San Francisco - Open Mic
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Dana King, Anchor…Artist Who is Dana King? We all know Dana King as a witty, intelligent, playful, force of nature, with a wicked sense of humor, a television anchor and reporter type, and AFTRA shop steward. But wait, there's more…. There’s Dana King, the artist. Yet one and the same. This piece is the first in a series of interviews featuring your AFTRA colleagues from another point of view. This is an opportunity to get to know AFTRA members other than what you see or hear in front of the microphone or camera. AFTRA: Dana, first of all, thank you for your time, I know how busy you are. Now, to the reason for this interview. If I visit your website at www.danakingart.com, in the artist's statement you say, among other things "Today I prefer the presentation clay and canvas provide. Tomorrow, who knows?" So let's talk about today and a little bit about the road that brought you to today. I heard a rumor that yo u a r e wo r k i n g o n getting your Master's Degree in Fine Arts. Is this true? “Telling stories on television requires persistence, laser focus and also an ability to improvise. After all these years in the business, I have just found myself wanting to find another way to communicate…fine art provides that for me”
beginning to think about experimenting with different mediums beyond oil paint. I like the texture and luminosity of wax and may attempt to use it on “canvas” as well as on my fired clay pieces. AFTRA: When did you first discover your love for creating works of art? Have you always had a creative side and if so how did it manifest itself other than what you are doing today? Dana: My mom will tell you I have ALWAYS been creative and who wants to argue with any mom? But seriously, my creative outlet until this “art school confidential” kind of change has been storytelling. Telling stories on television requires persistence, laser focus and also an ability to improvise. After all these years in the business, I have just found myself wanting to find another way to communicate…a way of telling a story that would last longer than two minutes at a time (or more like a minute-thirty!). Fine art provides that for me because each time you look at a piece, you may see something different and art can last forever.
Dana: Yes, I am through roughly a third of my master’s degree in classical sculpture. I only take one class a semester. It’s definitely an art degree delayed as my first undergrad dream was to study art but I decided against it and ended up with a business degree instead. I then spent the next 20+ years building a career in broadcasting. I only picked up a paint brush again in 2000 as a way of expressing myself without words. AFTRA: What types of projects are you working on in clay? What subject matter do you prefer to sculpt? Dana: I prefer to sculpt the human form in all its imperfect beauty. Right now I am finishing a life size torso modeled after Bernini’s David. I plan on making a mold of it and pouring it in bronze. It’s an exciting and exacting process from start to finish and oddly enough … it’s akin to finishing a really great book … you don’t ever want it to end. I learn so much every time my hands touch the clay. AFTRA: Are you presently working on canvas? What type of paint do you prefer and can you describe your style? What subject matter do you prefer to paint? Do you work in another medium besides clay and paints? Dana: I am attracted to the human form when I paint as well. I used to paint on canvas but now prefer the surface of birch wood much better. It’s inflexible and I like having control over that of fabric. I worship oil paint. I love the smell of it, the texture of it as it glides onto my palette and how it blends with a medium. I particularly enjoy the ritual of lining up the colors and preparing to paint … thinking about how each stroke will carry the weight of the paint onto the surface. I am
AFTRA: Do you take classes? And if so are they part of your fine arts degree studies or do you find classes of interest to learn what you think you need to learn? Dana: Good question. Since I don’t have an art related undergrad degree, it is important to me to follow a traditional academic schedule. But getting a degree will not stop my desire to continue learning and growing as an artist. I will always be a student of art. (Continued on page 6)