Life & Work with Della Magnet of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Della Magnet.

Della, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a creative person. Poetry is just something that has flowed freely (like I don’t ever remember NOT writing poems). Also, music and my love for singing has forever been a part of who I am. So, naturally, I pursued a degree in literature while being involved in our college’s performing choir. I was published in our school’s annual poetry publication and also worked as an editor on the publication alongside the advising professor. I submitted to and was published in several collegiate poetry publications and received top placement in short story competitions. I wanted to eventually write a novel and publish a collection of poems and short stories. My mind was always bursting with new ideas and I loved finding creative ways to express them. I was consistently distracted from regular life by my need to “get it out” as each new idea popped into my consciousness.

However, I was simultaneously in awe of my college roommate (and now lifelong friend) who was an art major. She was and is an incredible artist and could draw so, so well. (She was absolutely the best pictionary partner ever!) I was always in awe of her abilities. I would tell her,
“I wish I could draw as well as you. It’s so amazing what you can do.”
I could watch her create for hours. Her work and her skills were amazing to me. Once when I was complimenting her work and expressing, yet again, how I wished I could do what she did, she said,
“Anyone can learn to do what I can do. Drawing is a skill that can be learned. But you are creative and that is a gift that can’t be taught.”

That statement implanted itself into me. Throughout my life I would express myself creatively through writing poetry, singing, and creating things for others. Learning calligraphy and creating things with my handwriting were as close as I got to visual artwork. Eventually, after I was married and had children, my husband and I embraced a life of mission work that continues even today. So, our meager budget would force me to be very creative in order to give a meaningful gift or to create a party and decorations for one of our children. I enjoyed rising to these challenges, but it wasn’t until we moved to Berlin, Germany that I began to explore and create my own visual arts. We lived in an old, large bed and breakfast house that we converted into a place to house and host mission teams. We regularly hosted 24-hour worship nights where people from all over the city could come and worship with non-stop, live music. We started putting art supplies out for people to create during the 24-hour period. I started painting during some of the long stretches overnight when there weren’t a lot of people around. It was open to anyone, so it didn’t matter the talent level at all. It was simply another expression of worship. And, in the middle of the night, no one was really paying attention to what I was doing anyway. I began simply, with finger-painting to whatever music was being played at the time. I found it really relaxing and freeing and there was no pressure to be perfect. And, I began to notice that it really focused my mind and I could really connect with God as I painted. I was locking in with God in a way I had never thought of before. After some time, several people complimented my work and when we sold some of the artwork as a fundraiser, mine was purchased. So, that was definitely encouraging.

Years later, after moving to Los Angeles, I was missing these times of creative connection with God. I was reminded of the combination of music and the act of creating and how it freed my mind, soul and heart. I missed the escape into the artwork while creating. I had collected various art supplies from different people who had stayed with us. So, I shut the door to our office/spare room and put some headphones on and let the music flow. It came easily and with a new force that was even more freeing than before. I absolutely loved creating and re-connecting with God in this special way. And I noticed what a great pleasure I had in the process. This joy was even stronger than anything I had experienced while writing. I was shocked. It was like uncorking a bottle of the finest wine that I didn’t even realize I had in storage. I thought,
“I love this so much. I would love to BE an artist.”
And, I thought of how Van Gough had decided, as an adult, to be an artist and then just started studying the craft and BEING an artist. And, I flashed back to the voice of my college roommate telling me that I was already in possession of the gift of creativity.

While contemplating this new joyful concept, my daughter (@emilymagnetmusic) asked me to do the cover art for a song she was releasing and she wanted to pay me for it! So, I got my first commissioned work before ever displaying my art in a show or gallery. What an amazing confirmation that I was on the right path. I had an amazing time creating multiple versions of the same thing for her to choose from. And, it was a great honor to be able to do the art for such an emotional and personal song entitled “Not Forgotten” about her brother (our son) that was stillborn.

After seeing art displayed in my favorite boba shop, I began to think about displaying my work. I thought,
“Well, we live in Los Angeles. There is art everywhere and artists are embraced, so maybe I could have a piece in a coffee shop or something like that.”
I inquired at a few places that never responded. So, I looked around different Facebook Groups to see what art opportunities for emerging artists existed. I applied for a show put on by Arroyo Arts Collective called “Rubbish Remix” where 70% of the art piece had to be made from reused materials, thereby making “trash” a treasure. I had a piece that was made out of scrap paper and twine. To my unbelievable surprise, I was accepted. I was thrilled to be in my first show with my piece hanging alongside other artists’ work. I distinctly remember being called “one of the artists” during the reception and honestly it felt surreal to hear that word applied to me. I found out later that there were A LOT of submissions, so to be chosen out of so many other artists spurred me forward to explore creating and submitting even more.

To date, I’ve had artwork either on display or in 11 different shows. And, as I can or have time and finances, I apply to different art opportunities. Even ones that seem to be (at least to me) above my skill level. It’s important to get my creative aspect out into the world for others to experience.

