Today we’d like to introduce you to Calla Donofrio
Hi Calla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been making art since I was a small child and was mainly focused on drawing for most of my life. But I started doing art seriously in 2009 while applying to art schools. I made a series of mixed media pieces that went viral on social media and became heavily involved in the Witch House music scene, which was just starting at the time. I designed album artwork for several musicians and underground music labels and from there I participated in group shows all over the world, including the Tate Modern in London, and attended California Institute of the Arts where I completed my undergrad. After graduating I continued to explore different mediums, working in 3d digital art, writing a novel, doing watercolors, collage, and continuing to draw. Then I discovered oil painting in 2019 and fell in love. Completely self taught, painting in oils is now the primary focus of my artistic practice.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finding your own voice in the art world can be tough. There are a lot of artists out there and it can be very hard to stand out. Also being a professional artist also means building a brand, and creating a body of work that cohesively fits together can be quite challenging. But as cheesy as it sounds, I find that if you are honest and stay true to yourself, and follow what really inspires and interests you, your voice will become clear in your work and your audience will find you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a figurative realist oil painter and my work focuses on violence and suffering in ancient religion, and on the side I also design clothing. I paint in a style influenced by 19th century French academic painting and use these tools and techniques to create work that speaks to a contemporary audience.
What I am most proud of is having people from all over the world reach out and tell me that my work has inspired them. Hearing their stories of how what I do has helped them to make more bold decisions in their own lives, or seeing people wearing my clothing designs in other cities or countries, makes me very proud.
I think what sets me apart from others is creating work that has an emotional impact on my viewers. I find that a lot of contemporary art can be a bit sterile. But even if people do not like my work or the effect it has on them, I try to make work that will make them feel something.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In all aspects of life, it is a balancing act. It’s important to make conservative decisions at times, but it’s equally important to follow your intuition and take leaps of faith when the time is right. Art is a safe place to take risks. When I was first learning to paint in oils I was making more conservative decisions, trying to fit into a certain crowd. But the last year or two I have been taking more risks in my paintings, making work that addresses more challenging and provocative topics. It was a little scary making such a huge shift and putting it out there. But I can tell that the newer work has had a stronger impact on people and has connected me with people who I align with. I am very grateful for this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.calladonofrio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calladonofrio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calladonofrio
- Other: email: calladonofrioart@gmail.com
Image Credits:
Calla Donofrio
