Dara Dodson

Dara Dodson a professional realist artist working in oils and represented by the ART COLLECTIVE in St Augustine. She has painted for many years specializing in Florida marsh scenes and enjoys her new endeavor in preserving Florida history, called the “Florida ‘Cracker’ Heritage” series.

With official permission from the estate of Patrick Smith, author of the book “A LAND REMEMBERED,” Dara is bringing to life the stories on the Florida frontier, depicting homesteads, daily chores, cow hunting, branding, and driving cattle to market. This includes the Seminole Indians, who helped the cow hunters survive by teaching them how to make coontie flour, swamp cabbage, and sofkee, and how to catch the wild cattle left behind by Spanish explorers.  Extensive research ensures these depictions are authentic and educational for students and visitors alike, while sharing the natural beauty of this wonderful state.