Art Love: My Art by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL
"Guajira" flamenco monoprint by da-AL.
“Guajira” flamenco monoprint by da-AL.

Before I started working on my novels (more about them h-e-r-e), I had a two-year degree in business, but worked as a journalist. As a reporter and producer in print, radio, and video (more on that h-e-r-e), many people said higher education would advance my career, and that any degree would do.

Hand-dyed Ikot weaving by da-AL.
Hand-dyed Ikot weaving by da-AL.

So I picked something easy: fiber art. Hah! Talk about challenging! In most schooling, there’s no arguing with multiple choice quizzes and single-answer tests. However, art is subjective; grades rely on the professor’s opinion. It was rough but fun!

"Fandango" flamenco monoprint by da-AL.
“Fandango” flamenco monoprint by da-AL.

Fiber includes traditional drawing and painting, as well as 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.

Silk hand and eye batik art by da-AL.
Silk hand and eye batik art by da-AL.

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

Collage of my grandmother, Abuela in Spanish, by da-AL.
Collage of my grandmother, Abuela in Spanish, by da-AL.

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.

"Siguiria" flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.
“Siguiria” flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.

Flamenco was glorious and difficult. Nowadays we dance Argentine tango, which you can see h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and more if you type “Tango” into the search bar.

"Tientos" flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.
“Tientos” flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.

What sort of art do you indulge in?

Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

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

  1. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

    1. 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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