Alexandra Strong’s abstract and still life pieces
The calm that painting brings artist Alexandra Strong is one of her favourite things. She shares with us what inspires her two styles of work – abstract and still life.
Hello, who are you?
My name is Alexandra Strong nee Blunn, I am a self-taught painter from Berry on the south coast of NSW, Australia, where I’ve lived my whole life and where I am now raising my two children, white rabbit and black labrador with my husband. I have painted on and off my whole life learning, from my mother who also paints and as well as my creative aunties.
When did you start your creative journey?
Throughout highschool I had ambitions to pursue art and design at university, however the anxiety which was brought on by exams was too much so I chose my other passion which is skin and wellness and completed a Diploma in Beauty Therapy. I loved my work and went on to establish two successful organic beauty salons which I have since sold.
My work as primarily an organic facialist and later learning the art of Reiki energy healing slowly reignited my passion for art and creativity and after the birth of my second baby about five years ago I was overwhelmed by the need to paint. It was incredible how strong the urge to create was, one day when my baby was only four-months-old I started drawing some organic shapes with black pen and couldn’t stop! I had experienced slight PND with my first baby and I think it was my mind’s response and self-preservation when I was beginning to notice those familiar feelings of overwhelm and mild depression brought on by lack of sleep and having ‘two under two’.
What inspires your artworks? Some are colourful abstracts, some are more calm, beautiful still life works. Are there different things that inspire these different styles?
I find inspiration in the landscape, the light on the land as well as shape and texture. Sometimes a completely random thing will inspire a chain-like reaction of thought that leads to a painting – an interesting shell I find on the beach, the bright door of a cottage I see on a walk or in a magazine, or the textures on the bark of a gum tree. I love discovering new colour palettes and I find that local gardens are a great source of ideas and inspiration. You really can’t beat nature when it comes to colour!
I find my intuitive work meditative and I really lose myself in the process, once I am in that elusive flow state I am hardly thinking at all – I let myself go with complete freedom, barely taking too much notice of what colours I am using or shapes that I am creating. If I am working on a commission I spend time at the beginning ensuring my colour palette is in line with the client’s vision, then I go ahead with my intuitive process and I find the painting comes together every time. These layered intuitive paintings always go through an ugly phase before I have completed the finishing embellishment layers but I have learned to push through this stage and I am rewarded by a beautiful painting at the end! Sometimes though, there are duds… I used to get so disappointed by these failures but I have learned that they are all pushing me towards a great work that will reveal itself in time and I think, “Oh! There you are!”. My still life paintings are a new style for me. It’s a completely different focus having to study composition and shadows which is a refreshing challenge and such a joy to create beautiful paintings from everyday objects around the home.
What is your favourite medium to work with?
Being self-taught is giving me the opportunity to explore and experiment with lots of different styles and mediums. I primarily work in acrylic because it’s practical with small children around, though I have recently begun playing with my oils again which has been lush! I also love to play with oil sticks and pastels to create texture and interest in my artwork.
Where do you create your paintings?
I work from my home-based studio off my living room which suits me perfectly as I can duck in and out with the kids hopping around and often popping in to have a look at what I am creating and sometimes adding a little mark here and there which they absolutely love. If the sun is shining I will often work on my back verandah or on the grass – I love the connection to Mother Earth when I am painting and I get such a thrill when the bees from the garden land on a big floral painting.
What is your favourite thing about painting?
The sense of calm it brings... it’s such good therapy and so grounding. I am thankful to be able to earn a living from creativity. I love that I have been able to make my original work into a range of Australian-made linen textiles as well as prints. I am keen to expand my knowledge and treat myself to some workshops and classes with talented teachers and makers in 2022 when both of my children will be at school.
Berry, NSW, Australia
