About Me
Artist Statement
I am both a purist and a realist. My artwork explores the dichotomy of the pure or perfect natural world and the current reality or actual state of being. I use abstraction in my painting to challenge the conventional idea of anything being perfect or pure. All my work is initially inspired by – and then abstracted away from – a perfect moment, sighting, or view. Sometimes it’s a view in nature, a real image or experience, or even another masterpiece of art which I find perfect in that moment.
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The ’story’ of each painting is found in the gap I try to bridge between the initial inspiration and reality. Each story is different, but all my work is rooted in a base composition of markings, imperfections, layers and contrasts of real human experience. My finished work is left with a hint of purity and a demonstrated path of complication and reflection of reality. Each piece is complete when my mind is still, and the artwork meets me where I am.
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I am reluctant to describe my work in length as I feel each piece of art should stand on its own and compel the viewer. I believe the words of Josef Albers that “Art is concerned with something that cannot be explained by words or literal description. Art is revelation instead of information, expression instead of description.". Art is revelation instead of information, expression instead of description.”
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BIO
Dara was born and raised in the Boston area and introduced to the art world through her undergraduate studies in art history, studio, and visual arts. She began painting in college and exhibited her works in local and community-based shows. Jointly, Dara began a career in science and technology roles, working at several Boston area medical and research facilities. There was never a fair balance between her art and meeting the requirements of a corporate world career but over the next many years she made time for her creative work and studies on a part-time basis.
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Dara moved to California in 1990 to continue her career but chose an artist’s district to live in and began to focus on her artwork again. She completed studio work and studies at San Francisco Art Institute, California College of the Arts and UC Berkeley. She studied and read her favorite painters and poets – Frankenthaler, O’Hara, Richter, Mitchell and Emerson. While working in Silicon Valley for thirty years, Dara continued to paint and grow her art practice. California is where she really began to exhibit and sell her work, participating in multiple group shows and regular open studio events in the Bay Area.
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In 2020, Dara left the Bay Area for Palm Springs, California. She retired from the corporate world in 2022 and opened a new studio to rededicate herself to her art. She is finally calling herself a full-time artist and has established her own business (Studio 9) exhibiting and selling her work. She is currently participating in group shows and gallery exhibitions in California and the extended West Coast. In addition, Dara is also selling her work directly from her Palm Springs studio/gallery which may be visited by appointment through the contact information on this website.
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Dara’s finished work has been featured and represented in various exhibitions and galleries. Her work is now included in both private and commercial collections on both the East and West coasts.