I'm really pleased to be able to introduce you to another wonderfully talented person as part of my series 'the creatives'. Please meet, Vittoria Drago a super talent young lady from Italy. I love the marks she makes, her bold use of colour and the sense of nature and movement within her work.
Please tell us a little about yourself and what you do?
Hey :) my name is Vittoria but everyone calls me Vicky. I grew up in a lovely town in northern Italy called Bergamo, and it is there that, after spending some amazing years in Valencia, Spain, I currently live and work. I have to confess that my love for Spain is so strong that I wouldn't mind moving there for good at some point ;)
It is impossible for me to limit my creativity to a unique medium. My very eclectic approach seems to be constantly mixing up certain recurring elements like textures, materials, repetition, light and colour. Art is for me a means for inner contemplation and analysis that won't stop until it has left its "mark", hatched, scratched, dented and repeated, as if it were a ritual. Wood is for sure my favourite medium.
What's the first thing you remember creating and how old were you?
When I was little I used to spend my summer holidays on the mountains, in a stunning place by a lake and I remember taking long walks in the woods. When I was about 12 I started to actually get my hands on little logs of wood, carving simple geometric shapes on them with my tiny red pocket knife. As I grew and became more confident with my special tool, I started to carve my friend's names on them. Their reaction in receiving those simple presents was priceless, and it was probably the very reason why I developed such love for the "hand made".
What are you working on at the moment?
Right now I am creating a personal fanzine that's all about my one and only muse: Nature! The title is "NATURE is an ARTIST". In there you'll find original prints, sketches, pictures of my land art pieces, thoughts and inspiring quotes written using part of my collection of dry transfer lettering. The fanzine will come with a precious hand printed super tote bag! What a treat! ahah
Where do you look for inspiration?
Natural landscapes are my favourite open air galleries. In there I can find an infinite variety of shapes, textures and colours. It's an inexhaustible source of inspiration, nature never fails to amaze me. I'm very fascinated by the subjective tensions that arise between inner and outer landscapes. I collect all my favourite views here and here.
What are your favourite magazines, and blogs?
If you could collaborate with anyone (living or dead who would that be)?
I appreciate and value the work of so many artists... I really can't pick one! Generally I love spending time with sensitive and all round creative people. I surely would cherish time spent in printing workshops or with old artisans to observe their wise hands. I would also love to collaborate with land artists or landscape architects, anything that allows me to be in nature, really!
Do you sell your work? If so where?
I have a little online shop on tictail.it where I sell prints and original artworks, but I'd much rather have a direct contact with the people that appreciate my work, and for that reason you can often find me at local 'hand made', art or illustration markets. I do my best to always come up with new things! Oh btw, if anyone is around the Bergamo area on August 31st and fancies a groovy afternoon, I suggest you come and see mine and the others' exciting stalls at FACTORY MARKET. It's going to be gooooood.
Where can we find you, do you have a blog or website?
Thank you Vicky, for taking part in this series of interviews, it's been a pleasure getting to know a little more about you!
Be sure to take a look at Vicky's website, where there is much more to see than I'm able to show here and check out her favourite views, they really are stunning - enjoy!