By Caleigh Nixon
Perhaps you’ve seen him working at Frank’s Diner or local shops display his vibrantly colored posters displaying his art. On the posters, Dean Tawwater invites us his to see his art exhibition showcasing his and his fellow artists’ new work, along with live music every Friday the thirteenth (a date that occurs between two and three times a year). Music is a huge part of Dean’s work and he shares his studio with friends who have a music studio below along with a comic station. Tucked away next to a variety of shops on 63rd St. you can find Dean Tawwater’s shared studio where he makes the magic happen.
Hanging or resting against the walls of his studio are the carefully sketched figures he describes as art nouveau incorporating a bit of pop art. He uses compressed color, opaque gouache, and a bit of charcoal to achieve his very unique effect. Dean says his art is rooted in foundation and technique, is traditional, and he deems it as ‘expressive figurative’. You can see Tawwater’s work in his studio and at the new bar on 22nd Ave., Art Bar. There he collaborated with Troy Andre to compose musicians on the walls of the bar whose instruments are 3D.
Tawwater traveled to St. Louis and attended a two day fest called Naughti Gras, where his pieces were displayed in the erotic art show. He lived in Columbus, Ohio for five years where he had artwork showcased at Mac Worthington’s Gallery of Contemporary Art; owner Mac Worthington displays his original creations as well as the resident gallery artists who “cater to the sophisticated art market”. After Columbus, Dean moved back to his hometown Kenosha, Wisconsin where he attended Lincoln Middle School and was influenced by his art teacher Mark Gray. He also attended Tremper High School where he was guided by teachers Nicolee Teegarden and Debbie Frank; he was also influenced by Dennis Bayuzick, who taught him how to paint, at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Before attending Parkside, Dean attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Education is very important to him as he continues to research in the area of art, attend museums and work with other artists in the studio or out and about at places like Art Bar.
Tawwater also designs old posters, some of which you may see advertising an art show on a Friday the 13th. He also likes to have events called ‘Drink and Draw’ that occur on Tuesdays where artists meet to…well… drink and draw! The artists get together, pitch in to pay for a model and draw all night. Tawwater had a studio in Racine for three and a half years, but prefers the art scene in Kenosha because of the clientele and networking. For private showings of his work Dean Tawwater can be contacted through email at dean.tawwater@gmail.com. He creates loose drawings to make his art more affordable and to keep the frame optional for buyers. Dean Tawwater has hopes that his art will become widely recognized, he can work more, and he can get feedback from friends and strangers. His figure drawings set him apart from other artists; his passion is key to his success and becoming widely recognized.