We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deanna Fainelli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Deanna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I often say I took the long scenic route to becoming a full time visual artist. While painting was always my true love, I somehow deviated from art during college. I dabbled in various creative careers – scenic painting, graphic design, advertising, to name a few – and then I decided to study photojournalism. I worked extremely hard and landed a coveted paid internship at a daily newspaper. Soon I realized photography was never going to satisfy all of my creative needs; I wanted to get my hands dirty and feel the connection between paint and surface.
At times, I feel the need to play catch-up to compensate for all of the years I was working in other fields. But I also recognize that my past experiences help feed my current art practice. In fact, whether it’s applied to subject matter, technique or materials, the same drive I had to explore different jobs is now the foundation of my artwork.
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Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have a passion for finding beauty in unusual or unexpected places. That passion translates to my paintings, which often give a unique perspective of things we see every day or take the viewer on a journey for a new experience. It’s the desire to explore that makes my work stand out, whether that means discovering places off the beaten path or experimenting with painting techniques, styles and materials. I am most proud of my abstract and semi-abstract paintings that connect with viewers and challenge conventional ideas of beauty.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Early in my art career I was known for very image based, representational art that heavily relied on images of San Francisco. The distinctive style was very popular, but for me the style and the work began to feel like a branded product. To feed my creative soul I knew I had to pivot. Moving to Southern California was the perfect opportunity to explore new styles and techniques.
The move to the Palm Springs area was the perfect impetus to shift my focus to a more abstract style. The drastic change in environment gave me a fresh perspective and the amazing artist community in the Coachella Valley inspires to me to reach new levels of success.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As someone who loves to learn, one of the best parts of being an artist is that the journey is never-ending. An artist can build a brand and grow a following and, hopefully, there is an expectation from the audience and the artist that the work should continue to evolve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deannafainelli.com
- Instagram: @dfainelliart
