We caught up with the brilliant and insightful L. Dolphin Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi L. Dolphin, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I create video “paintings” by taking video of everyday things and turning them into abstract works of art that allow you to ascend to other realms and shift your energy. These “paintings” hang on your wall like any painting, but they move and have sound.

At their core, video paintings are essentially moving images that have been imbued with the aesthetic qualities of traditional painting. Instead of simply capturing a moment in time, like a photograph or traditional video, video paintings often employ complex layering techniques and digital manipulation to create a visual experience that is both dynamic and immersive.

I have always believed video can be treated as fine art, not just a technical creation. Art should, in my opinion, always push the boundaries of its technology. My video art defies conventional “television” restrictions. I build unique visual layouts, collaging together moving images into deeply layered visuals, and intermingling distinct audio streams, video art can create a world of sound and visuals that envelopes you. It goes beyond the canvas and brings you fully into a different reality.

Meeting video artist Dara Birnbaum during college set me on an entirely new phase of artistic development turning videos into a legitimate art form. I began creating non-narrative shorts that were more about feeling than a clear storyline. I experimented with video as texture, color, and mood rather than clear images. The more I experimented, the more I wanted to take video art in new and unthought-of directions.

Digital art is gaining recognition and video paintings have a bright future ahead of them. Whether you’re a fan of traditional painting or video art, video paintings offer a fresh and exciting way to experience the world of contemporary art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I fell into video production completely by accident when I signed up for TV news as an elective in the 8th grade. I hated being in front of the camera, but I fell in love with the process of editing. From there I started working in radio and television as a teen and was accepted into the media program at Highschool for Performing and Visual Arts. I was recruited into the Savannah College of Art and Design and while there, I met renowned video artist Dara Birnbaum. This opportunity set me on the path to creating the first multi-channel installation at the college a new phase of my artistic development.

After college, I worked for advertising companies and then in corporate America as a web developer until my world was rocked by a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2017. Major surgery and 6 months of chemo put me into remission but left me with crippling panic attacks. The fear of recurrence was so strong that I could barely cope with day-to-day life. I knew that one of the best ways to get a handle on that panic was to create art, so I started to create on a full-time basis.

I started creating traditional video art as I had in college but soon found it just did not heal my panic nor feed my soul. That’s when I went back to experimenting with video to create a mood instead of a story. Once I was creating art that nourished me, I started looking at ways I could get it to other people. I started putting my work into digital video frames and small flat screens that were easily manageable for collectors.

Now I create video paintings – abstract or other-worldly videos and sounds that hang on your wall like any painting. You don’t need wi-fi or an internet connection. The volume and brightness can be controlled by remote, so it can be hung in any room or business. My art is available in screens from 7” up to 120”.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As I said before, my world was turned upside down with a cancer diagnosis in 2017. Trying to get control of the panic attacks led me back to the healing p9ower of art. I create art that opens my mind to new ways of seeing and thinking; a moment where I can breathe deeply and experience true peace. And I want to share those moments with others. At a time when everyone seems divided and contentious, I want to remind us how to get into a peaceful and gentle metal space.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being an artist allows me to translate the unknowable, that which cannot be put into words, into a visual language that others can relate to and connect with. Words can fail us, especially at our most stressed and challenging times. Art is always there for us and offers us a glimpse into the ineffable. Being that conduit is an honor and a gift. It allows me to be a part of the magic of the universe.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dolphinbrown.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolphinbrown.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinBrown.Art
• Other: https://www.alignable.com/austin-tx/dolphinbrown-art

Image Credits
Delphinus Inspirations, LLC