Scene favourite and Sohocialite Dusty O is trying her hand at art.
After a frenetic decade on London’s clubbing scene, she’s hung up her wig, and has created a collection of instantly eye-catching, kaleidoscopically colourful paintings.
The original, daring works have received critical and commercial success, with Boy George and Julian Clarey among her famous fans.
We sat down with Dusty and talked inspiration, introspection and Andy Warhol.
Hi Dusty. So, you’ve become known for doing art! What made you decide to take it up?
When Trannyshack closed after a pretty glorious decade run, I knew it was time to change direction. I’d pretty much ticked all the boxes I wanted to tick in that world. It was time to hang up the wig, particularly in clubs. I’d always been interested in painting, so I started doing it for fun. It came as a surprise to me that people loved them when I posted them on social media, and were willing to pay for them! It quickly became a consuming passion, and I sold over a hundred pictures on Facebook alone. Where I am now is a precipice. It’s my first toe into a commercial world.
What’s your process? Do you do it with a nice glass of wine, or in the morning with a coffee? Do you play music and stuff?
I paint when I feel inspired to paint! Sometimes it’s in the middle of the night, but mainly it’s afternoons in my kitchen, with classic FM on and three cats on my lap. I work very quickly, as I try to harness my energy, which is sporadic and intense. I think this shows in my work. I’m off to Spain to paint for a month next year, as sometimes it’s difficult to maintain a creative environment at home. I’m at a point where I either take it seriously and try and move to the next level, or just carry on as a hobby. I never do things by half so I’m going for it.
Your Pete Burns portrait is beautiful. Did you know him?
Yes I did. He was the most fascinating, frightening, joyous, unrelenting and amazing person I have ever known. He was a constant inspiration from my teenage years until now. A man of many colours. Which is how I painted him .
Where does your inspiration come from?
From my past work, gender exploration, my process of developing as a human being. From my passions and interests. From the desire to contribute something beautiful to life visually. From my often troubled mind.
What’s your favourite piece that you’ve done?
I like the Cheeky Monkey picture and Marie Antoinette. Julian Clary bought a print and hung it next to an original David Hockney. Quite an honour! I have to be honest though, and say I’m never happy with any of them. I have trouble knowing when to stop. That’s part of their energy.
Tell us a bit about your new exhibition, From Face To Canvas.
It’s nineteen pieces, printed onto hard acrylic tiles of varying sizes. A greatest hits. The ones I enjoy the most from the last two years. I was offered various trendy galleries, but Oliver’s Village Cafe felt right. Oliver is an autistic artist and it’s his art cafe. His work is genius. I wanted my work to be shown somewhere alive, not on dead gallery walls. Somewhere with a purpose and a soul. Oliver’s has that. All of the pieces are for sale. People can order them. So it’s not just for looking. If you like what you see, you can buy it. They are all slices of me in a way, and I’ve always been for sale.
What advice would you give to artists struggling to make ends meet in London?
I am exactly that! I can’t give advice. I can only say that if a dream is worthy of being called that, then you have an obligation to try and attain it for yourself. Andy Warhol said something along the lines of “put it out there, and while people are judging it, just put out more”. That’s what I do.
• From Face To Canvas is at Oliver’s Village Café, 92 Belsize Lane, NW3 5BE. From November 13th 2016, until January 2017.
