Life & Work with Alanna Peters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alanna Peters.

Hi Alanna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been creating for as long as I can remember and have experimented with all sorts of mediums. When I began focusing my practice on painting, I originally started out as an abstract painter where I used lots of bold colors. At university, I began experimenting with portraiture and figurative art. I instantly fell in love with the possibilities and expression that the figure provided. I enjoyed working with different angles and perspectives and the artistic challenge these would force me to have to figure out.

It was in 2016, with the sudden passing of my father, that I realized I was drawn to water and the impermanence it represents. At this time water and the figure began to be incorporated into my paintings. Together they married my figurative and abstract painting. Water helped create the medium to express emotions, movement, and light. Water is expressive and abstract.

My water series has changed and evolved over the years. Each series captures a wide range of colors, and emotions, equally challenging and joyful, and a sense of impermanence. The creative imagery is constantly evolving with the different experiences in my life and the influences of the changing environments in which I live and explore.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Art as a career is one that is constantly evolving and changing and is never stable. As art requires a personal connection for the viewer, it has to speak to the collector on a very personal level. A painting just needs to wait for the right person.

The art market is also very linked to the economic health and security of the time and changes from year to year. This means some years can be amazing and others not. However, the beauty of art is that as an artist you can build close relationships with clients and other artists that are very different than many industries.

I have moved to several different cities and countries over my career. This provides a rich opportunity to be exposed to new cultural and visual aesthetics, as well as, meet and create relationships with local artists and arts communities. However, these moves also create the challenge of having to reestablish an art community and support system, finding new suppliers, and building connections to the art galleries and art scene.

One of the beautiful things of our time is that through social media and the internet, our art community can be global and we can network in many different communities. I am able to maintain a close relationship with clients in both Canada and the USA and exhibit internationally. This new connectivity has also changed the traditional structures of how artists exhibit, sell, and network.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I explore the interaction between the abstract qualities of the environment and the detailed realism of the figure. Inspired by the idea of impermanence, I strive to freeze fleeting moments and create stillness within the constant change and noise of life. My work reminds the viewer of the importance of being present, to find peace in the chaos.

My work often incorporates the female form in water. I use oil paint on aluminum panels, with a focus on light and movement and the ways in which these elements distort and interact with the human body. Before beginning to paint, I conceptualize the emotions I wish to evoke. Then I sew the models’ dresses and take reference shots underwater.

My paintings are built up through many thin layers of oil paint and glaze that allows the colors below to interact with the layers above. I capture polarities, such as intricate details of the figure in lace or floral garments contrasting the reflective, metaphysical qualities of the water. I strive to capture weightlessness and reflection through illusions of transparency.

I am fascinated with the figure and the shared beauty of our humanity. Art is subjective to what experiences we the viewers bring to it and I respect that my art speaks differently to different people. That said, in every one of my paintings I explore our deeper connection to a shared human experience, to each other and to the world around us.

I know the people I paint, and the moments in their life that my paintings represent. I hope that my work spurs the emotions that are nested in those stories. I want the viewer to take the time to pause and connect. Life moves quickly these days. Joy and loss coincide. I’m inspired and challenged by the idea of impermanence both in the moment and in our lives. I want my work to provide a moment of reflection.

A moment to pause. I want my viewers to be present with the painting. To connect with it, and to connect with oneself. I use the abstract qualities of the environment and the detailed realism of the figure to create that reflective space. There is a focus on light and movement and how they distort and interact with the human body. I hope that the viewer experiences the idea of transparency, buoyancy, and the silence that is offered uniquely when being underwater.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
In my opinion, repetition stifles creativity. I see my art practice as a constant evolution and a seeking of new challenges for myself. I work in series to explore a certain color palette, feeling, and visual aesthetic. These series are limited to usually around 10 works and then I move on to a whole new series. I don’t tend to revisit past series as I’m constantly seeking to evolve and challenge myself.

As I am new to the US art scene, I have spent the past year exhibiting in Denver, Santa Fe, San Diego, Chicago, Miami, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins to understand where my work fits in. I have been saying yes to opportunities to figure out what works best for myself and my work. It has been a busy year and a half and I am now beginning to filter to a more sustainable and targeted approach.

Art, though a financial rollercoaster, is an incredible opportunity for growth and authentic living. It’s a path that comes with constantly needing to take risks and yet is so rewarding that I can’t imagine a different way of living.

Pricing:

• Small works range from $100 – $500
• Medium works are from $800-$2400
• Larger works range from $2500-$10000
• Commissions are available and priced based on size and complexity

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alannapeters.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanna_peters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlannaPetersArt