Dina D'Argo: The Essence of the Wild
Dina D’Argo is a contemporary painter whose work explores her spiritual connection to the Earth and the wilderness. D’Argo finds inspiration for her dreamlike images in nature, memory, mythology, and from her love of animals.
How did your creative journey begin?
Creativity has been an integral part of who I am for so long that I can’t even remember how or when it began. But I can tell you how this particular pathway on my creative journey started, and led me to pursue a life of being an artist. I have been interested in Fine Art, drawing, painting, and “making things” since childhood. As an adult I worked in Fashion Design, the Home Décor industry, and a number of other jobs that allowed me some creative input, but always in a more commercial context. Around the year 2000, I had a very serious horseback riding accident that permanently changed my brain. I lost some cognitive function, but as time passed I gained some enhanced sensory ability. At the time the accident was quite tragic, not to mention inconvenient and impractical, as there was a period of recovery during which I couldn’t go back to work or comfortably do many of the things I had taken for granted, like driving a car. With few other options, I radically changed my life and renewed my commitment to my art and living a life with creativity at its center. Later, looking back, I realized the accident was a gift- it provided me with a justification to stop selling the hours of my life doing things in which I found no real fulfillment or purpose, only financial gain and the security of a mundane life. Without that accident, I don’t know if I would have ever given myself permission to follow my dreams and forge my own creative path.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Everywhere!! The bulk of my inspiration comes from within, but maybe “within” is just a lifelong collection of experiences and impressions of the world around us. I find so much inspiration I couldn’t ever have enough time or energy to paint it all. It’s like a deep well with fascinating, ever-changing water and a bucket that could never hold it. I enjoy looking at the work of artists whose style is vastly different from my own, especially from a historical standpoint. I like seeing their unique perspectives, how they handled certain subjects, or what they chose to express. It reminds me that the creative possibilities are truly endless. My favorite places to become freshly inspired are in nature. I love looking at the sky, at the ocean, at the wide-open desert, and just soaking it all in. I really don’t work from photos or ever try to reproduce reality. Reality isn’t dependable. It only tells part of the story, and not the most important parts, like how one feels or what one remembers. I like to make myself an open space to allow the world to speak to me; to show me the unspoken truths and mysteries that lie beneath the surface. I often find inspiration through yoga, meditation, or connecting with the life force around me. I have always, from a very young age, had a profound connection to the great unknown, and I try to bring that to my work.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
I find that my work is becoming less defined and more fluid, more atmospheric or open-ended. When I look back at some of my older works, they seem much more “obvious” than current pieces. I’ve become more intuitive in my process and more experimental. I’m discovering an appreciation for offering myself in service of the artwork, and of getting lost in the process rather than being so focused on planning or trying to paint what I’ve envisioned. I like to let the creative process lead me wherever it wants to take me. I enjoy following even if the destination isn’t what I initially thought it should be. There is a greater sense of vulnerability in my work now, and a more complex set of emotions. The images ask questions rather than make statements. I like that there is more opportunity for the viewer to become part of the conversation. Sometimes there is something I’ve just barely touched on, maybe that I haven’t even quite figured out yet, that the viewer can complete in their own psyche, with their own set of subconscious thoughts and impressions. Where I am now as an artist is always pushing to be more instinctive and more explorative.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