So, I can now (comfortably) say….I am an artist. I’m emerging, but happy to call myself an emerging artist. I’m excited to see what the future holds and where my art will end up.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel like I have a couple of obstacles. One main one is the very real struggle to start or continue to work on a piece. I have perfectionist tendencies, so once I start something and it’s going really well and I’m pleased with how it looks, I sometimes “freeze” mid-work. If I go further, I might mess it up. It might not line up with my vision. It may ruin this background. This part is perfect and anything I do now may blur this, smear that, distort this……and the list goes on. Sometimes, I literally have to speak out-loud to myself and tell myself that if I mess this up it’s ok. I can paint over this, or create another layer or even get a new canvas or paper and start again. If I don’t hurdle this obstacle, I will have a room full of unfinished pieces and none of my visions will come to fruition.

The other challenge I face is moving past what people think (which is kind of humorous when you think about creating visual arts). Of course I want to create something that intrigues or speaks to someone on a deep level. That’s actually not the thought that concerns me because I know how subjective art is. I have had to push myself past the concern of what other artist’s may think. I know that my lack of formal training might disqualify me in the minds of many. This idea of being seen as a “poser” and being dismissed as some wanna-be is the reason I was unable or unwilling to call myself an artist initially. It felt like I was talking about someone else. I remember dropping off some work for a show and having them greet me as one of the artists. And while I outwardly confirmed this, it felt like having some type of out-of-body experience. Once this title was being said out loud and applied to me, it took awhile for my heart to catch up with what my ears were hearing.

(One extra, kind of funny challenge is that nothing is ever trash. An old scrap of cardboard, a lid, a uniquely shaped bit of packing material can be something i can use to create something later on….a concept I haven’t even thought of yet. So, I often find myself staring at something I know I need to throw away and trying to decide it’s future.)

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like creating works that come off the page or have texture or give that feeling that there is texture. Also, my most recent endeavor is to combine my love of words with my artwork. I have one piece that is a poem I wrote and it is uniquely written on the mat around a creatively angled photo I took. I also love incorporating words or phrases from texts that are important to me.
I usually start with a vision, concept or idea and then I have to figure out how I’m going to make that come to life. I’m constantly learning new concepts and skills and different ways to create. Youtube has been a valuable source for me to “study under” different artists as I seek to complete each new vision of what am trying to do. I might have to learn a new skill or figure out how to make my skills work for this particular piece. And honestly, it’s different every time. It never looks exactly how I thought it would in the end and sometimes, it becomes an entirely different piece altogether. A mislaid splatter of paint or the wrong thing glued in the wrong piece can end up being the best feature of a certain work. (Kind of like life itself!) But, I think the mystery in this in-between space of vision and creation is the absolute best! Seeing how a work unfolds, not exactly according to my plan, keeps the intrigue alive. Some artists are very exact and very calculating in how they create, which is amazing, but I am just the opposite. I take a piece of inspiration from something I see or experience and it becomes a whole work in and of itself. Sometimes, I even combine several fragmented works I have from the past. It’s a fascinating puzzle to watch everything come together.

I suppose I am unusual because although I discovered and embraced the visual arts side of my creativity in my 30’s and 40’s, I stepped up and decided to make my artwork fully available to the public in my 50’s. And, it’s not a mid-life crisis or a “Second Act” plan. It has been a slow and steady evolution. My motivations were and are a pure expression of creativity stemming from worship, music, poetry and a love of visual arts.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I feel like anytime I put my creative work out into the public, I am taking a risk. I often have to summon my courage and hurdle over the “this isn’t good enough” obstacle. Of course, I’ve seen a ton of work in galleries that far surpasses where I am as an artist. (Some are so good I’ve even thought “I’m not sure why I’m trying to do this.”) But, then I see a lot of artwork and I know what I’ve created is just as good and to the right viewer, even better. But, submitting artwork for shows or display is putting a part of yourself and your hard work out for others to see and embrace OR snub and mock. So, it is risky every time.

I once watched another artist’s video post where they were encouraging people to apply for a particular show. And they said,
“You might think your work isn’t good enough for a certain show, but you need to submit it anyway. Submit, submit, submit. Art is very subjective and you never know what they are looking for. It might just be exactly what you’ve created. And if it isn’t, don’t get discouraged. Apply again and again because if you don’t submit your work, you will never know.”
So, I try to remember that when I am looking at taking the risk to submit, yet again. And, even if it looks like the work of other artists far exceeds my own, I rest in the knowledge that I am taking the risk and I am continuing to create and often the ones who mock are not the risk-takers. So, at the very least, I am successfully taking the risk. This risk-taking makes getting a rejection a lot easier to swallow and since I already feel successful, I’m only encouraged to try again. Getting a “yes” is just more icing on the cake.

Pricing:

• My prices for various works range anywhere from $50-$500 but I am always happy to negotiate if someone is interested in purchasing a piece.
• Please dm me on Instagram to inquire about purchasing a piece

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.foundmyself.com/DellaKMagnet
• Instagram: @dellamagnetartist or @dellamagnet
• Facebook: Della Cowan Magnet