KALAHEO — You’re only as good as you dare to be bad. That’s Sally French’s motto for her residential studio in Kalaheo, where she invites artists to work side-by-side and “take risks,” as she put it. At Double Dog Dare
KALAHEO — You’re only as good as you dare to be bad. That’s Sally French’s motto for her residential studio in Kalaheo, where she invites artists to work side-by-side and “take risks,” as she put it.
At Double Dog Dare Studio, which unofficially opened to other artists in October, French focuses on monotype printmaking — her current artistic focus — and is offering weekend intensives and artist residency.
The idea for the studio developed out of a sort of “empty-nest syndrome” and French’s own need for influence and motivation. It is all about working collectively with other artists and feeding off each other’s talents.
“My work becomes influenced by theirs and, in turn, they see what I’m doing and are influenced,” she said. “Everyone is infused. That excitement of discovery is in the air. That’s the germ.”
Since first inviting a pair of tattoo artists to work and stay at the studio in October, French has hosted approximately 20 different artists, who come to stay with her for a few days at a time and create, eat and enjoy as a family.
“I’ve been calling them monotype workshops, but it hasn’t been that structured,” she said. “It’s all about the collective mind and what happens when artists work in the same area … Every artist who has come out of here has done work that they’re awed by.”
French’s at-home studio is located off Papalina Road, in a quiet neighborhood with scenic views overlooking Lawa‘i. The basement studio itself features several work tables, a printing press, drying racks and everything else one needs to get the creative juices flowing.
“I usually host three or four people at a time,” French said. “Friends is what’s it’s all about.”
When finished working for the day, artists gather at the upstairs dining table — which she calls “the heart of the house” — to eat locally-produced food, share stories and inspire one another. After dinner, some artists chose to retire to one of the guest rooms. Others keep creating into the wee hours.
“The studio is available 24 hours a day,” French said. “Every time I’ve found there’s been part of the group that wants to do art until 3 in the morning.”
So far, French said her guests have come to her “spontaneously” and have included local and off island artists, professors and even musicians.
“It’s a little snowball that overlaps different disciplines,” she said. “I don’t know where monotype’s going. It could go in the direction of music. I’m open to anything that creatively contributes to the energy in the room.”
French is well known in Hawai‘i and around the nation for her contemporary, colorful and playful paintings and photographic images, having participated in shows on O‘ahu and all over the Mainland. But today, she is focused almost entirely on monotype.
“This is where I’m concentrating now,” she said. “I have to follow that energy. I lost my energy for painting in my studio.”
Since opening her home to others, French said her own work has improved tremendously.
“My work’s refined and come into a new place,” said French, who compares monotype to playing piano. “The more I learn, the more keys that are in my keyboard.”
And the best part, she said, is anyone can work and experiment with monotype.
“This is my way of going outside of myself and raising my level, while serving other people as well.”
Eventually, French said she hopes to bring in artists from not only Hawai‘i and the Mainland, but from around the globe. She also plans to establish a yearly art fellowship for artists to stay and work with her at the studio for up to a week.
For now, French said “local artists are welcome to come and work.”
“There’s something to what I’m saying about playing off each other and letting go,” she said. “The collective mind can come forth and that’s when people do great work.”
For more information about Double Dog Dare Studio visit www.doubledogdarestudio.com or contact Sally French at doubledogdarestudio@gmail.com.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
