NAME: M. DiRocco Fine Art Location: South Florida
So we’re going to start with the difficult question: sum up your creative process in one word/phrase, and explain why!
Brain dump. I had to laugh as I typed that response because it’s literally the first thing that came to mind. The energy and stimuli of the day typically drive my creative process. I am left and right-brained, which can be a gift and a curse. Creating and designing things always made both sides of my brain feel balanced. However, I felt complete the moment I started swirling paint on canvas and I haven’t stopped since then.
Were you always an artist, even as a child? What was your path to becoming an artist?
I have always been creating or designing something since I received my first art kit. Over the years, I dabbled in a variety of mediums but nothing really stuck. Fast-forward about three decades and I watched an “acrylic pouring” video on Instagram. I had a large canvas, a ton of paint that was about to be tossed, and a little curiosity.
I posted my first piece on social media and it was a wrap after that. My friends bought some pieces, which encouraged me to keep going. I will admit, I almost threw in the towel a couple of months in because I thought there wasn’t a differentiating factor between my art and everything I was seeing on social media. But, I kept playing with mediums, started networking with artists, and I have painted almost every single day for over a year.
What is your medium of choice and what drew you to this particular medium?
Acrylic and resin are my go-to’s and I am starting to work with paper, oil pastels, and encaustic/wax. Acrylic came from the videos I enjoyed on Instagram and I had to learn the various types of acrylic. In doing so, I expanded my “style” to include abstract, abstract expressionism, and pop art pieces.
Is there any particular experience, person, place or thing that inspires you to create? Tell us about that.
Art is so intriguing to me and I have been fascinated by it throughout my life. I see thought and passion in everything—the way a home is decorated, a car is designed, costumes are made, a meal is plated, even plastic/cosmetic surgery. It’s all a form of art. So, my inspiration to create comes from all those who are a bit different and quirky, and put themselves out there to share what’s etched in their souls.
What is it like showing your work to people and what do you hope people take away from it?
I cringed when I read this question because I actually dread doing shows/exhibitions. Heavy emphasis on dread. More often than not, I just enjoy meeting other artists, learning about their work, and sharing mine with them.
In fact, I don’t do shows with the intention to sell any art, which sounds bizarre, I know. I show my art because it makes my soul beam watching people get lost in my work. Because I know at that moment, the chaos and noise of each person’s life stops. My art makes people happy, calm, relaxed and inspired. And, albeit an expensive passion, those moments are worth way more to me than an actual sale.
What advice do you have for other artists who may be looking to get their work exhibited?
I am still very new in the art world game and have accumulated some battle scars already. That being said, my advice is be realistic with your goals, don’t jump on every opportunity presented, have confidence in your work, and practice your passion every single chance you get.
If you’re an artist with big dreams of exhibiting in a major gallery, well, God speed. Personally, I think artists nowadays are creating lucrative alternatives to gallery representation through social media. My advice here is, learn social media marketing. Learn everything you can, tailor it to your brand, and then content, content, content. 🙂
Contact information
Website: www.mdiroccofineart.com
Facebook: facebook.com/mdiroccofineart
Instagram: instagram.com/mdiroccofineart
