Step into the world of sculptor and artist Dave McDowell, and you may think you've wandered into a mash-up of an art studio, fantasy novel, and cosmic observatory. From crafting a mural mid-air (while queasy on a cross-country flight) to channeling the spirit of a marshwiggle named Puddleglum, Dave’s story is anything but ordinary.
Let’s start with that name—Burnt Marshwiggle Studio. If it sounds like something straight out of Narnia, that’s because it is. Inspired by a fiery moment of courage in The Silver Chair, Dave named his creative HQ after a character who stomps out an evil spell with his bare foot. The message? Choose truth—even if it burns. That’s Dave in a nutshell: fierce imagination, heartfelt values, and a big splash of whimsy.
From Scribbles to Sculptures
According to his parents, Dave has been creatively intense since birth—literally staring down blank paper as a baby before unleashing a flurry of scribbles. His kindergarten art teacher once recommended a future in medical illustration. Instead, Dave’s journey led him to Indiana Wesleyan University, where he found a home in an art department with the motto: “Make our work our worship.” That calling stuck.
Though the road wasn’t always smooth—he struggled post-college to find work that was both creatively fulfilling and financially viable—Dave soon found his groove in stained glass, outsider art, and eventually, large-scale sculpture.
His first big break? A stained-glass piece for a friend’s mother that snowballed into more commissions and a call from his old high school art teacher. She invited him to create a piece for Sandy Valley High School. Without hesitation, he pitched the now-iconic Heritage Tree sculpture—and from there, Dave became a fixture in Stark County’s creative scene.
Three Dimensions, Ten Thousand Ideas
“I’m a three-dimensional thinker,” Dave says. And he means that literally. While some artists sketch, Dave often sculpts a model first, needing to see the volume before flattening it onto paper. This brain-wiring makes him uniquely suited to sculpture, where materials, light, and space collide.
But don’t expect repetition. Dave lives for creative challenges—especially the ones with a high chance of failure. “Doing the same thing all the time is death by stagnation,” he laughs. “I want the hardest thing I can do—and then I want to make it harder.”
Art for the People
From the Aultman Angel to park benches that double as urns (yes, really), Dave's work isn't just beautiful—it’s deeply personal. He once translated abstract museum paintings into sculptural panels for the blind, a project that earned accolades—and moved one visually impaired viewer to say, “Tonight is the first time I get it.”
Ask him his proudest moment, and you’ll hear that story. Not the awards. Not the installations. But the connection.
Canton’s Creative Cheerleader
A self-proclaimed extrovert who thrives in the collaborative chaos of Canton’s art community, Dave credits the city’s geography, industrial roots, and supportiveness for his success. “We cheer each other on,” he says. “This isn’t some cutthroat scene. We want each other to win.”
He may not keep a tidy studio, and no, he’s not inviting you to tour it anytime soon—unless you like dodging piles of creative chaos. But you can find him at the Hub Art Factory, Synergy Sign and Graphics, or hanging with his foundry friends at Gyalog Aluminum, where ideas (and sparks) fly.
Meeting Dave in person only deepened my appreciation for his work. He’s the kind of person you don’t come across often—genuine, warm, and effortlessly likeable. At one point in our conversation, he described his success as coming “by the grace of God and the goodness of others”—a sentiment that stuck with me. It’s something I too can relate to. More than just a talented artist, Dave is the kind of person you immediately want to call a friend. He’s special.
What’s Next?
Dream project? A full artist retreat, complete with chapel, gardens, and maybe some whimsical architecture straight out of a Renaissance fairytale. But until then, he’s busy sculpting 360° murals, public gates, and—plot twist—a line of Christmas ornaments.
For Dave, art isn’t just expression—it’s connection. Between past and future, emotion and imagination, artist and viewer. And if you’re lucky enough to stand in front of one of his works, don’t be surprised if you hear yourself whisper, “Wow.”
Just don’t expect him to stop there. After all, he’s still chasing the next hard thing—just to see if he can make it even harder.
“Choose truth—even if it burns.” That’s Dave in a nutshell: fierce imagination, heartfelt values, and fearless creativity.
“He’s the kind of person you don’t come across often—genuine, warm, and effortlessly likeable. More than just a talented artist, Dave is someone you immediately want to call a friend.”