Christine Dana - Feminist Outsider Artist

christine dana outsider art Christine Dana

Southern California, USA

Feminist Outsider Artist

My name is Christine Dana, I work part time in the nursing field and full time as a starving artist.

Sunrise ©Christine Dana

As a toddler I had an insatiable need to create; starting with crayon on the walls, I went next to paper plates; when those were all used up, I went through printer paper reams frantically.

In grade school, my teachers always knew who to blame when paper went missing from their printers. I realized I was an artist when I recognized that I had a very real and urgent need to create and express myself.

Please tell us all about your style and themes

I work mostly in acrylics and watercolour, though I also do photography as well. My style and themes align most closely with surrealism and abstract.

somebody that i know

What music do you listen to while creating art?

Anything sad and poignant, something I can sing along to and really get into emotionally.

Somebody That I Know ©Christine Dana

How do find inspiration when uninspired?

In this wonderful age of technology and worldwide communication, I can find inspiration everywhere. I take advantage of every moment of every day as a potential source of inspiration, and in this way, I am constantly creating, constantly working. Ideas often hit me in the most unexpected times and places. At work, on the bus; sometimes I'm woken up frantically in the middle of the night with some of my best ideas, and I must hurry and write them down before the slip away.

In the past year and a half I've encountered my greatest inspiration ever, a true life muse.... an individual who's very presence draws forth ideas from my head and my heart like never before in my life. For this, I consider myself the luckiest artist in the world.

age frozen in a bottle

What do you do besides create art?

I write poetry and short stories, and I love reading. I'm also into retro gaming, swimming in the ocean, and I'm an internet addict.

Age Frozen in a Bottle ©Christine Dana

What are you working on most recently?

I've been doing a lot of portraits in acrylics, watercolour, and sometimes photography. I've also been studying Frida Kahlo a lot and doing a great deal of self portraits.

What is the best artwork you ever created?

I think it's nearly impossible to say any one piece is the "best ever", but I'd say my portraits are up there as some of my best work, because they're made with the most love and affection. I've recently started working in photography and I feel my surreal and abstract photography is becoming my best work as well.

I had an art mentor once say to me, "I know you love art, but I think your writing is where you will be most successful." I was initially shocked by this statement, and to this day I still don't know quite what to make of it.

What role does the artist have in the world?

I think artists are the deities, the Greek gods and goddess of our modern world, our muses.

I've always ardently believed that art and creativity are the greatest good, and at risk of sounding pretentious I think artists have the greatest hope of saving our world. I think if as a society we put far more resources into the arts and public art instead of war, jails, prisons, and the drug war, I truly believe peace would follow, and only good things could come of it.

eye sunset

Art Promotion

Flickr is a great site for sharing and promoting art.

Influences

My main art influences at the moment include Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Egon Shiele, Tracey Emin, and Conrad Roset.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in ten years?

I hope in ten years I will have grown a great deal as an artist, hopefully have my own shows, sell some pieces, and just be seen out there.

Advice for Artists

christine dana Don't ever give up, please. Don't let your friends, family, not even your spouse or parents deter you. Being an artist is difficult, but keep at it, don't give up, and you will find it to be far more rewarding than money, a high paying job, wealth, etc.