If you spend time in Asbury Park chances are you have seen David Ross Lawn. David is known around town for his “cottagecore” style. David’s style videos are extremely popular on TikTok where he has over 450,000 followers and Instagram with 115,000 followers. What is cottagecore? Think Anne of Green Gables meets The Cure. Yet, there is a whole lot more to David than their linen cottage dresses and strawberry hat. Talking with David (who goes by “they/them”), is like peeling an onion with many layers to reveal. David is an Ivy League trained classical pianist, opera & musical theatre singer, has played Carnegie Hall and for Queen of England!

Tell me about your art background?
My musical journey started at nine years old in Scotland, sitting cross-legged at a light up toy keyboard while listening to the EastEnders theme song on BBC television. For reasons unknown at the time, I could successfully trace the melodic contour of the theme with one finger with no prior knowledge of the instrument. I quickly learned that I had a “very good ear” for music and started taking piano lessons. In my teenage years, I continued music, diving into oboe and singing, taking on any extra-curricular activities I could from jazz band to orchestra, chamber choir, church singing, and even forming a hysterical rock band with my peers. Music was always my passion.

I was accepted as an undergraduate into the University of Aberdeen to study music performance (piano and oboe as the primary study). I then got a scholarship into Westminster Choir College at Princeton University to pursue a Masters in Theory and Composition. During these years, I started working in music professionally from performing at Carnegie Hall, to singing for the Queen of England, being part of a Grammy Nominated choir and of course, creating music that eventually started being used in television and big media outlets.

What is your process?
When I am creating my solo piano music, the majority of my influence and inspiration comes from the architecture of the human condition. I like to dig deep into my feelings (such a Pisces) and then allow the music to flow from that. A lot of my work is based around piano improvisation. I’ve been fortunate to have some fantastic experiences with it, my most recent performance was in the same lineup as composers I look up to such as Tom Cipullo and Ricky Ian Gordon. I’m always so thankful to be at that “emerging” stage where my music can be recognizable as my own and I’m excited for what is to come.

What inspires you?
While I certainly attribute a lot of my artistic and musical abilities to my professors, a lot of my inspiration and passion comes from outside of academia. As a composer, I feel most inspired when I’m out in nature, surrounded by serendipity and moments that unfold when I’m not even thinking about them. I try not to allow myself to get stuck in the monotony of classical music ideals and what is “correct” and let feeling dictate my music and my journey. I don’t believe in walking in the shadows of somebody else when it comes to music. I believe in creating my own light and legacy and not being afraid of letting that shine.

How did the quarantine/Covid-19 affect you as an artist?
I found a lot of silver linings in my pandemic time, as I was fortunate enough to have my piano nearby. I started posting actively on YouTube and gained over 10,000 subscribers, I started posting actively on TikTok and gained, at that time, 300,000 followers and I released a piano album that ended up getting used in national television. I refused to allow the time to affect me in a way of becoming lazy or lethargic and while there were many moments of weakness and sadness (as well as fear, of course) I did manage to continue my journey as an artist during that time.

Tell me how you got started dressing in cottagecore style.
I love reading period dramas, like Anne of Green Gables. I was inspired by the straw boater hat, so I bought one. I could see myself as a gender fluid type person getting into cottagecore because of the whimsy and juxtaposition of femininity and florals with gothic dark Doc Marten boots, my beard and more masculine features. Growing up in a small town in Scotland, cottage core was familiar to me and comfortable. Then Taylor Swift came out with the album Folklore that she wrote and created in a cottage and it became popular.

What would you like to see happen in the Monmouth County art community?
I’d personally love to see even more recital series with artists that are under the classical music umbrella whether in the form of piano recitals, improvisation communities, or groups where folks of all ages and abilities can perform for each other. I think it would create a safe place for those passionate about classical music to be able to come together and enjoy and embrace the art. I do this with my students and I’d love to see it happen on a more community level.

Check David out on Instagram: @davidrosslawn, TikTok & Spotify: “david ross lawn” or on his website: davidrosslawn.com

I pulled up to Pat Dunigan’s studio on Locust Point Road at dusk to a bright, colorful magical little hideaway. The building has been owned by the same family for over a hundred years, it was built in the late 1800’s. Her studio, a portion of the building had once been the Locust Point Road Post Office, one of several post office locations serving the area of “Oceanic” (later to be named, “Rumson”). With the door open wide to the main road outside on a lovely, late summer night in a room filled with colorful, whimsical artwork practically spilling out door, we talked ART.

Tell me about your art background? Art School or Self-Taught?

I went to Skidmore to study languages but ended up taking more art classes than language. I also went to Parsons School of Design to create my portfolio needed to work in advertising. I have worked in advertising since I was 23 all over the world. Many years ago, while doing a lot of long plane travel, I started filling notebooks with collage designs made from pieces of colors torn from magazines. I made about a dozen books, got busy with life and put them away for 20 years.

What brought you to create the art that you make?

