Daily Inspiration: Meet Alla Dickson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alla Dickson.

Hi Alla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I always ponder: where does our creativity begin? Perhaps, when a baby starts observing the surrounding world filled with wonder. And then if parents carry that sense of wonder of the natural world – this child is in luck. And that is my story. Somehow, from a very early age I developed a deep interest in classic art, spending much time in art galleries in Russia.
Closely observing the brush strokes depicting all the intricate details of foreign landscapes, clothes, interiors of people’s 18-19 centuries homes and gardens, ancient icons had been my magical get away from our Soviet Union life to unknown faraway lands. Each summer from early teenage life I would take a long train ride from Tyumen, Siberia, to Moscow and St. Petersburg, where I spent hours in many wonderfully rich with exceptional Russian art galleries.
Thus, somehow, without any art classes (for the exception of elementary school in Siberia) I naturally started drawing portraits first carefully exploring face structure with a little mirror on my table. Then, I studied leaves and wildflowers with watercolors. When my first daughter was born, I was gifted with oil paints by one of my father’s soldiers and without any learning I just started painting profusely with all my energy and passion. It has been incredibly natural for me.
My professional career as a teacher of foreign languages started at the age of 21. Somehow, I don’t even remember how, at the time of my first interview, the director of the school offered me a position of art teacher as well. After about ten years teaching English and art in Siberia, I then took an incredible risk of leaving collapsed and brutal Russia and try to immigrate to the USA.
With incredible luck and many-many miracles upon my arrival here, in Michigan, with one of my daughters in 1996, I was given an opportunity to work at the adoption agency here in West Michigan (Jenison). After about 16 years of extraordinary work in the field of adoption and social work, I decided to make yet another drastic change in my life and dedicate myself completely to art (painting and teaching).

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well, I knew nothing about American art world. To start my journey, I scheduled a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce sharing my passion for art and exploring the ways I can contribute to the community through my creative journey. I was given a few names.
Next step I took- getting to know the local art center- Holland Area Arts Council. I begged for any type of volunteering there (including cleaning!). I welcomed there, became an active member. I also joined another art group “Holland Friends of Art”. I became very active there and soon offered to join the board. These two steps would be my recommendation to any emerging artist.
I must tell you, none of these has been easy and smooth: I had to send multiple emails without giving up. I was deeply intimidated to visit those organizations and their directors. But I literally had to push myself very hard out of the doors and just go and introduce myself even if they did not respond to my many emails!
By that age of 52 I knew: big changes and successes would not be coming one’s way without taking an action! Would you agree with this?
With some names in my hand, I started visiting the suggested places. Not all doors of the city of Holland, where I lived, were open for me as my name was not known at all. One day I got very frustrated and even angry.
Well, talking about anger, it is such a strong feeling, known as “negative”, right? However, anger could be directed in a positive direction: at that moment of immense anger I promised myself that I was going to win this town, and I would be known! From my university studies one Latin phrase, pronounced by Julius Caesar: “Veni, Vidi, Vichi”, came to my mind. I empowered myself to win. When you are by yourself in a foreign country, who else would do it for you? Ask your ancestors! They believed in their strength, right? That’s why they brought their wives and young kids into a total wilderness and unknowns. And they built this country! With their own wits and with their own hands!
After one of my unsuccessful meetings, I dedicated myself to passionately and seriously paint, read about American art world. Within two years I won the first prize, and my name became known. This certainly opened many doors for me. That was ten years ago. And quite a number of prizes.

My dearest fellow artists, may I give you several pieces of very simple advice that I leaned during my personal artistic and interviewing hundreds if my students’ journey- they will help to have avoid artist’ blocks and lead to high productivity and authenticity:

-never give up,
-believe in yourself,
-treat your creative journey seriously and wholeheartedly (not like a hobby!)
– treat it as a business with goals, business plans, structured time schedule,
– study a variety of styles and techniques, yet allowing YOUR voice to be heard by yourself first
– be authentic – people will respond to it richly
– make daily rituals of solitude, having your sunrise time barefoot connecting with your ancestors and Mother Earth- it will give you pure authenticity, and clear voice
– keep your creative space clutter free (people underestimate the importance of it with social media filled with studio space photos of overloaded with all kinds of stuff).
– If you are a sensitive person as I am (majority of artists are) then be careful with the sounds in your studio (I can’t have any music when I paint- I have to hear my inner voice, and certainly I never listen to podcasts while doing anything)

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist, I am known for these three elements:
1) All Prima style with expressive brush strokes and palette knife
2) Two major subject matter- tulips and wildflowers
3) Energy of each painting
I am very proud of myself that in my journey I did not choose to follow somebody’s style of subject matter. I trusted my inner voice, authentic voice.

As an art teacher, I am known for my teaching style, that encourages trust in one’s individual intuitive voice, understanding of one’s individual personality traits, allowing freedom of expression, boldness and risk taking.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Well, taking a risk is my major character trait! I believe that nothing could be done without taking it. If I did not take a risk at the age of 35, my two daughters and I would have been in Russia right now, at the time of inhuman war. I trusted my instinct in addition to analysis of the Russian history and political system, and nobody could stop me from taking that immense risk of leaving everything and everyone behind.
I took risks when I quit my job at the age of 52 and decided to dedicate the last period of my life to my second passion (after teaching and adoption)- to arts.

Taking my art to yet another level took place in 2022, when my two daughters joined my company to develop a line of home goods and apparel based on my original art. Our products could be purchased on line through our Etsy shop and website “Alla Dickson Art”, in local shops in the city of Holland such as Cento Anni, The Poppy Peach, The Gazellig, Culture Cheese shop and Veldheer Tulip Garden. In addition, boutique shops from other states can purchase our products wholesale on www.Faire.com website, which is quite an exciting opportunity for us for sure!

These are just only a few major risks. There were hundreds of smaller risks in my life journey. This country was built only on risk takers. Period. I admire them. THEY helped me in moving forward daily! AND to succeed. Our family of the first generation immigrants are immensely grateful to create freely in this country!

Pricing:

• Watercolors: $50 – $120
• Oil paintings: $120 -$2.000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alladickson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alla_dickson_art/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alladicksonfineart/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alla-dickson-a4184929/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95JxKQq-uQ9FSFdLZSH7Tw
• Other: https://www.faire.com