As I strolled around a little Brunswick based Art market, somewhat underwhelmed by the offering, I stumbled across the stunning work of Emily D’Agostino. Now the proud owner of an “Alice” print, I was keen to find out more about this local Artist.
How would you describe your original Art in a sentence?
Portrait artwork that uses the combination of traditional and digital drawing, creating a highly detailed and bold style that elevates any space.
What percentage of time do you spend on your own Art versus commissions and commercial design work?
I would say that I spend about 50/50 on both commissions and commercial design work. Most of my commission orders are original traditional drawings of loved ones that generally require a lot more detail and background work, taking about 2 weeks to complete. At the moment I have closed my commission orders, so I can focus on creating more of my own commercial work and build my folio.
What percentage do you sell at markets and shows versus online sales?
This is an interesting question because before COVID I was selling about 60% of my work at markets and shows. There has been a major shift with a change in audience and less number of people attending markets and shows. Now, most of my artwork sales are made online predominately in the U.S.A through my Etsy shop.
What is your main goal or focus for 2021?
In 2021 I aim to build my folio and create a large amount of new artwork that will appeal to a wider audience. Moving forward, this will allow me to later on focus on undertaking more personal and unique commission orders.
Which piece is your favourite creation?
It is hard to choose just one as I have had so much fun creating all of my pieces. It’s like asking a parent which child is their favourite. Some stand outs for me though are my Donald Glover, Zoe Kravitz and Alice pieces.
If you could show anywhere in the world, which gallery would you choose?
I would have to say the National Gallery of Victoria which is located in my home state. It would be absolutely amazing to one day have my work on display there and be able share that experience with all of my family and friends.
What do you find most challenging about running a small business?
There have been many challenges that I have had to overcome and learn from, with running a small business. A lot of people don’t realise just how many roles one person has to fill, in order to make a small business successful.
One major challenge is keeping up to date with the demands of social media, for example constantly creating and posting engaging and relevant content. In addition, creating a piece takes many hours and much concentration to complete.
While the end product is rewarding, the need to stop and film or take photos of the process for social media adds time and energy to the overall project.
Which Artist has been the biggest influence on you?
My biggest influence would definitely be CJ Hendry. I was very much inspired by not just her incredible talent but also her passion and process in which she gained her global success. I especially love that she is a humble Australian artist and aspire to be like her one day.
Who’s music are you listening to lately?
Anderson Paak is my all-time favourite and his music is always on repeat. His upbeat and funky music keeps me on my toes while drawing for long periods of time.
Do you have any other obsessions or hobbies?
I have one word for this question and that is FOOD. I come from a big Italian family where food is a big part of life. Food gives me the opportunity to spend time with my partner, family and friends whether it’s going out for dinner or hanging out at home and cooking a big feast for everyone to enjoy.
