Off The Wall Magazine Q&A with Missy Dunaway
4/1/2019
MaineFor several years, I lived abroad by attending consecutive international artist-in-residence programs that allowed long visits and cultural immersion in each new destination. In 2016, I decided to establish a permanent home in Portland, Maine because it has a vibrant art scene and inspiring natural landscape.
Inspiration I use painting as a learning tool to explore new interests, so my projects are often interdisciplinary. Through painting, I observe, research, and dive deep into Anatolian textiles, ornithology, British literature, and fly fishing.
Medium I use acrylic ink, a fluid pigment ink medium with an acrylic resin that thickens the texture and improves permanence. It's a very versatile medium that can be opaque when used straight from the jar, or diluted with water to create translucent washes.
Artist Hero Artists whom I admire and look to for inspiration include Maira Kalman, Peter Sis, William Blake, Dan Eldon, and Zoey Frank.
Studio My studio is a small house built by my husband's great-grandfather, and I’m so humbled that I get to use it for this purpose. This is the first time that I've had an art studio that does not double as my kitchen or bedroom!
Where in Maine I live in Cape Elizabeth with my husband, Joe, and our cat, Thomas. Living in a house with a yard has given me the opportunity to dabble in gardening. There are beautiful gardens everywhere in Cape Elizabeth and it’s clear people really give them a lot of love.
Fun Fact I have a knack for winning radio contests. I've won restaurant gift certificates, concert tickets, the complete discography of Derek and the Dominos, and diamond earrings.
Education I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Art from Carnegie Mellon University in 2010. Between semesters, I studied impressionism at the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 2019, I was awarded a New Student Scholarship to attend the Academy of Realist Art in Boston.
Learn more about this artist:
Radio Maine podcast interview #02
Radio Maine podcast interview #78