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About Dawn
Hi my name is Dawn Fernald-Spruill and I have been a professional
artist for more than 12 years. I began my career as an artist
actually by accident. I was in nursing school when I discovered I
was pregnant with my daughter Ciara. Due to my "condition", I
had to drop my nursing labs. But as I had already paid for the
semester and couldn't get a refund, I took art classes instead. One
of the classes I took was Introduction to Stained Glass and I
became hooked. My favorite thing to create was and is
kaleidoscopes.
After my daughter arrived my family moved from Virginia to New
Hampshire where I was quickly coerced into teaching stained glass
to some friends. It was during this time that I came to realize that
my calling in life was to teach art. And so the adventure begins.
From stained glass I began to expand my horizons by learning and
then teaching silk painting, lampworking, fused glass and beading.
But we as a family made the decision to move to St. Louis where
my husband Chris would attend seminary at Eden Theological
Seminary.
Nothing however, compared to the "art frenzy" that would take
hold when I was introduced in 2001 to Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
by my best friend Nancy Duvall-Vest. Nancy and I started a Home
Jewelry Business in St. Louis called the Garden of Bead'n. This is
when I really decided that "jewelry" was in my future. My husband
Chris even invented Jewelry Bingo for us. It was a great time. But
it was time to move again to Chris' first church in Grand Rapids
Michigan.
PMC became an addiction. The more I played with it the more I
wanted to create. But we weren't done moving....so off we went to
Frederick Maryland where (hopefully) we will be for a while.
I had the opportunity in July of 2005 to become Level One
Certified with Wendy Schuster, Senior Teacher through the PMC
Guild. Wendy is an amazing teacher and continues to play an
influential role in my life as a PMC artist. But that still wasn't
enough. I needed to learn more. In October of 2005 I traveled to
Young Harris Georgia where I had the opportunity to meet and be
taught by the two pioneers of PMC, Mary Ann and Ken Devos.
There I received my Level Two Certification.
In October of 2006 I decided that I wasn't done learning and so I
took the Rio Grande Certification class through Senior Teacher
Tonya Davidson owner of Whole Lotta Whimsey.com. Tonya
really helped me stretch outside my comfort zone. Also in October
I had the privilege of being featured in Frederick Magazine under
their Maryland Made section.
Well it has been one crazy journey and I am sure it is not even
close to being over. PMC is an amazing art form. The clay is so
easily manipulated and creatively it is a great medium. I currently
am teaching in my home studio as well as at local area Bead and
Hobby shops as well as for Frederick County Parks and Recreation
and The Delaplaine, spreading the good word about PMC as well as
continuing to teach Stained Glass, Fused Glass and Silk Painting.
If you want to learn more about what and where I am teaching
check out my Classes Page. Thanks for taking the time to come
along on my adventures!
artist for more than 12 years. I began my career as an artist
actually by accident. I was in nursing school when I discovered I
was pregnant with my daughter Ciara. Due to my "condition", I
had to drop my nursing labs. But as I had already paid for the
semester and couldn't get a refund, I took art classes instead. One
of the classes I took was Introduction to Stained Glass and I
became hooked. My favorite thing to create was and is
kaleidoscopes.
After my daughter arrived my family moved from Virginia to New
Hampshire where I was quickly coerced into teaching stained glass
to some friends. It was during this time that I came to realize that
my calling in life was to teach art. And so the adventure begins.
From stained glass I began to expand my horizons by learning and
then teaching silk painting, lampworking, fused glass and beading.
But we as a family made the decision to move to St. Louis where
my husband Chris would attend seminary at Eden Theological
Seminary.
Nothing however, compared to the "art frenzy" that would take
hold when I was introduced in 2001 to Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
by my best friend Nancy Duvall-Vest. Nancy and I started a Home
Jewelry Business in St. Louis called the Garden of Bead'n. This is
when I really decided that "jewelry" was in my future. My husband
Chris even invented Jewelry Bingo for us. It was a great time. But
it was time to move again to Chris' first church in Grand Rapids
Michigan.
PMC became an addiction. The more I played with it the more I
wanted to create. But we weren't done moving....so off we went to
Frederick Maryland where (hopefully) we will be for a while.
I had the opportunity in July of 2005 to become Level One
Certified with Wendy Schuster, Senior Teacher through the PMC
Guild. Wendy is an amazing teacher and continues to play an
influential role in my life as a PMC artist. But that still wasn't
enough. I needed to learn more. In October of 2005 I traveled to
Young Harris Georgia where I had the opportunity to meet and be
taught by the two pioneers of PMC, Mary Ann and Ken Devos.
There I received my Level Two Certification.
In October of 2006 I decided that I wasn't done learning and so I
took the Rio Grande Certification class through Senior Teacher
Tonya Davidson owner of Whole Lotta Whimsey.com. Tonya
really helped me stretch outside my comfort zone. Also in October
I had the privilege of being featured in Frederick Magazine under
their Maryland Made section.
Well it has been one crazy journey and I am sure it is not even
close to being over. PMC is an amazing art form. The clay is so
easily manipulated and creatively it is a great medium. I currently
am teaching in my home studio as well as at local area Bead and
Hobby shops as well as for Frederick County Parks and Recreation
and The Delaplaine, spreading the good word about PMC as well as
continuing to teach Stained Glass, Fused Glass and Silk Painting.
If you want to learn more about what and where I am teaching
check out my Classes Page. Thanks for taking the time to come
along on my adventures!
My Senior Teacher Wendy Schuster and I, April
2006. Wendy is one of the best teachers I have
worked with. I have had the great privilege of
receiving my Level One Certification from her as
well as continuing to apprentice under her. She
is an amazing artist and I admire her teaching
skills. She helps each student unlock their
creative muse!
2006. Wendy is one of the best teachers I have
worked with. I have had the great privilege of
receiving my Level One Certification from her as
well as continuing to apprentice under her. She
is an amazing artist and I admire her teaching
skills. She helps each student unlock their
creative muse!
| The Family... |
Me and my crazy friend
Nancy Duvall-Vest
Nancy Duvall-Vest
One of my favorite PMC people
is Tonya Davidson, founder of
Whole Lotta Whimsey and
senior instructor for Rio Grande.
Gracious, generous and creative
are just a few of the words I can
use to describe Tonya.
is Tonya Davidson, founder of
Whole Lotta Whimsey and
senior instructor for Rio Grande.
Gracious, generous and creative
are just a few of the words I can
use to describe Tonya.
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