Art Love: My Art by da-AL

da-AL Dance, Uncategorized, Writing,
Siguiriya monoprint by Daal

Everything on this post is stuff I made back in college, when I’d returned there. At the time, I already had a two-year degree in business, but worked as a journalist. As a reporter and producer in print, radio, and video, people often told me that higher education was my best shot for advancing my career.

Any degree would do, they said, so I picked something easy: art. Little did I know how challenging it would be! In most courses, there’s no arguing with multiple choice quizzes and single-answer tests. Art is subjective, though. Students must submit to the professor’s final opinion.

Silk hand and eye by Daal
Fandango monoprint by Daal
Fandango monoprint by Daal

As rough as that was, it was mostly fun! Plus, I wound up with some original art that I enjoy.

These days, my art lies in fiction writing. Blogging entails visuals, so I still regard myself as a sometime graphic artist.

Woven and natural dyed ikot by Daal
Woven and natural dyed ikot by Daal

Around when I was studying art, I stumbled upon the joys of dancing. My father was a Spaniard who instilled in me an awe for flamenco, but it wasn’t until my Persian husband became inspired to learn flamenco that we began taking classes for it together.

Guajira monoprint by Daal
Guajira monoprint by Daal

Flamenco was a rough go, a beautiful thing that brought me as much happiness as it did frustration. Argentine tango has been kinder. Anything since flamenco seems easy by comparison.

Tientos monoprint by Daal
Tientos monoprint by Daal

I graduated college with a degree in fiber art. Fiber may sound concise, but I chose it because it was all over the place. Just like me, just like my blog, it refused to be pinned down to one niche. It entailed paper making, weaving, fabric dying, pattern making, painting, screen printing, sewing, book binding, sculpture, felting, and more. It even allowed me to incorporate design, writing, and videography.

Abuela fine art paper collage by Daal
Abuela fine art paper collage by Daal

An amazing collection of fine papers become a collage tribute to my Argentine grandmother. Her daughters and the two husbands she outlived surround her in it, as do references to her love of making music, folk dancing, and gossiping over yerba mate tea.

Akin to bohemian engineers, my classmates and I would envision our assignments, then problem solve our ways to what we aimed for. Rarely did it come mine come out  anything near what I expected, yet they were often the better for it. My culminating art show installation bore a flamenco theme. In a ruffled gold and red dress of my making, I performed a choreography I had spent months learning.

What sort of art do you indulge in?

31 thoughts on “Art Love: My Art by da-AL”

  2. We are so kindred, Daal! I’ve always loved art, though I planned from very young to become a writer. My degree is in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing. I got married soon after college, and we, young and idealistic and not the least bit practical, moved. We planned to go to Massachusetts where we thought we’d become farmers though we knew next to nothing about farms or business or anything useful. Before we even got to Massachusetts, we got waylaid by ridiculous dreams in Detroit – you can imagine how ridiculous since we ended up in Detroit, already one of the most depressed cities in America. Anyway, it took us nearly 4 years to get back to California where we raised our sons. I worked for over three years designing the patterns for board shorts, bathing suits, and Hawaiian style shirts. Loved the work, hated the politics of the job. I eventually taught art for almost 3 decades and only in the last 15 years began to write again. I loved teaching art and taught almost every media; also painted murals and did other free lance art work. But writing is my dream and I’m determined to pursue it though I’ll probably never make a nickel at it. Just for fun, I’m taking a collage class but would really like to take watercolor classes.

    I do love your art – you’re expressive and imaginative; and I like the vividness of your art and the stories they suggest. Beautiful and a joy to look at.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • You are indeed kind, as well as kindred, dear Sharon! I think for many creative people, its hard to keep our creativity corralled to just one medium. Making money would be nice, but am glad to at least have a forum where others can enjoy what I make. People in blog-landia are wonderfully supportive 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  3. I am impressed too! And I totally agree with Chris.
    Since recently I discover I like to do poetry, the Strix is really inspiring me.
    I love to do craft (is that the right word?), work with wood, paint, paper and my hubby learn me to flex, so working with iron/steel something I’m looking forward to do in the future. He has to teach me to weld first 😉
    XxX

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  10. I enjoyed the beautiful prints, your love story and husband’s dancing with you. Then your lovely flamenco dancing as your final art “project”
    sounds like such an emotional choreography!
    The Guajira and Fandango monoprints are my favorites. Simply stunning! 🌈 💐

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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