A great year for Oman
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 08/00) - Opening a studio gallery last November proved a turning point in Dawn Oman's life.
The artist, known for her distinctive paintings exploding with bright purples, pinks, oranges and greens, has had a busy year.
"Since the opening, it's been very steady," says Oman.
Oman has also received "lots of commission work," including a big job designing new Canadian North ticket jackets and a redesign of their "parka pals."
That gig resulted in a commission from the Meet the North organizers, who were so impressed with Oman's work that they tracked her down.
"I'll be doing all the imagery, the banners, the posters, brochures, the Web site, all the advertising visuals."
Further south, in Stratford, Ont., a painting of Oman's was chosen by a jury to hang at special exhibition called Arts 2000. She was the only one chosen from the territory.
"I've continued to develop my line of T-shirts and sweatshirts, screensavers, mouse pads," she says.
"Business-wise, it's been great. I have steady hours. I have a permanent location."
She's also had the opportunity to return to spinning, knitting and beading.
A perfect day for the artist?
"Probably to do a little bit of everything every day. That can also mean packaging cards, signing prints, doing the accounting. But doing the artwork is my favourite."
Next on the agenda? A line of Dawn Oman dishes.
"My work lends itself to other products. Hopefully we'll have them by next Christmas."
All this business and marketing savvy comes thanks to new-found sister Sue Wallisser. Oman was reunited two years ago with her biological father and two sisters.
It so happens Wallisser, along with her husband, runs International Business Associates in Ontario.
"They help develop businesses (around the world)," explains Oman.
"They've taken me on."
And it sounds like Oman is set to take on the world.
