Featured Artist of the Month : Dejona Dino Apr. 2023 | TheArtList - Art & Photo Calls for Visual Artists and Photographers.

Dejona Dino

Tirana, Albania

Greetings! My name is Dejona and I am a 16-year-old artist from Albania. It has been 3 years now, that I have started my art journey on a serious note and expected huge growth while at it. I want to share my art and my inner-self with the whole world. Who knows, maybe my pieces could be in the league of other great modern artists all around.

How and when did you start creating art?

I used to paint and draw since I was a very little child. My parents spotted my talent, however I couldn’t understand at the time. Since quarantine began, I finally got myself to start doing art for other people and to want to stand out. Firstly, I started doing anime art, then replicating other ideas from other artists, and finally now, I’m taking inspiration from real life and my own imagination.

What media and genres do you work in?

I am familiar with a lot of painting mediums, mainly pencil, acrylics and oil. I enjoy bringing pieces to life with each of these tools in my own distinctive ways.

As for the preferable genres, I seek to master myself in traditional oil painting and reach a certain level of realism. 18^th century artwork make a very desirable reference and gave birth to a great interest in me.

Who or what are your influences?

I could divide my influences into two great groups: things and people. For the first part, I’d say I get mesmerized by the beauty of nature, its very complex elements and colors. I do not practice landscape paintings too often, but when I do so, it’s with special pleasure.

My humane inspirations include great historical painters – such as Caravaggio for example, with his incredible chiaroscuro technique. Furthermore, I can mention many modern rebellious painters I follow on YouTube and other platforms.

What was your inspiration for
Superbia
?

This oil autoportrait, unlike most of my others, depicts a part of me as an artist and as a being in this world. It serves as a form of judgement and retrospective, implying a hidden feeling of pride and unhealthy self-love, from which I used to suffer at a certain part of my life. The flames burning me like a candle signify the loss of people and overall consequences of being arrogant. Yet, in the present, I have fortunately decided to take this flame and enlighten the people around instead of bringing them down.

Describe your creative process?

My creative process is something very unsteady and unclear to me at times: usually, the idea sparks instantly in my head and you will see me browsing references, scattered all around. Sometimes I just get to painting and the pieces come together during the process by themselves.

Also, good music and probably a snack at times follow me while making art.

What are you working on currently?

Recently, I have finished a mini-landscape piece with the use of a palette knife and a bunch of acrylics. I am waiting for it to dry, by the window, so I can give it the finishing touches and a layer of matte varnish.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

So far, I am quite pleased with my upgrade and the audience I have gathered. But as they say, you can always be better, more knowledgeable and skilled. I am willing to have a bigger following in the future and why not, make a decent living out of art.