Several years ago, I went back to those collage notebooks. I pulled them out and started looking through them and thought, “These are pretty good!” They were the inspiration for my art. They inspired me to translate them into paintings. I also make 3D sculptural versions of some of the designs.

What is your process with your art making?

My work is all about color. For the work I do that is based on collage and graphic designs, I start with cut out pieces of colored paper torn from magazines. I’ll make dozens of collages and photograph them. Then I enlarge them and they become the models for my paintings. These paintings are made with a more precise process of creating the hard lines and shapes. For my freeform and more recent work with flowers, I sometimes start with photos that I have taken of shapes – things I see on the streets of NYC or shapes I see in my garden. My process for making these paintings starts with a base color that is applied with large pieces of hard rubber (like a squeegee). I create several layers of different colors. I then start painting the shapes over them. I also work with oil sticks to add drawing elements to the shapes, which also adds texture to the painting. After all the base colors are applied and the flower is painted, the drawing happens – very fast and spontaneously. I’ll do a layer and then let it sit for a while before coming back with the
next layers.

What inspires you?

Color. Interesting shapes. Imperfect things. Years ago, I worked for many years with a film director in Australia, who was also a photographer and painter. We traveled all over the world, and I learned from him to really see things through an “artist’s eye”. To see connections between things, to notice colors, light and shapes in the most ordinary things.

If or when you get lost in an “art funk” (like writer’s block for artists), what helps you get back to creating?

If I don’t know what to do next on a collage-like painting, I get back to work on a flower painting. I switch back and forth between the two. Sometimes I jump to working with wood blocks to create 3D pieces and mobiles.

How do you think the community can better support their artists?

I would love to see landlords turn unused buildings into art studios.

You can find Pat’s work on her website: patdunigan.com or on
Instagram: @patdunigan

I met Shana at a recent art opening at Over The Moon Art Studios where she and I had art on display.  As soon as I laid eyes on Shana and I saw her bright, friendly smile she drew me in.  She is one of those special humans who lights up a room with her energy and beautiful smile.  Shana is a Floridian who moved to Asbury Park ten years ago.  Listening to the story of how she came to Asbury Park was a series of events that sounds like divine intervention.

Tell me about your art background? Art School or Self-Taught? 

I come from a very big, creative family, I am one of eight children (#5 in the lineup) and out of my eight siblings, five of us have some type of artistic or creative ability.  My older brother, Hanson, who basically taught me everything I know was an artist, he passed away in 2012 at the age of 25 due to liver failure.

Most of what I know is self-taught except when I was younger I attended BAK Middle School of the Arts, for kids who had artistic capabilities.  I had to audition to get in, but that school was the foundation.  I explored sketching, printmaking, mobiles, clay art, different styles of art like the grid method, stippling, hatching and the list goes on.  We were encouraged to create and to carry a sketchbook with us at all times.  We were also critiqued by our teachers and peers.  I learned that art isn’t just one way or expressed the same and I thrived there.  I was encouraged to continue to the high school, but this was around the same time my brother was diagnosed with liver failure, I missed the chance to audition, but didn’t even care at that point.

What is your process with your art 

I usually start off with a sketch and an idea in my head of how I want the outcome to be, but I embrace mistakes.  Sometimes I’m painting and I do something that wasn’t in my head but it looks good so I keep it and use that “mistake” throughout the painting or take it with me in other paintings.

How did the quarantine/Covid-19 affect you as an artist? 

It actually inspired me.  Once we were all ordered to stay home all I had was my art and time.  It all started with my “Social Distancing” piece.  I painted the first of three paintings and I posted it on my Instagram story, which is only available for 24 hours.  I got so many compliments and comments from people saying they can relate to what I painted.  It inspired me how everyone could relate to how we were separate, yet connected.  That started my “Self Care Series”.  Covid affected my art in a positive way.   It gave me the momentum I needed.  Prior to Covid, I was so consumed with work and life and suddenly I was able to stop and create.

Tell me more about the “Self Care” series.  (These are the pieces on exhibit at Over The Moon Art Studios)

I was inspired by a digital artist (@morysetta) who created a digital picture of a girl on the moon that I saw on Instagram.  I decided to paint my version of a girl with a fro, homegirl in a bubble bath with a glass of wine in outer space, but also kept it “dark” because it was such a dark time.  I reached out to Morysetta to tell her she had inspired me and asked if it was ok to post my painting.  She wanted to see it and then she said, “Yeah, go ahead!”  People really liked it, so I continued on making more of them.

*How do you think the community can better support their artists?

More help with the business end of being an artist, as well as, opportunities to network with other artists, where we can share ideas.

*What would you like to see happen in the Monmouth County art community?

Artist to Artist Mentorships.  Having an established, professional artist mentor me so that someday when I am more established, I can “Pay it Forward” and mentor an up and coming artist who needs help.

You can view Shana’s work in-person at Over The Moon Art Studios at 808 Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park or visit her website: shanatheecreative.com
Instagram: @shana_thee_creative  Tiktok: shana_thee_creative  Facebook: shana_thee_creative