Victoria Dowling
Age: 19
Year: Sophomore
Major: Major in Photography and Film with a focus in Photography and a minor in Painting and Printmaking
Hometown: West Milford, New Jersey
How did you decide on VCUArts?
My dad was obsessed with College Top 10 Lists when I was looking at schools and VCU kept popping up, so we visited it twice and I loved it both times and knew that VCU would be the perfect fit for me.
Now that you’re here, what is your favorite thing about VCU?
The intensity of the art program.
Speaking of the art program, how long have you known you wanted to pursue art?
I have wanted to pursue art since I was a little girl. I started taking private art lessons when I was in third or fourth grade and stuck with them until seventh or eighth grade. Once I got to high school, I progressed to taking night classes at local museums and a few at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school when I realized my passion for photography at a summer intensive at The New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Who has inspired you most artistically?
I don’t really have any true artistic influences unfortunately. My parents really encouraged my sister and I at a young age to pursue art when they noticed we had some sort of talent. I remember on weekends when we were in grade school, my dad would take out his old comic books and him, my sister and I would all sit at the kitchen table and draw the covers. I have a really amazing family who has supported my passion through thick and thin, and honestly, I owe everything to them.
If it’s not so much about who, what inspires you most artistically?
Nature is a huge influence on my work. I love working with organic and natural shapes that man kind can recreate but not nearly as beautiful as mother nature could provide.
You just had work accepted into the Anderson Gallery Undergraduate Show! That’s great! Congratulations! Is this your first art show, and if not, what other shows have you been a part of?
I have entered in a few local art shows back at home when I was a senior in high school, and an exhibition that was hosted by the Delaware College of Art and Design.
Can we see the submitted work?
How would you describe your artistic style and interests?
Recently I have really enjoyed working abstractly and with organic forms.
So taking a break from the art questions, do you have a favorite color?
Clay rose
What’s your favorite type of music?
Pop
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time (besides art of course!)?
Exploring new places with my boyfriend
Anything you are working on now that you’d like to tell us about?
I’ve been working on these abstracted images for a few months now and plan to continue exploring these ideas and abstractions for as long as I possibly can.
Do you have a website for people who are interested in seeing more?
I have a Facebook page, Victoria Dowling Photography and Art, and I also have an Instagram – victoriadowling66