Artist Staci Dabson

5 questions+answers

1 > What's your favorite color and why? My favorite color growing up was lime green; I always loved vibrant and exciting colors. While green still remains one of my favorites, most recently I have been saying that my favorite color is the point where alizarin crimson meets yellow. While it's easy to say that this color is orange, I really do enjoy the process of mixing these two colors on canvas and seeing them still in the state of not fully blended. This color brings a sense of happiness and brilliance to a piece that makes it feel alive for me.

2 > You have a strong illustration style or vibe where does that come from?

Honestly, I didn't start out leaning toward the illustrative style, but over time it has developed naturally for me. I grew up in the 90s as a punk rock kid surrounded by musicians and artists who leaned towards bright colors and intense imagery. This part of my life shows up frequently in my artwork. Additionally, I spent most of my adulthood working in the counseling field working specifically on trauma cases. The work I did surrounded me with some of the darkest areas of the human experience, and by the time I left I struggled to see anything but trauma in the world. The artwork was a way for me to release that, but I didn't want to focus on the darkness anymore. My style allows me to show parts of that darkness in ways that maybe aren't visible initially. Like counseling, artwork requires one to look deeper to see the true meaning of a piece and I love the storytelling behind it. Every piece I paint has a story and purpose behind it.

3 > What would you tell younger women that are just starting their art career?

The first thing I would tell them is to embrace themselves just as they are. The world often puts expectations on women to act and feel certain ways; as an artist, it is so important to put those misconceptions aside and allow yourself to be whomever you want to be. You don't have to be like any other artist out there, or any other human out there. Artists are expected to be quirky and eccentric, and so if you feel awkward it is ok to just own that feeling.

Secondly, and even more importantly YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ART INTO A CAREER! My artwork is the entire source of income for our family and it allowed my husband and I to spend more time with our son while also earning a better income than we had while working for others. The idea of the starving artist is this horrible myth that prevents people from seeking out their dreams. Artists are skilled professionals and people need artwork in every area of their lives. If you are creating something, you are already an artist. Once you accept yourself as an artist all it takes is putting your art out there in the world. I started by applying to every local art show I could find and assured that I was meeting as many people as possible when attending the shows; it isn't always about making sales at first so much as it is about people knowing who you are. From there, I think it's really important to understand the business aspect of the art world. Expect to pay taxes and understand what expenses you have; art school is wonderful but taking a few business courses wouldn't hurt! You can do this!

4 > Do you have an artist or artists that inspire you? What are their names?

I have so many artists who inspire me! While the old masters are great, I actually look to my friends for inspiration. My father, Al Perry, is a photographer who taught me everything I know about the art world; I couldn't be where I'm at without his support. My friend, Isabel Shingler (Monochrome Paintbrush) is an amazing black and grey oil painter from Pensacola whose style contrasts my own; her work has so much soul behind it I am always inspired to push myself and better understand my own story when I look at her work. Rafi Perez and Klee Angelie (RafiandKlee) are multifaceted artists who recently moved away from the area to continue pursuing their own art. Both of them have such strong stories and have strived to work with other artists to build their own careers. They inspire me daily and remind me that it is ok to push boundaries with my artwork. Halle Castille (Hallescometdesigns) is a fantastic pop artist whose use of color and imagery is something I can only hope to capture in my own work. Finally, my good friend Tanya Layton and her husband John (Laytonmade) are unique jewelry artists who are constantly pushing themselves to not only grow their work, but also use their art to help support charities and have found ways to make the world a better place through their art. 5 > Who or what keeps you motivated to create? Putting more qualified women in leadership brings different talents, new views, and structural and cultural diversity, which I believe will result in more successful solutions. Diverse experiences and viewpoints from women will significantly ovation and growth for upcoming and existing companies.

dabsonstaci artist

Staci's artwork can be found online at Instagram @sn.dabson - TikToc @sndabsonart - YouTube search "Destination Dabson: A Look Into Florida's Modern Art Scene" an original independently produced documentary short about Florida-based family business, SN Dabson Art, and the artists' lived experiences with exploring their passion for the arts while making valuable connections along the way. - Facebook facebook.com/SNDabsonart - Additional work can be found her website at wsndabsonart.com