Painter Dara Dodson Preserves Florida's "Cracker" Cowboy Heritage in Oils

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Fifteen paintings by Dara Dodson, an award-winning painter of Florida's "Cracker" heritage, are now on display at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 105 St. George St. in St. Augustine. The exhibit opened this month and runs through November and December. It includes both her "Cracker" cowboy scenes and her Florida marsh landscapes. Admission to the museum is free.

One of Dodson's largest "Cracker" paintings is also headed to Stuart. It will hang in "A Land Remembered," a six-month exhibition at the Elliot Museum that runs from Dec. 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, Dodson said. Artists from across Florida were invited to submit one piece each to be juried into the show. Rick Smith, son of the late author Patrick Smith, whose 1984 novel "A Land Remembered" gives the show its name, will officiate the opening ceremony on Dec. 1, which includes awards for the best art.

Jasmine Gertjegerdes, the entertainment editor of Jax Times, is set to interview Dodson. The interview is tentatively planned for Nov. 29, with the story expected the next day, Nov. 30. The plans are not final. Dodson is represented by The ART COLLECTIVE of St. Augustine, and her work is collected internationally.

An award-winning artist from West Virginia

Dodson grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and began winning art awards at a young age. Her parents encouraged her to pursue art, and she traveled extensively with her family. Those trips deepened her appreciation for art and fueled her desire to create timeless work.

Painting Florida's "Cracker" heritage

Dodson calls her role as a painter of Florida's "Cracker" heritage an exciting one, and she notes that the subject is unknown to many people. Florida had cow hunters and cowboys long before the western states did. Through meticulous research and dramatic realism, her work aims to preserve the people, traditions and natural beauty that shaped early Florida.

Her realistic Florida landscapes are also popular, including salt marshes, wildlife and vibrant seascapes. She especially loves capturing those scenes at sunrise or sunset, and oils are her medium of choice.

Training and teaching

Dodson has had eight years of formal training, followed by study under professional artists. She taught acrylic painting at First Coast Technical College for several years. Today she works out of her own studio.

She also teaches workshops at the Art Association and the gallery, and she offers private and group lessons, including virtual lessons for local, national and international students. Her aim is to build both skill and confidence in her students. Because she believes in ongoing education, Dodson is currently studying under two living master artists.

Recognition and memberships

Dodson's work has earned a number of awards, according to her artist biography. She is a member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, the Florida Women's Arts Association and the St. Augustine Art Association.

Where to see her work

The easiest place to see Dodson's paintings right now is the Karpeles exhibit on St. George Street, open through December. Starting Dec. 1, one of her large "Cracker" paintings will be on view at the Elliot Museum in Stuart through May 31. Her website, daradodsonart.com, shows paintings that are available and says she accepts commissions, and readers can also ask The ART COLLECTIVE of St. Augustine about her current work.

The planned interview

The Nov. 29 interview with Gertjegerdes is still tentative, and Jax Times will update this story if the date changes. Dodson says people "must ask" her what the term "Cracker" means, and the interview is meant to do exactly that. Readers who have questions about her paintings, her teaching or Florida's cowboy history can send them through jaxtimes.com/tips.

Editor's note: This story was updated Nov. 7, 2026, to add Dodson's current exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum and her painting's selection for the Elliot Museum's "A Land Remembered" exhibition. An earlier version incorrectly said the Karpeles exhibit was not happening.