We recently connected with Joseph Dulin-Didonato and have shared our conversation below.
Joseph, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose when I decided to take a deep look at myself and think about what I was going to do for the rest of my life. Working in an office sounded -and was awful. I always did things right on the outside of “the norm” so I struggled because of that. But, through the struggles you find yourself. I was working in a place that I hated, the people I worked with were nice enough but I hated waking up early and driving into a job that seemed so gray and lifeless. sitting in a boring cubical, gaining weight and taking calls until I absolutely hated talking to anyone. Even though the pay was good, I decided to leave. I still didn’t know what I was going to do and to add to my ever looming feeling and thoughts of my future, my daughter had just born earlier that year.
To make ends meet I took a position with a major coffee company and worked part time while I followed my dream of producing music, Even though that would ultimately not be my life’s purpose.
I had always drawn, painted, sketched and doodled but, it was something I did in the background while I was doing other things, like when I should have been studying. It was always there. The only courses I excelled in were art courses. But, I was so fixated on music I found myself in California doing work for a producer and executive I always looked up to. One of my closest friends, Ian McDaniel, lives and produces in the LA area and through his network, I found myself hanging out with Ian and said producers new artist. I even made music for him. I thought this would be a new turning point for me, but, it wasn’t. It was another failure. I was ready to be done. I went back home- happy, I know it sounds odd but somewhere deep inside, I knew this wasn’t what I was going to do. Something deep down was always nagging at me. I found that same nagging sensation once again. Thinking of ways to get back on my feet. I began racking my mind of what I would do next, how would I do it, and when. Sometimes I fight with myself. Viscously. Wrestle with ideas until I submit or they do. But this time it was different. It came to me like a gentle lightning bolt. What had always been there? What always made people stop and say “that’s good”. My art. Painting and drawing would be my light in a dark tunnel. It always had been.
By the time Covid hit, I had already been seriously painting and working on myself again. I was painting with purpose and seemingly vision. I needed to leave the job I was at and do this full time. When the corona virus was in full swing, the coffee company I was working for offered some kind of severance package if we wanted to take it because they weren’t sure what was going to happen. For some reason I felt it was as good a time as any. If I wanted to leave they were offering me money to and no one was really certain when or if things would return to normal. I took the money and ran. The first year or two I struggled but still got a strong pull into this direction so I leaped. Small things would make me feel this was my purposes, small coincidences no one but me would recognize or even understand because they were so personal and synchronized.
I still didn’t know anyone in the art community and was annoyingly asking anyone I could if they knew anyone in the art world because I was and am an “outsider artist”.
Another really good friend of mine, who helped change my life for the better, was Jake Swope. Jake and I became friends initially because he was looking for local art. We clicked immediately. He also had a band who needed help with their production. What a coincidence, I would say “That’s what I used to do in a past life”.
For months we worked on music, I was still struggling to find connections in the local art community. I remember complaining about this one night after band practice and he said something to the extent of not knowing why he hadn’t thought of it before but they had a friend who was a curator, preparator, and an artist and she was moving back to Columbus.
That was the moment, I knew then. When you’re on the path of purpose, things will always find a way to work out.
Things will happen and connect when and how they should. Then you will know your purpose. But, it’s usually the thing that comes easiest or most natural to us. Follow that path.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve found myself on many great projects at this point. But my main focus is my personal collection. I’m working on something that’s a mixture of Henri Matisse and Caravaggio. I say that because they are my greatest influences at the moment. My work is currently focused on women, color, balance and how colors effect what we feel looking at paintings. That’s the surface level. On a deeper level, I always find myself hiding things in my work. Without giving to much away, I normally say my greatest ideas in the posture, direction and (again) balance of the subject. I mostly use my girlfriend, Mari-Jane, as the model for the poses and from there I add my own twists to the faces and defining characteristics of the figures. I use large color blocks of bright pigments to over saturate my paints. Each color is placed in larger sections on the canvas so they can live in their own spaces and have their own moments. Usually these women have a Mona-Lisa smile, not knowing if she’s happy or sad, smiling or frowning. This tends to have a split effect on the viewer, always the question of “what is she thinking”. This leaves an impression of a stark contrast, why is she so serious but in such a vibrant environment? It’s that contradiction that makes the art so effective. If you would like to see me creating one of these pieces or would like more details on my work, follow my Instagram @the_outside_artist
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Desire, ( find ) motivation and passion. If you have even one of those qualities you can push yourself to any goal. Each one builds on the next. All you have to do is find a way to get motived, find the desire and or- find passion- one will inevitably trigger the next. Do not get discouraged when you fail, that’s part of the journey. Life is in the journey not the destination. And The art of life is in living.
And all you have to do to improve is to try. Today may not have been as good as yesterday but tomorrow can be better than both.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I think everyone’s number one obstacle they face is how effective their network is. My network has grown so much and I am so thankful for the people I have worked with and continue to build relationships with but I am always looking to grow. I am always interested in new projects and people who are interested in helping me developing my collections as well. The more I can do the better and sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough. Some days I do and others I don’t. I am always open to to discovering a new relationship and opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @the_outside_artist
- Facebook: Joe Dulin-Didonato