My art practice is constantly growing and changing, as I hopefully am growing and changing. My studio is attached to my home, and I can see my horses and pet pigs from the windows. My 2 dogs pop in and out whenever they need a little attention. I usually do business-type stuff mid-morning after yoga, when I’m feeling my most practical and reasonable- things like ordering supplies, social media posts, following up with galleries, shipping etc. By afternoon I’ve had about enough of that, and it’s finally time to paint! I love being messy in the studio! I use a ton of paint; far too much, I’m sure. I usually have either some kind of music or a podcast playing, and I try to get in at least a 4 hour uninterrupted block of studio time per day. I then have a good hour or two of meditation, reading, spiritual practice, or outdoor time with the animals, after which I sometimes return to the studio if I’m feeling particularly involved or motivated. I love being home and being alone all day. I’m really trying to allow myself to nurture myself. I don’t think I allowed myself much real introspection or pursuit of joy in my youth. I internalized capitalism, prioritizing things like productivity and adhering to linear time. I am finding that my studio practice becomes much more satisfying and meaningful when I let those rigid ideas go, and instead develop a rich inner self that is woven into a lifestyle of creativity.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
ALL my experiences impact my work as an artist! Lol. Marrying a fellow creative 8 years ago was like seeing my work and my career with fresh eyes. I have primarily lived and worked alone, so the support and feedback from someone who gets “where the art is coming from” and has no ulterior motives is great. My signing with an art publisher, Third & Wall Art Group, helped me to feel validated, helped me to see myself as a “real” artist and was a catalyst to take my art career more seriously. 2 years ago, my art studio burned to the ground. I mean, literally all that was left was a pile of rubble. I lost not only many years of stored artwork, tons of supplies and equipment, but also works I hadn’t even shown yet, including an entire series I had worked on for well over a year that was very special to me. That studio was sort of my home-away-from-home, so I kept all kinds of precious (to me, anyway) memorabilia, photos, rare found items I’d hoped to use in my work, and more. All was lost in a few hours. It still breaks my heart, and it is still teaching me new lessons. Primarily, that everything is fleeting, everything is fragile, and there’s no saving it, so stop trying. Enjoy it now, use it while you can, show it to whomever wants to see it. And any studio time (or any other part of your life, for that matter) that was spent agonizing and obsessing, trying to “make it work” while losing the inspiration that compels you to be an artist in the first place… when the work is gone, that self-torture was all for nothing. After that experience, moving to a new region of the country where I feel more comfortable to express my individuality and connect with my spiritual side, and setting up a new studio, has been liberating. I’m encouraged to move forward with greater insight into what my work represents in my own life and on a larger scale, what every single artist’s work means to the world.
How has social media impacted your work?
Social media has enabled me to live wherever and however I want, while still being able to market and promote my work. It’s like the art goes everywhere while I stay here. With the help of social media (and I’m not even that good at it, or that consistent!), I’ve been able to build a growing collector base and take them with me on my creative journey. People who have followed me on Facebook or Instagram for years are so familiar with my body of work, and what my art is all about, it’s really flattering. Sometimes I will see a post or comment from someone I’ve never even met in person, and it’s clear that we are intertwined in each other’s lives and very much value the meaningful interaction we have. Sometimes the most inspiring, thought provoking, or heartfelt words come from someone I know only through social media. At times, it almost feels collaborative. I’ve had instances in which I shared an image, and received a comment or feedback from a follower that really touched my soul- sometimes they understand the image better than I do! A profound, insightful comment from someone who appreciates what I do can influence the direction in which I take my work, or the piece in which I’m currently involved.
How do you choose which animals to paint as your subjects?
When I paint animals, or include them in a painting, it’s very often about what that animal represents, more than a portrait or likeness of that particular animal. I’m influenced by Native American and nature-based spiritual traditions, and all kinds of ancient animal folk tales and lore. I choose certain animals for the “medicine” or guidance they bring. I love all of our animal siblings, and much of my work aims to express our deep, spiritual connection or bond with them, which to me is a magical thing that defies explanation. Many times when I paint an animal, I am painting any of us, in animal form. I hope the image resonates with viewers who identify with that animal’s story or attributes. And of course I will always paint horses! I have drawn or painted horses for over 50 years and their majesty, sensitivity, and power never cease to captivate and enthrall me. I am in awe of them and I know that no matter how long or how hard I try, I will never be able to truly capture their essence.
Website: www.dinadargo.com
Instagram: @unbridled_by_dina_dargo