching the scene in front of her, but expands her experience to include the light, the wind, and the sounds around her. For Dana, it’s about being in that moment and immersed in a place, especially by water or in a forest. The longer she stands and paints in one place, the more she sees and hears, and the challenges of working outdoors (bugs, wind, and rain) keep it interesting. 

When not painting, she works with kids to introduce them to sketching and painting outdoors. Dana lives and works on the South Shore of Lake Superior.