all images are © 2005 to tranzen art llc

about the artist

A third-generation Japanese-American growing up in Sacramento, California, Dana Kawano earned childhood awards for her art. But she was told that success was based on making money—and there was no money to be made in art. Further discouraged by originality-stifling art teachers, Kawano responded to familial influence and pursued a successful high-tech career.

After 14 years, Kawano finally left business to pursue her early passion. Freed from discouraging external voices, Kawano lost herself in the artistic process, painting and sculpting around the clock. Her long-suppressed talent shone forth, impressing instructors who were surprised to find she lacked formal training. "I felt like I was making up for lost time," she says.

Kawano embraces a technique called "Transfigurism," a style that combines Adobe PhotoShop techniques, photography, objects, scanning, and self-developed image-to-media transfer with oil painting and other traditional methods.

Art saved my life. It has tremendous healing potential that I want to share with others, especially children.