Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rita Dungey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Rita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Everyone’s art journey is unique. Many artists are born with a paintbrush in hand, or in to a family of talented artists and a childhood filled with visits to museums and galleries. My path to becoming an artist was different. While I was always interested in art, I had minimal exposure to classes, museums, or galleries as a child and teenager in my community. Even in college, studio art classes were limited to those who were art majors. Fortunately, I was able to enroll in a number of art history classes, which fueled my art appreciation. And later I enrolled in art classes via community education, and pottery classes at a local art center. It is part mythology that all artists are born with talent. Many are, and many develop their creative skills through study and experience. First there has to be interest, and then dedicated time for exposure, learning, and practice.

For various reasons, many artists have fits and starts in their art making lives. I have come to know many artists with BFA’s and even MFA’s who decided to work in more predictable careers with steady incomes, health insurance and other benefits until a later point in life when they finally felt they could pursue what they always wanted.

I had a rewarding career in clinical social work, along with also teaching yoga for fifteen years. My work was creative, in terms of problem solving many situations and dynamics. For many decades, I also expressed my creativity in cooking, gardening, and decorating. Fast forward to my 50’s, when a door opened and I made the decision to study and make art full-time.

A few lessons I have learned –

It is never too late to start the creative journey and identity as an artist. Studying drawing, painting, sculpting, design in my 50’s was a dream-come-true. I was so ready, and grateful for the opportunity. I had great, encouraging teachers and I learned from the young adult students as well. Online art courses with instructors from all over the world are plentiful. They are a good way to continue artistic growth as well.

While it is great to have a large studio, a professional website, a resume of exhibits and gallery representation, those are not the only benchmarks of being a successful and creative artist. Success to me means meeting the artistic goals I set for myself.

Let go of the artist stereotypes and definitions of success. I stopped saying that I wish I had started making art earlier in life. It is not worth wondering how my might life and art might be different or better than it is now. Now that my path is clear, I am motivated to paint every day and I appreciate every opportunity I have to create. I am where I am supposed to be.

You don’t have to hold a pencil or paintbrush to be an artist. A creative mind can flourish in many areas of life – problem solving in your career, parenting and other relationships, or writing, cooking, decorating, gardening, etc. You are still an artist if you only have only fifteen minutes per day to devote to art making. Intermittent or sporadic is okay too. A creative mindset and how you approach life can be as important as having a finished product and a buyer.

Rita, 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 am a visual artist who works primarily in acrylic and mixed media on canvas and panel. I have several bodies of work, with my main focus being non-objective and abstract.

One of the best compliments I received from a visitor to my studio was
“Wow, it would be hard to be depressed in here”! It checks a box for me when someone stands in front of a piece and has an emotional response; when the life force of the painting engages, intrigues, or impacts the viewer and leaves a positive imprint.

Except when doing commissioned pieces that require certain parameters of color, style, size, etc., I am mostly intuitive and process-oriented. My catnip is color, flow and mixing of materials, building up and taking down multiple layers via sanding and incising, manipulating materials and setting the stage for them to interact in novel ways. Go with the flow is my motto. This is often an interesting journey of discovery and can result in vital and provocative images. I am less interested in telling a story or communicating a specific message than creating works that trigger an experience. This allows each viewer to have their own, unique response and interpretation of the work.

My creative process involves what I call my four E’s – exploring, experimenting, experiencing and expressing. I may start with a preliminary palette, sketches and marks, but they primarily serve as catalysts to get my process underway. They set the stage and inform my next moves with colors, shapes, and textures. From there I study and refine to resolve any loose ends. It is a continual and repeated process of play, followed by a more analytical and problem-solving approach until it is done. I know that an abstract painting is done when it has my distinctive voice and brings me peace and joy. It is felt as much as viewed when I find that balance of freedom and restraint in my use of materials. I generally feel a sense of abundance, flow, freedom, joy, playfulness, water, or some positive memory related to nature.

I enjoy creating art for specific home environments and also corporate settings. All of my experiences have been positive in the realm of commissioned work. I listen to what the client wants and we work together to plan the perfect piece. I think my successes with commissions come from accepting challenges that feel natural and authentic to my style.

I am currently working on a commission of collaged book covers and book ephemera for a hallway outside of a law school library. I have a body of work using these materials. The challenge of this commission will be it’s large size and location, procuring books and materials that are law-related, and creating impact and intrigue in a piece that will be viewed from a distance. I am challenged to present all the materials in a novel way. In preparation for this project, I learned how to use book-cutting equipment at a book arts center and have been reserving time to use them. One of my art teachers repeatedly said, “Art is about problem solving”. Along with my intuitive approach to creativity, I appreciate the intellectual side of approaching a project and the ongoing opportunities to learn new things outside of my studio.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Words fall short most of the time in explaining painting or why I paint. Edward Hopper, (1882-1967) said “If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”. And he was a realist painter!. I think it can be even harder to talk about abstract paintings. My intention is to explore and create works that generate positive life force and act as a conduit for infusion of health, joy, courage, spontaneity, or simply a time to be in the present moment. I step in to the flux and trust the unfolding creative process. Creativity requires being open to new ways of seeing and sometimes getting out of the way so that the materials interact in novel ways. I see my part as setting the stage for things to happen and for seemingly unrelated components to cross paths, interact, and organize. Along with that is a necessary intellectual part – using art and design principles and elements to resolve the composition.
My work is rooted in life experiences, my background in clinical social work with children and families, my study of yoga and yoga philosophy, and Reiki (a form of energy healing). Energy is everywhere and there is life force in everything – even inanimate objects are moving energy and everything is constantly undergoing change. In my work I try to tap in to and follow that energy, celebrate it, and apply it to the canvas.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Of course there are periods of frustration, stress of deadlines, rejections, etc. But for me, the benefits of creating always offset these by a wide margin. I should also mention the benefits of friendships and relationships with other artists, visitors to my studio, buyers of my art. These relationships are part of my creative community. The exchanges are rewarding in every way. We learn and inspire one another and provide mutual support and collaboration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritadungey.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritadungeyart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritadungeyart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e7fbnlwhrg

Image Credits
Peter Lee, photographer of some of my artwork images: David Ellis, photographer of my personal image www.davidellisphoto.com