Today we’d like to introduce you to Dara Feller.
Hi Dara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From the time I could hold a crayon, I’ve been making art. It wasn’t until I was around 12 or 13 that I started exploring photography, but I practiced it consistently (alongside painting and drawing) through high school and college. I completed a BFA in Studio Art from Chapman University with no particular focus. After graduating and moving to LA, I found myself feeling lost as a multidisciplinary artist– I enjoyed all of my disciplines, but it was hard to make progress when I spread myself across so many different mediums. It wasn’t until about a year ago, after meeting with mentors and former professors, that I decided to pursue photography full time. Since then, I have been lucky enough to capture album covers, engagement photos, live music, and above all, my personal self-portraiture practice.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Freelancing as an artist, while it is my lifelong dream, is not a smooth road. Oftentimes I don’t know where my next gig is coming from. On top of the financial instability, being a photographer is being vulnerable. I am my business, so any negative response or lack of traction reflects on me, personally. I have struggled from time to time with comparison, feeling inferior to other (more established) photographers, creative block and with self-doubt.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a photographer, I am known mostly for my surrealist/ ethereal style as well as my self portraits. I specialize in portraiture and live music. I am most proud of my creative direction throughout my self-portraiture– a practice I’ve been working on for over 10 years. I think my multidisciplinarity sets me apart from other photographers. I am a creative director, photographer, stylist, makeup artist, editor…the list goes on. I also tend to incorporate other mediums into my photo practice (set design, drawing/painting).
What matters most to you?
Creation! I think making art is a gift as much as it is a compulsion. It takes a lot of introspection to realize firstly, that you have something to say, and secondly, HOW you want to say it. Art never exists in the void– creation is a direct response to the world we live in and the experiences we endure. Creating art is the most human thing of all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.darafeller.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darafeller/
