We were lucky to catch up with Alexandra Dillon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I firmly believe that to realize your full potential as a visual artist, whatever your practice is, learning the principles, techniques and the tangible craft of art-making is important.

I have been relentlessly creating art since I was a child, but I also loved cinema, and I studied film at UCLA . After completing my degree, I decided to return to my first passion, painting. At that time, most graduate programs were very theory-based and leaned toward conceptual art, but I adored the works of the Old Masters and so I went to Florence, Italy to study Classical Realism

The skills I learned there gave me the basis to paint and draw in any style I choose. People forget that the artists that invented modernism and abstract expressionism, all had formal art educations and knew how to paint, realistically. In my humble opinion, the knowledge of composition, color, line, and shadow informs all great art. Knowing something about art history, doesn’t hurt either.

Alexandra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve gotten well-known for painting imagined portraits on vintage paintbrushes. I love creating characters, and when I painted my first paintbrush portrait, I knew I was onto something. Then, I started working on other found objects such as cleavers, shovels, locks and axes, The results are surrealist artworks that explore hidden emotions, and the sub-conscious. I also paint women onto vintage dresses and gloves, and anything else I find interesting.

It’s really fun to make this work, and the world has responded. I sell my art in my online shop, and through galleries, and I have sizable Instagram and Facebook followings. Knowing that people enjoy the work is really gratifying.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

For me this happened organically, as people just kept sharing my images, and my following grew. I think the most important thing for social media is having good pictures! Instagram and Facebook are visual mediums, and people share images that really stand out. I was lucky, in that my art translates well for a small screen.

That said, you also need to post, regularly. These days, reels are dominating the algorithm, and it’s a lot of work to make videos, but to keep eyes on my artwork, I try to do it as much as possible.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to make art, every day! I also get to be my own boss, and make my own schedule.

Although I still work with galleries, I see myself as an entrepreneur, as well as an artist. Most artists think that they cannot sell their work without representation, but all that has changed. Today, many artists are selling through online platforms, through social media, directly from their studios, or at self-produced pop-up shows. If you put yourself out there, collectors will find you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alexandradillon.com
• Instagram: @alexandradillonartist
• Facebook: @alexandradillonart

Image Credits
Alexandra Dillon by Steven Hankins Photography All other images by Alexandra Dillon