Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Dawson
Hi Ian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Ian Dawson, I am a metal and glass sculpture artist. In 2012 I put down the bottle and embarked on a journey, trading a self-destructing addiction for a much healthier one. My struggled with alcohol addiction, autism, and difficult relationships, art has been the light at the end of the tunnel. For the past two years, that glow as come from glass and metal. I comes from a line of people involved in the arts. My great grandfather came from Paris where he had a steel foundry until he started blacksmithing and designing statues at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. My grandparents Gene and Mary Dapogny were founders of the Black Swamp Players. My late uncle James Dapogny, a pianist and musicologist, was an important figure on the traditional jazz scene.
I started blacksmithing in 2012 out of the Toledo Museum of Art, I worked under Hans Rubel, who is an amazing blacksmith and teacher learning the art of blacksmithing. Until 2013 when I started what would be a very toxic relationship until I had enough and left everything including both jobs, my house, my town, literally everything except my cloths, savings, and some personal belongings. I left to restart my life in January 2022. I started taking glass workshops in April of 2022 at various studios. I started at BGSU in the fall of 2022 with some savings, and took off in my adventure in glass. In December 2022, I started renting time and blowing glass out of the Toledo Museum of Art. I took classes for a short period at the glass pavillion at the museum as well until I decided to seek out glass veterans and hopefully find mentors. In summer 2023 I took some of my savings and went with my mother to Murano Italy to hopefully find some studios to let me learn and watch in. I ended up meeting and being friends with some Italian glass masters and am going back in 2025 when I go back to live there for three weeks. After I got back from my trip to
Murano I started working as an assistant to a well known glass blower with only 7 months of experience. I went in with a great attitude and drive and was there seven months and learned a lot. In 2024 I started to be mentored under another well known veteran of glass and metal sculptures who teaches me a lot about designing sculptures and glass and a metal. I learned a entire new way of making metal combined with sculpture along with amazing advice on sculpting and strive to be the best artist I can, and make the materials as beautiful as the they can be made. I feel so honored to work under him, along with other veteran artists who want to see me succeed.
When I was about 10, my mother showed me how to throw pots, I liked working with the wheel, but never mastered it. I always loved art and being in the artsy scene since I was a child. Art is and has been my outlet and therapy to get me through things. I started making art to make people happy and smile when they looked at it. I never went into art thinking I would make it for profit. I love to donate to charities or benefits that I believe in. I found my passion and drive in life is a rollercoaster where the sky is the limit and I love every minute of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a very hard road, I had to be tough since I was little having no dad and being picked on and teased. I am also socially awkward because I am autistic. I believe that in the big picture it is a gift though as far as being a focused and determined and creative artist, I also lost very close friends that caused me to drink from depression, but I also stopped for the same reason. I wanted to live for myself, my friends and family, and hopefully inspire and motivate people that have had similar experiences. I also am a drinking and driving survivor where I was a sober passenger that sometimes can cause migraines that don’t help my creativity at times. Learning art is not an easy road with my mediums, whenever I wanted to quit I said “If I stopped drinking I can do this now go back in and try again till I get it.” I cut and burn myself quite often working with glass and metal, which is nothing uncommon in my field. It’s all apart of my love for the materials I use, but I would not trade those scars for anything, they help tell my story. Whenever a challenge comes I accept it with a dedication to make it the best I can.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love art of all mediums but I love glass and metal, they are my favorite. Everything I know is from one semester at BGSU, some classes and tutoring at the Toledo Museum of Art, and a lot of trial and error but my biggest help are my mentors. I am known for my glass wine stoppers, my glass sculpture and glass with metal sculptures. I am most proud that I went out to learn traditional training and not so from paid classes. I believe that I have the fire and determination to do great things.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
MY mentors deserve credit, I appreciate all the support from them believing in me, and helping me design better and new ways to explore art. As well as my family and friends who watch my journey unfold. their support with my art and recovery is amazing. I would not be who I am without their support.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artisticcreationsbyian/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/artisticmetalworks
- TikTok: @ian.dawson93
