Interview with Lucinda Dilworth by Ash from Kei London Visual Art Agency
Summary: Lucinda Dilworth shares her journey from competitive skiing to becoming a multimedia artist in this insightful interview. She discusses how personal experiences with body image and societal pressures shape her work, which combines traditional painting with digital techniques like projection mapping and AR. Lucinda's embrace of AI and social media has been instrumental in her artistic evolution, and she remains committed to pushing the boundaries of art and technology while connecting with a broad audience.
Kei London:
Lucinda, please start by introducing yourself and sharing some of your backgrounds.
Lucinda Dilworth:
Absolutely! My name is Lucinda Dilworth, though some people call me Dilly-short for Dilworth, my last name. I was born in Athens, Greece, and grew up as a passionate ski racer. Skiing was a huge part of my life, but when I was 14, my family moved to the UK. Later, I went to university in Colorado, where I was part of the collegiate ski team and studied business. After suffering a back injury, I took some time off and started reflecting on what I wanted to do next. Around that time, I reconnected with my creative side, thanks to my grandmother, who is also an artist.
During the pandemic, I started experimenting with watercolours, which led me to take a digital art class. I got introduced to projection mapping software called MadMapper, and I was instantly drawn to it-it felt like I was a fly mesmerised by a light! From there, I started exploring animation and creating digital artworks with augmented reality (AR) effects, which brought them to life. That's when I developed my first collection of digital works. I've since moved on to mixing traditional and digital art, incorporating techniques like acrylic painting with AR effects.
Today, I'm here with Kei London at the Saatchi Gallery for the British Art Fair, exhibiting two new paintings: Digital Bloom and Pink Dissolution . Both works explore body image and personal growth, reflecting the challenges and pressures many of us face in today's digital age.
Kei London:
That's wonderful. What is the inspiration behind each piece? I noticed some of your works include your own image-how does that tie into your creative process?
Lucinda Dilworth:
The inspiration for my pieces often comes from my personal experiences, especially as a child and young adult. Growing up as a skier, there was always pressure to look a certain way-to be thin, fit, and perfect. Many people, especially women and men, can relate to it.
For Digital Bloom, I wanted to explore the idea of blooming and growing beyond societal expectations. I actually wrote a poem to accompany the piece. It's about shedding misconceptions and emerging from those pressures to grow into something more. The figure in the piece is cocooned, but she evolves and blossoms through animations.
Pink Dissolution is more provocative. It portrays a woman in a powerful pose, ready to face challenges, but the animations show moments of fragility where she melts away and disappears. It's symbolic of how we sometimes feel strong but also vulnerable at times.
In terms of process, I photograph and film myself to create the initial visuals. Then, I add vibrant and surreal effects through animation. Much of the inspiration also comes from the impact of social media, which has become a significant platform for my work. There are challenges in how female figures are represented and censored online, and I wanted to address that in these pieces.
Kei London:
That's a fascinating approach. You also mentioned this is your first time working with physical mediums. How has that experience been for you?
Lucinda Dilworth:
Yes, this collection marks my first time painting by hand. Before this, my work was entirely digital, mainly because I was travelling a lot and needed more space for physical art-making. Working with acrylics has been a refreshing change-getting hands-on with the materials has been fun. It's also allowed me to combine the physical and digital elements, something I've always wanted to do.
For instance, I use traditional acrylic painting techniques in this collection, but I also integrate AR effects to bring the pieces to life digitally. It's an exciting way to merge the two worlds.
Kei London:
Your use of AI and technology is incredibly innovative. How do you see these tools shaping the future of art?
Lucinda Dilworth:
AI has been around for decades and is here to stay. I think the artists who learn to use it now will be ahead of the curve. For me, AI is an essential tool-I consider it my trusty assistant. I've collaborated with a company called Kaber AI, and their platform has been excellent for creating AI-driven visual tools. They've been very supportive of my work, and I've even been involved in some beta testing to help them improve their software.
I don't fear AI; I embrace it. It has allowed me to expand my creative horizons and achieve things that wouldn't be possible otherwise. As an artist, it's all about using the tools at your disposal to tell a story or provoke an emotion, and AI is a powerful tool in that respect.
Kei London:
That's a great perspective. Social media has also played a considerable role in your career. How do you balance its marketing power with its potential downsides, like negative comments?
Lucinda Dilworth:
Social media is a vital part of my work. It's how I connect with my audience and showcase my art to the world. That said, it's a double-edged sword. Negative comments are inevitable, but I've learned to laugh them off or ignore them. It's important not to engage with negativity.
Social media is primarily a professional tool now rather than a personal one. I use it to post content, engage with my followers, and showcase my work. It's helped me build my career, so I can't complain.
Kei London:
Speaking of your career, what do you see for yourself as an artist in the future? Do you want to be known for digital art, traditional painting, or a mix of both?
Lucinda Dilworth:
I see myself as a multimedia artist. I have so many facets to what I do, and I love mixing traditional and digital techniques. I'm still in the early stages of figuring out my style, but I'm excited to continue learning and evolving.
In the future, I'd love to curate exhibitions and collaborate with other artists to create immersive installations. I don't want to limit myself to one medium-I want to explore everything and keep pushing the boundaries of what art can be.
Kei London:
That's a great vision. Thank you so much for your time, Lucinda. It's been a pleasure to hear about your journey and work.
Lucinda Dilworth:
Thank you! It's been a great experience to share my story..
