Rumination: Dion Bello

(Artwork by Dion Bello pictured above)

“Rumination” is based on one of my favorite books called “Ruminations” by Emcee and writer KRS-ONE.  It was based on reflection and meditation. It was about sharing a thought process and sharing ideas so that others can use it and let it manifest into their own lives.

I been wanting to do a series of interviews on individuals that I know that influenced the masses. Some transcended into popularity and pop culture and some remain under the radar. The first interview in my series of Rumination is with Dion Bello, a local artist here in the Bay Area that became famous for his caricatures. I found him on Facebook when I noticed a lot of my friends in my network had changed their profile pictures into digital caricatures.  Each caricatures personified their subject and it told the story of what the subject is passionate on.

Mark Chua: What made you start Illuskrate? What is the story behind it?

Dion Bello: Well, I always had a problem with getting my art out there without getting my head get to much into it. I felt like that if I start my own blog it would be like an on going journal where I can see my own progress. Hopefully people will go to my website over time through word of mouth but It ended up Facebook becoming popular and it was at lot easier to post on Facebook. Pretty much Facebook did most of the leg work.

Mark Chua: Outside Illuskrate, I understand your also an artist as your full time job?

Dion Bello: I am a graphic designer by day and it pays the bills. It allows me to paint and do my digital work on the side. It’s a good job but my work doesn’t inspire my artwork.

Mark Chua: You mentioned you do graphic arts but which do you prefer? Are you more of a canvas artist or do you prefer your graphic arts?

Dion Bello: Digital, Really! If I can just do digital and sell my digital paintings and sell enough where I can recoup on how much I sell on it then I’ll just do that cause I rather do that. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.

Mark Chua: Why do you think it digital art doesn’t sell as much as your canvas art?

Dion Bello: To me, I can express myself digitally but people haven’t embrace it as a form of buyable art like something you can create and hang it on your house.

Mark Chua: Have you done any showcasing on your artwork? Have you hosted any event to show the world your artwork?

Dion Bello: Yea, I been in a lot of group shows and I hang up both my painted and digital pieces, but what seems to sell are my painted pieces and not my digital pieces. I can’t sell my digital pieces for how much I sell my painted pieces even though my digital pieces actually cost more to actually produced.

Mark Chua: Did you do your showcase here in San Jose, California or did you go to San Francisco? Do you do any collaboration with other artist, is that something that you would want to do?

Dion Bello: Most of my shows were in San Jose. I only started doing art shows in 2009 so I still see myself as new in the game. I want to see if I can keep going and I’m still learning.  I didn’t start in fine art, I did illustration and then I moved into fine art. I would love to do a show in San Francisco like in a real gallery.  If I were to do something here in San Jose, I would love to do a show in Anno Domini but that’s really hard to get in. They had only a few artist from San Jose that did a show there.  I think they are very selective on who they let in.

As far as collaboration, I would do it but it has to be the right artist. I have a lot of artist who are my friends too and if they invite me to do a show in San Francisco then yea I would do it too.  But if I was throwing a show in San Francisco then I would be really selective on who I collaborate with.

Mark Chua: Who are your favorite artist?

Dion Bello: My favorite artist would be James Jean and it’s amazing because he’s only a few years older than me.  Then you have Ashely Wood, Joao Ruas and Phil Hale.  Digitally I would have to go with some of my contemporary, some of the people I go to school with. Um?! Coro, Jason Chan is really good.  There’s a lot of digital artist out there but those are my real inspiration.

Mark Chua: I noticed that your comic strip are a bit personal? Are those real events of your life?

Dion Bello: Yea, those are my journal comic. I just throw in random stuff that’s funny.  It was a daily thing that went on for awhile and I just got to busy.  That’s just how things goes, I would love to do it everyday but nothing interesting happens everyday. Sometimes I just don’t have time.

Mark Chua: Let’s talk about your sense of style, when it comes to fashion? What matters to you and your favorite brands?

Dion Bello: The thing I pay attention too is if my clothes fits.  Does it fit me properly? is it the right length? It has to be the right size because to me that’s what I really pay attention too.  Ironically the clothes that fits me are so expensive and that’s just how it is.  Things the are cheap are ill fitting.  I love the higher end Levis stuff (Levis Vintage) and I always thought Bape is cool.  Nike always came out with something fresh, but lately I just been wearing my Converse.