Artist launches first online exhibition
“This is such an exciting start to the new year. My art tells real-life stories, capturing moments in time.”
Those were the words of Kinsale-based Dr E Alana James as she recently launched her first online exhibition of her digital art.
She has spent the past decade of her life in academic environments, working with and lecturing to masters and doctoral students at universities around the world from her base in Kinsale.
In her 30s she shelved her dream of being a full-time artist but now she said her dream is back and has re-rekindled her passion for art.
Alana said: “My art celebrates all that life has to offer, the less tangible moments of our inner and outer lives. My passion is in digital art which involves taking and curating photos, collaging them using digital re-sizing and reformatting techniques, ending up with 20 or more layers to manipulate.
“I print all my digital collages on canvas, on abstract backgrounds, then overpaint and sometimes I embellish a piece so it has a raised and glittery appearance. I then personally sign each work of art.”
This is all done using her iPad and a graphics app called Procreate. Whilst drawing, painting and collaging, Alana can run through her ideas faster, she can offer a variety of options to her client and change previous decisions made as an individual piece is being developed.
She added: “I am fascinated by the beauty of capturing a loved one’s story, their likeness and personality in artwork created from reference photos and this has led to several commissions. I enjoy celebrating lives and believe that age is not well portrayed in modern culture. Consequently, I would love to hear from people over 75 years of age, interested in commissioning artwork which could then be used in a suite about aging, perhaps to celebrate their life or an important birthday or a significant wedding celebration. It is such a deeply rewarding process for me as the artist and for the buyer.”
Alans said her journey has already presented “amazing opportunities” including learning about the business of art. In July she displayed a collection of art pieces as part of Kinsale Arts Weekend. She exhibited at the Marina Market in Cork for several weekends in the run up to Christmas and it was “humbling to see the hugely positive reaction” to her work, she said.
She said she has embraced Instagram for the “clarity of its visual impact” and as a powerful tool to share her “art and creative spirit”. In February Alana will facilitate a 6 week, online course for anyone who draws, paints, take photographs or enjoys collage and who may wish to explore the digital means of art.