Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Dillon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been an artist. I’ve worked in many mediums and in many styles. My love of Old Master painting led me to study classical realism in Florence, Italy. When I returned, I experimented with using the style and techniques in new ways. Eventually, this led me to painting portraits on found objects such as vintage paintbrushes, locks, dresses and metal tools.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s a struggle for every artist to build a career and find a way to survive. My life has been no exception. But the bigger struggle was to find an avenue in my work that was truly my own and reflected my unique vision.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am especially known for my portraits on vintage paintbrushes. The faces are inspired by my passion for Roman-Egyptian mummy paintings. I thought it was clever to paint faces onto the paintbrushes, which themselves are the tools of my trade.
The faces on the tools and locks are based on Old Master portraits, although I never do copies of any other paintings. All of my portraits are invented. I enjoy creating characters, giving them names, and letting them tell me who they are.
My paintings of women on dresses and gloves invert the relationship of the wearer to the clothing; it’s now the dress that wears the faces. I really like playing in the cross-section of fashion and art. I’d love to do a collaboration with a high-end fashion house and see my creations on the runway.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I sell most of my work in my online shop, and those sales really help to support me as an artist. Also, many of my tools and old paintbrushes have been donated to me by other artists. Following me on social media and sharing my work really has helped to build my reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandradillon.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ alexandradillonartist/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ alexandradillonart/
Image Credits
photo of Alexandra Dillon, 2022, by Steven Hankins Photography. All other photos by Alexandra Dillon
