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Fawn McNeill Barr has overcome many obstacles throughout her life: The death of her father, moving almost every year, an abusive stepfather, foster homes, a near fatal car accident, and becoming a single mother of two boys after 13 years of marriage. Art was her way to cope.
She traveled extensively as a child: living in Washington State, Hawaii, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, back to Minnesota, back to Montana, back to Hawaii, and on to the island of Guam. She spent 3 years in foster care before being reunited with her mother and 2 brothers for her last 2 years of high school. She also got to help with a new baby brother and sister at home.
Fawn was hit by a car while riding her horse near the end of her senior year. Sadly, her horse didn't make it. Fawn had a collapsed lung, broken ribs, a broken shoulder, a concussion, and 2 surgeries for a broken arm. She also suffered from partial amnesia and post concussion syndrome for many years.
She did graduate with her class, finishing her school work from the hospital and recovering enough to take her final exams on campus. Incredibly, she graduated with honors from George Washington High School in Mangilao, Guam. She then moved back to Libby, Montana to live with her Grandmother for her first year of adult life before finally settling in Okeechobee, Florida.
At the age of 12, Fawn became serious about her artistic endeavors. She saved her fifty cents each week for doing chores to purchase art instruction books. She even studied the anatomy of animals so she could get better proportions in her drawings. At the age of 13, she began receiving many awards for her drawings and paintings. By her senior year in high school she was creating custom paintings of animal portraits for her clients.
Fawn created custom paintings of landscapes, animal portraits, and homesteads as a self-taught artist for many years. She also taught private lessons and painting classes. While her two boys were teenagers, she went back to school and earned her BFA with a major in studio arts (supplemented with educational components) at Florida Atlantic University. She taught art in the public schools for a few years before opening her own teaching studio and gallery (Fawn's Studio) for over 7 years. Due to the recent pandemic, Fawn has moved her studio to an office space in Okeechobee to meet with clients and accept orders. She also teaches private and semi-private lessons. She now creates her commissioned original paintings and builds custom frames at home.
Using her maiden name as her pen name on her art, she honors her father, Thomas McNeill, who died before she turned 3 while he served in the United States Coast Guard. She also signs her name with a dove to thank the Lord for helping her through the storms and restoring her life. The dove is symbolic for the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.
She traveled extensively as a child: living in Washington State, Hawaii, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, back to Minnesota, back to Montana, back to Hawaii, and on to the island of Guam. She spent 3 years in foster care before being reunited with her mother and 2 brothers for her last 2 years of high school. She also got to help with a new baby brother and sister at home.
Fawn was hit by a car while riding her horse near the end of her senior year. Sadly, her horse didn't make it. Fawn had a collapsed lung, broken ribs, a broken shoulder, a concussion, and 2 surgeries for a broken arm. She also suffered from partial amnesia and post concussion syndrome for many years.
She did graduate with her class, finishing her school work from the hospital and recovering enough to take her final exams on campus. Incredibly, she graduated with honors from George Washington High School in Mangilao, Guam. She then moved back to Libby, Montana to live with her Grandmother for her first year of adult life before finally settling in Okeechobee, Florida.
At the age of 12, Fawn became serious about her artistic endeavors. She saved her fifty cents each week for doing chores to purchase art instruction books. She even studied the anatomy of animals so she could get better proportions in her drawings. At the age of 13, she began receiving many awards for her drawings and paintings. By her senior year in high school she was creating custom paintings of animal portraits for her clients.
Fawn created custom paintings of landscapes, animal portraits, and homesteads as a self-taught artist for many years. She also taught private lessons and painting classes. While her two boys were teenagers, she went back to school and earned her BFA with a major in studio arts (supplemented with educational components) at Florida Atlantic University. She taught art in the public schools for a few years before opening her own teaching studio and gallery (Fawn's Studio) for over 7 years. Due to the recent pandemic, Fawn has moved her studio to an office space in Okeechobee to meet with clients and accept orders. She also teaches private and semi-private lessons. She now creates her commissioned original paintings and builds custom frames at home.
Using her maiden name as her pen name on her art, she honors her father, Thomas McNeill, who died before she turned 3 while he served in the United States Coast Guard. She also signs her name with a dove to thank the Lord for helping her through the storms and restoring her life. The dove is symbolic for the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.