We recently connected with DOT, Daniel Shoykhet and have shared our conversation below.
DOT, Daniel, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I think I’m able to take risks because I don’t take myself too seriously. I’ve learned to embrace mistakes and see them as a natural part of the creative process. When I don’t get in my head with an idea of how something should be, failures can become new directions. This mindset keeps my curiosity alive, allowing me to experiment and explore new techniques and ideas. It also helps me maintain perspective on who I am.
Having a steady studio practice also plays a big role, as it provides the foundation I need to take risks. I think forcing myself to do the work even when it doesn’t feel good creates an environment where ideas can be formed. It’s kind of like putting in mental reps, so i’m ready when an idea hits.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Daniel Shoykhet and my artist name is DOT. I am a painter and visual artist based out of Los Angeles, CA. My art is inspired by the abstract expressionist and the optical art movements of the 20th century.
It’s really exciting how things are progressing for me. I really love that I am able to work in many different lanes in the industry. From studio work to murals to brand collaborations, I enjoy doing it all.
Moving forward, I think people can expect my style to evolve and take on a new conceptual meaning. Also expanding into new mediums like sculpture and working with bigger brands are all on the table.
A question I get a lot is what does DOT stand for? I got my name in my early days of doing street art with my friends. The meaning of my name has grown. Today DOT stands for: Department of Transformation. To me the concept of transformation is a process that physically happens when I am painting, and later when my work is viewed I hope to spark some transformation in the audience.
I will be showing new work with VSG contemporary in Chicago, Illinois in September.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Everyone is so different and the things that work for everyone will be different. I think it’s important to stay true to your ideas but not be married to them. That’s where originality and innovation come from. At the end of the day I think people like to see people being themselves. In general, a good quality is knowing that you don’t know everything. For me, remembering this keeps me asking questions and motivates me to not be lazy. One thing that I do everyday is exercise. For me keeping this routine is crucial to maintaining a discipline studio practice.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl made a pretty large impact on me when I read it in college. Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychologist who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. The perspective he writes his experience from is a psychoanalytical one. He concludes that people have an insane capacity to find purpose in life in in the most unimaginable situations. This idea is incredibly powerful for me, in some sense I think it frees my mind and pushes me forward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cantstopdot
