Christy Dickinson, Artist

 

Hello and welcome to the 74th 3 Art Questions With Jackson interview! This time I interviewed wonderful fellow colorful abstract painter Christy Dickinson. Her work is fantastic and her answers give real insight into how she makes her work. I think you will agree! I am honored to be in a show with Christy and Adam Turner at ArtReach St. Croix  in Stillwater, MN starting with the opening Thursday, October 9th from 6-8. Thank you for reading! (All images courtesy of the artist / Instagram: @dickinson.christy / Portfolio: Christy Dickinson)

Jackson: Do you feel like you were born artistic? Were you around art when you were growing up?

Christy: I was introduced to creativity by a senior gentleman who was always drawing and my father who was rebuilding vintage cars. You'd find me playing around with various materials in my room. It was something I enjoyed and during middle and high school, I was able to take art classes. Due to the ability of the open mod structure of my high school, I tried to take as many art classes as I could and during open mods one could find me in the art room painting. It was during high school that I learned one could go to college for art and that is what I did. 

Creativity is within all of us. The question is if it gets pushed down by the environment or society around us or does it show up in things you choose to do. My creativity is within all I do on a daily basis from working with others, developing solutions, or painting in my studio.

Jackson: Looking at your work I notice that you are fond of color and abstraction. How did you begin working this way?

Christy: Color is in my soul. Abstraction is something I explored earlier on in my career and continue to explore. Abstraction lets me have a conversation with the canvas and the brushstrokes and bring my energy to the work. Currently, my paintings come from both a meditative state (brushstroke poetry collection) and higher energy (Santa Fe collection). I like to surround myself with several works in progress where I have a dialogue with them and sometimes they speak to one another. Ultimately, the painting tells me when it is complete. I enjoy filling my studio with color. The work comes alive when there is a collaboration with the viewer, as they bring their own cultural connection and reaction to the color. 

Jackson: If you could meet any artist living or dead, who would it be and why?

Christy: This is a difficult question, as there are so many great artists that I would like to meet. Ok, there are two to mention. First is Frida Kahlo, because of the way she was able to share her heart and soul on the canvas and overcome everything, including being a female artist, is admirable. She would have been wonderful to have a drink with and a dance with at her residence in Mexico City. Second, Mark Rothko, of course, because of his color. Our conversation would take place in the Rothko Chapel, and I'd like to discuss color and the scale of his work and what role psychology was part of his thinking.