Dot Bardarson, originally from back East, moved to Alaska in 1954 as a young bride to work as a deck-hand aboard an Alaska cannery tender where she lived aboard with her skipper husband for 2 1/2 years. When she wasn't covered with fish slime or dealing with fishermen she would turn to her sketch book whenever she could get a break. Her art education at Lasell College and the U. of Washington hardly prepared her for the frontier life she married into. In love with Alaska, Dot followed her husband around the state, raising their 3 children in various canneries. She settled in Seward. Besides painting and entering juried shows, she was forelady for herring roe operations and yearned for the art gallery that she eventually built in 1988. She represented herself and 35 Alaskan artists for 20 years. These, and many other Alaska experiences have inspired Dot to create Northwest themes that are exuberant, colorful, and reflect the whimsy, beauty, and soul of Alaska.

Dot has been Master Artist for 3 of the murals produced by the Seward Mural Society and was instrumental in Seward being named "Mural Capitol of Alaska" by then Governor Palin. Dot's limited edition watercolor prints are available for purchase on this website and in galleries.

Copyright 2012 and beyond - Dot Bardarson

Dot is well known for her award winning watercolors and serigraphs as well as her ebullient personality. She is a leader in the art world promoting the arts, serving as art juror, artist in residence, and designing sets for local amateur theater. She is a past board member of the Alaska State Council for the Arts. She has completed 17 1 % for Art pieces and just named Alaska Artist of the year (2011) by Exploring TOSCA, which promotes the arts in the Twin Cities area.

If you have any questions or just want to say hi, please drop me a line! dot@seward.net