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    • Prints 2025
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Dana McPhaden

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Dana McPhaden

  • Design
  • Art
    • Photography
    • Landscape Series
    • Quarantine Portraits 2020
    • Imagination Series 2023
    • Prints 2025
  • Info
    • About
    • News
    • Contact

Mural Commissioned by Aqueous for Flamingle

October 1, 2023 Dana Fischer

Crafting a mural for Flamingle, the enchanting music festival by Aqueous, was a dream come true for me as an artist. The festival's unique blend of music and nature provided the perfect canvas for my creativity to flourish. My creation, a vibrant flamingo, found its home nestled among the lush woods, a symbol of both the festival's name and its free-spirited ambiance.

As I meticulously painted every stroke, I couldn't help but feel a profound connection to the festival's ethos. The fusion of colors in my mural mirrored the eclectic music that filled the air, creating a visual harmony that resonated with festival-goers. It was a testament to the power of art to enhance the festival experience, adding a touch of magic to the already enchanting surroundings.

LSA Voted Best Art Classes AGAIN!

October 1, 2023 Dana Fischer

We are absolutely thrilled and profoundly grateful to be named Buffalo's Best Art Classes by Buffalo Spree magazine for the second year in a row! This incredible honor is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team and the passion of our students. We are deeply grateful to our community for their continued support, and we pledge to maintain the same level of excellence that has earned us this recognition once again. Thank you, Buffalo Spree, and thank you, Buffalo, for making Locust Street Art your home for creativity and artistic expression. We are excited to continue this incredible journey together!

Spark Award Nomination for LSA

October 1, 2023 Dana Fischer

We are truly honored and appreciative to have been nominated for “Organization of the Year” a Spark Award through ASI (Arts Services Initiative of Western New York) at Locust Street Art. This nomination is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the support of our wonderful community. We are deeply committed to our mission of promoting art and creativity in our region, and this nomination inspires us to continue our efforts with even greater passion. Thank you, ASI, for this incredible honor, and thank you to everyone who has supported and believed in Locust Street Art's mission. Together, we are making a positive impact through the arts!

LSA Voted Best Art Classes!

October 1, 2023 Dana Fischer

Immensely grateful to have Locust Street Art named Buffalo's Best Art Classes by Buffalo Spree magazine! This recognition is a testament to our dedicated team of instructors, the passion of our students, and the vibrant art community here in Buffalo. We've always believed in the power of creativity to inspire and bring people together, and this honor only fuels our commitment to providing exceptional art education and fostering a love for the arts in our community. Thank you, Buffalo Spree, and thank you to all our students and supporters who make this possible!

The Office | Fan Art

October 3, 2019 Dana Fischer
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As an artist have you ever wanted to create pure nonsense? I’m a HUGE Office fan and felt inspired after a pretty epic episode most Office fans can appreciate.

Creating with Young Artists

September 26, 2019 Dana Fischer
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Creating art on your own can be challenging enough. There is a lot of pressure to draw or paint realistically. I wanted to give the kids a chance to think out of the box and use some unusual materials. They loved it! I really wanted them to understand that art can be so many things, created in so many different ways, have messages, and made with so many different materials!

I’m not sure if other teachers or parents don’t think children are able to understand more obscure concepts but I sure believe that with anything they just need some guidance.

This summer I was able to provide some fun collaborative art activities for the kids during Locust Street Art’s Young Artist Summer Camp. A two week art camp for youth ages 8-14. We did EVERYTHING. I mean EVERYTHING. Painting, drawing, charcoal, pastels, screen-printing, ceramics and sculpture to name a few. I wanted to share some of our more untraditional projects!

collaborative & experimental art

A simple paint pour on repurposed wood|

  • I love that the kids were able to experiment with paint. For the most part we like teaching them to have a plan, but sometimes it’s nice to create something quickly! (Especially with children…) Each student was given a small cup of watered down paint. We talked about color mixing and composition.

A yarn installation on the yard

  • This was so much fun! The students weren’t quite sure what we were doing or why… but once they caught on and noticed the shapes we were creating with the yarn they were so excited! It was a simple and successful way to create installation art and also share it with the neighborhood!

Some line work with left over paint and an scrap paper!

  • I have a hard time throwing out a semi-used sheet of paper or washing out left over paint. I see an opportunity to create something with EVERYTHING. We had some left over paint from our previous project so collaboratively I suggested we fill in the negative space with lines. Where do we need lines? What thickness and color should we choose? When we have extra time in class I see it as a great opportunity to do something fun with a simple and sneaky lesson.

Here are some images from camp! Like I mentioned above I encouraged the kids to use up semi-used paper and left over paint to create something experimental.

Welcome!

March 7, 2016 Dana Fischer
Zijin & Dana - Children’s Drawing & Painting Spring 2019

Zijin & Dana - Children’s Drawing & Painting Spring 2019

This is my first entry of my blog!

If you’d like to know what I’ve been up to creatively you can check in with me here.

I’ll be posting about:

  • my classes with Locust Street Art

  • my current art projects

  • upcoming events

  • art appreciation

  • my travels & favorite photos


“Art, in its broadest sense, is a form of communication. It means whatever the artist intends it to mean, and this meaning is shaped by the materials, techniques, and forms it makes use of, as well as the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers .”

A little about me: I am always creating. When I’m not, I’m passing on what I know as an Instructor at Locust Street Art. It’s the best place on the Earth and has inspired me and supported my artistic journey! I’ve taken on more roles with Locust Street Art and LOVE the incredible & diverse group of people I get to share art with. This blog will serve as an outlet for me to post about exciting projects, upcoming events, and general art appreciation!

Stay tuned!