Featured Artist Dina D’Argo

Artist Dina D’Argo presents a collection of ethereal abstract paintings inspired by nature. Visit her website to see more of her art.

 

 

My paintings are an expression of the wonder and reverence I have for the everyday magic of nature.

 

 

I search for a space somewhere between abstract and representational, between the physical world and our collective unconscious. A subliminal, distant echo of being one with the Earth and the precious wild that feels familiar, yet somehow intangible.

 

 

As a child I was reclusive, preferring to sequester myself in my room to paint or draw, or explore undeveloped fields with my beloved, shaggy mutt. When my parents gave in to my relentless begging and bought me a horse, my whole world changed.

 

 

I discovered unspoken communication with this magnificent partner. It enabled me to chart vast new territory, including spying on neighbor boys and trespassing through vineyards, deep creeks and forbidden woods. We were invincible! Far from being lonely, I found comfort and friendship in the Earth and her creatures. Those secret, enchanted places that brought me comfort as a child inspire me now.

 

 

Without the confidence to pursue a career in art, I settled for a brief career in fashion design. It gave me a nice foundation on which to build my part-time art practice.

 

 

After a serious horseback riding accident left me unable to go back to work, I devoted myself to my passion for painting. Over the years, my work has morphed from representational to a looser, less-defined style that leaves more room for imagination. I finally feel like I am painting like myself rather than fitting a genre or conforming to an expectation.

 

 

I truly love paint. I love to work it in unusual, almost sculptural ways until it separates or drips or attains a burnished look. Building many layers of translucent color and texture tells a complex story. It leaves hidden treasures and faded ghosts that whisper even when they are concealed.

 

 

Rather than working from a photo, I prefer to compile a little file of inspiration, which can be anything from a color palette in a décor magazine to a weird piece of wood found behind my horse pasture!

 

 

Right now, my biggest challenge is to continuously push myself to go further into the unknown. To paint more instinctively, more spontaneously and to have more faith in my own intuition. I try to bring my own feelings of vulnerability to the canvas in an expression that is sensitive and introspective, reflecting the vulnerability of our planet.

 

 

I have been pleasantly surprised that this resonates with the viewer as well. It gives them an opportunity to interpret the images in a way that stokes their own longing for the wild, and the nurturing and healing it brings their soul. With the unspoken language of art, I hope to bridge the gap of ego and identity and remind us of our shared experience and common bond with nature.

 

Artist Dina D’Argo invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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