Collection: Alla Dickson

A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE ARTIST

1. What do you do when you’re not making art? (Day job etc...).

After 30 years working in education and adoption (Director of Eastern European Adoption) I actually quit my job five years ago to devote myself to art completely. I lead very creative way of life. Besides painting, I teach art in my home studio to all ages and levels. I do public motivational speaking on the value of art with the subject matter: “The ART of living with JOY”.

2. Why do you make art?

Educate people. Share my experience. In my previous 30 years’ experience working with children I have seen how amazingly talented special needs children are using art as their main form of expressing themselves. I researched human’s sensory and brain development to help children in their adaptation to the new environment, and again I discovered the immense power of our surrounding world with color as one of the most powerful elements affecting our feelings and reactions. I share generously all my knowledge during motivational speaking on art value and a difference between a creative versus non-creative person.

3. What inspires you?

Nature. I do not use art as my political language. It is a way to connect with my innocent self, which is a part of this Nature and Universe. When I paint wild grasses or trees, I am not an observer, I am one of them. Connecting with Mother Nature to “lose my mind and find my soul” (J. Muir), get quiet, grounded, balanced in our present overstimulating world is why I paint.

4. What/who are your influences?

Raised in Russia, I have spent lots of time in art museums, that contain great collections of world masters. Russian art of the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century had the most effect on me, with Isaak Levitan being one of the most influential. As I do not have any art education, observing original art, was the way I learned.

5. If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?

Isaak Levitan, Russian painter.

Read our interview with Alla Dickson in the AllArtWorks Featured Artist Series here.