Meet Dorothy Dupont
Elim Park resident Dorothy Dupont, an acclaimed author and watercolorist, is that proverbial apple that didn’t fall far from the tree. Her father was a master storyteller, and Dorothy grew up happily absorbing his stories of her ancestors’ lives in 19th century Ireland and turn-of-the-century America. These precious stories, passed to down through the generations, were filled with authentic adventures of her forebears. This fascination inspired Dorothy to weave her family’s lively history into a series of novels.
Dorothy recalls, “Thanks to my father, I had a treasure trove of details and events to draw upon. For example, in my Legananny Legacy series, I write about a young woman who leaves her village in Ireland and sails to America. I knew my own grandmother had cooked over a crude open fire in Ireland. Then, as an indentured servant working for a grand family in Boston, she had to cook elaborate meals for dinner guests in an upscale kitchen that she knew absolutely nothing about! My character Lizzie had to do the same in my novels. Life was incredibly hard for those coming from another country but my books also celebrate the opportunities and promise of a better life for future generations in America. I am living proof!”
While Dorothy has earned accolades for her writing she is also a Juried Watercolor Artist and her dazzling work has been exhibited many times in the community’s Art Gallery since moving to Elim Park Place six years ago. She also shares her artistic gifts through Elim Park University and conducts watercolor classes for residents—which fill up almost immediately each semester! “I took a leap of faith that people would be interested in taking my class and was delighted that people enjoy it,” Dorothy remarks.
“I am a firm believer that everyone is creative— it’s in our DNA! We all have some resistance at first to something new. But I tell my students that it only takes 20 seconds of bravery to do something you’ve never done before. I hadn’t taught a class before coming to Elim Park and was nervous that I couldn’t do it. But if you try something that scares you a bit you’ll be amazed at what you can do!” Dorothy carries this uplifting message about art and creativity to the entire community through Elim Park TV on her weekly show, “World of Watercolor.” You can also find her at 11:00 a.m. each day in the Oasis, painting near the floor-to-ceiling windows where she claims the light “is amazing!” She observes, “It’s easy to get stuck into a routine where you stop growing. I love living at Elim Park Place for many reasons, but chief among them is that if you have something you love to do or want to learn, Elim Park Place is the perfect place to keep growing!”
