July 31, 2018

Art & Life with Dina Wakley

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Wakley.

Dina, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.

I am a self-taught mixed-media artist and teacher. I love everything about art: creating it, thinking about it, looking at it, and teaching it. I teach both in-person and online workshops. I have been scrapbooking since 1995, stamping since 1996, and art journaling since 2004. I have kept a personal journal since I was nine years old. I believe in writing yourself down, expressing yourself, and making your mark on the world.

Currently I am focusing on art journaling and on abstract painting. As a Ranger Signature Designer, I design a line of mixed-media art supplies that includes acrylic paints, mediums, brushes, rubber stamps, stencils, and more. I wrote two books: Art Journal Freedom, and Art Journal Courage, both through North Light Publishing.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I make art that is about expression, play, and spilling. I truly do not care if my art is good. I think the quality comes with quantity. I admire the abstract expressionists of the 50s who could tell a story with a single brushstroke. I aspire to that kind of ability.

One thing that is fabulous about art journaling is that it is very safe. No one needs to see it but you. It’s a safe place to play, practice, and record your artistic journey. I have a few art mantras, and they are “Oops, oh well”, “Done is better than perfect,” and “Quality comes with quantity.”

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Success for me is

1) staying curious
2) being tenacious in my quest to make art
3) showing up to work.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website is dinawakley.com. I am pretty active on social media: Instagram.com/dinawakley; facebook.com/artofdinawakley.

Contact Info:

Website: http://www.dinawakley.com
Email: dina@dinawakley.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dinawakley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/artofdinawakley

Image Credit:
Dina Wakley

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