Meet Natasha Marcano Dillon

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Marcano Dillon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.

Hi Natasha, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I earned my Bachelor’s in Communication Design and Master’s in Art Education. Throughout my college experience, my favorite classes were always the studio art courses. After becoming a high school teacher in 2015, I dedicated my summers to drawing various subjects and experimenting with different mediums. By 2019, I developed a keen interest in portraiture and focused on working on it with other styles during my breaks. I eventually worked primarily with charcoal, which allowed me to create more realistic representations of my subjects while being manageable as a parent of two small boys.

In 2021, I sought to explore a more playful and vibrant style. I experimented with pastels while maintaining a painterly yet graphic approach. I began showcasing my artwork publicly in the fall of 2022, participating in group shows and significant events. Some notable exhibitions I’ve participated in include the A Spectacular Black Girl Art Show in Brooklyn, The Other Art Fair in Brooklyn (Spring 2024), the Affordable Art Fair in NYC, and various group exhibitions across Brooklyn, Harlem, and Manhattan.

I’m always getting inspired by other artists and mediums, and I try to develop my execution with each piece I create.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I launched my business, Natasha Marcano Art LLC, in 2024. I aim to create captivating and uplifting artwork celebrating black women’s beauty, strength, and resilience. My bold colors and dynamic lines convey a sense of empowerment and defiance, encouraging black women to embrace their uniqueness. My paintings aim to create a contemplative space for viewers to connect with their emotions and experiences.

I also offer limited-edition prints with gold embellishments, mat art prints, and totes. For the winter season, I have leveraged my artwork by combining images with the name of each piece on sweatshirts and hoodies. I plan to expand my business further in the future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, my qualities include my passion for anything creative. I never wanted to work in a bank or behind a desk doing paperwork. Working with my hands, I always did drafting and art in high school and communication design as a career. Now, I can call myself an artist, so I’m also persistent and finally doing what I love.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

It has been different avenues. Initially, I thought it had to be only the original artwork and prints. Over the last two years, I have gained knowledge by taking two different art courses, enlightening me on different avenues I can approach. I also overcame some of my challenges by participating in the art fairs and building a network with the many artists I have met.

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