Olivia Alexander is a Sydney artist globally acknowledged. Her expressionist, abstract artworks lure in viewers with eye-catching depictions of nature. Through hard work and commitment, Olivia has made a career out of what she loves. We got the chance to chat with Olivia about her art, during which we learned a little bit more about her and what she’s achieved over her art career.
Olivia always had a natural gift for art, however, only ever pursued it as a hobby. In 2001 after turning 40, being diagnosed with chronic fatigue and finding herself at a loss with her current work, she decided to picked up her pencils and paints and embrace the hobby she had loved for so long. Since then she has studied a range of courses to perfect her skills and travelled internationally exhibiting her art and receiving awards and recognition.
Olivia’s artworks are visually complex. They evoke incredible depth and texture through layers and mixed media. She uses a variety of water based media to create textured impressions of nature and landscapes. She paints transparent layer over transparent layer, to create a unique depth and texture. It’s a process that takes time but only adds to the complexity and beauty of her work. Living off the coast of Sydney, Olivia is surrounded by beaches and beautiful landscapes, so it’s no wonder she has inspired from this.
Olivia is inspired by those who weren’t afraid to think outside the box and challenge mainstream ideas of art. Artists such as Picasso, J.M.W. Turner and work from French impressionists have over time inspired her own style, as well as influenced how she herself challenges ideas of art.
The work she creates is more than just the land and seascape she envisions. What makes her collections all the more meaningful are the stories they tell. She believes in depicting stories and experiences on the canvas, as for her, it is the message and story the work tells that is most important.
Through her career, Olivia has had global success, particularly in France, where she has received five awards all from different academies. She was also fortunate enough to have an exhibition in Paris in 2015, showcasing 30 of her own artworks in an exhibition titled ‘Oceans of Oz’. This is only among a handful of her achievements, with other awards coming from Italy, USA and Australia.
Olivia’s advice for aspiring artists is to never give up nor look for an easy way out. It can be difficult, but persistence and enjoying the journey is what is most important. Olivia has found adapting to a digital world and plenty of networking has been beneficial for her career. Although, while being business savvy is essential, it is the passion that truly fuels success in a career.
Olivia is currently working on The Gold in the Dark project, a project fuelled by a want to try inspire and help others. Many of our most precious materials, including gold, are found in dark places, so Olivia decided to expand on this notion on a more personal level. She believes that great creations are found in the darkest of times, and hopes to use her work to inspire from this idea and inspire others to search for their ‘gold’ when they are going through tough times.
It is no wonder that Olivia has received such acclaim over her career. Each stroke of each painting adds to an intricate story, concluding with an in-depth and inspiring depiction of the Australian nature she loves. Owning an Olivia Alexander painting is like having your own piece of land or seascape to take home with you.
To learn more about Olivia and check out her art, visit http://www.oliviaalexanderart.com/
