Alissa Whalen is a Halifax, NS abstract artist. Learn more about Alissa and her journey from being a potter to becoming an abstract artist in our interview below.
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Alissa Whalen Halifax, NS Abstract Artist
What’s the main inspiration for your art?
Personal deep motivation to create with my hands and my heart, exploring colours, textures and process.
What is the biggest goal you try to achieve with your art?
I work towards producing artwork with a diverse and visually interesting surface. My goal is to make artwork which intrigues the observer and leaves them with curiosity.
I work towards nurturing my creative process every day, even for a short amount of time, with the goal of immersing myself in making or thinking about my artwork.
What’s your favourite thing about being an abstract artist?
Freedom to be 100% me. Freedom of exploration and discovery, and in that, finding paths that speak to me and motivate me to push further into personal techniques and process.
Why abstract art and not other styles? Have you always created abstract art or did you start out creating other styles?
My first medium was working with clay. I made functional tableware, wall and garden art for 20 years during which time I sold my work at art shows, taught pottery classes and participated on studio tours at my country studio. I carved designs and patterns into my pottery, making unique textures and marks with my collection of found objects or hand made tools and stamps.
I moved from working with clay to acrylic paint 12 years ago, and was only interested in impressionism in the beginning. During Covid, while we were all shut inside, I took a few on-line classes and discovered collage. Having never had formal art schooling, I had no idea there was a visual arts discipline involving the process of gluing paper onto canvas. It was wonderfully intriguing and inspiring! By adding collage to my artwork I felt as though I was back to working with both hands (like a potter), tearing papers, applying onto surface, painting on top, scraping back, building layers and surface history. The discovery of mixed media followed and now I use many kinds of water soluble pencils and crayons in my artwork as well as collage. Taking the on-line workshops opened up a world of possibilities and nurtured an attitude of “anything goes” for my creativity and artwork. This is where my interest in making abstract artwork started and continues to develop.
What’s one thing people might not know about you and/or your art journey so far?
I wish I could make art full time. I was able to make pottery full-time for three years and it felt like a dream come true. I loved being my own boss, scheduling my day, working in the studio, doing office work, planning my year with art shows and events. I look forward to to having more time in my schedule to create, paint and be involved in the artist community in the future.
Did you always know you’d be an artist or how has your art journey progressed?
There were no artists per se in my family or circle of friends growing up. It was not something encouraged as a career. As a child I always preferred making “art” to other activities and aspired to be an “artist” when I grew up. At age eleven I started pottery classes. My pottery teacher, Gay Liddell and her husband Bob were my mentors for many many years and are still good friends. I kept with pottery into my teens, and early twenties and eventually became Gay’s assistant in her studio, teaching classes. After university, I worked in an office environment for a few years, while continuing with pottery and being a member of the local guild. Around this time, I had an opportunity to work full-time as a potter as I described above.
In your opinion, what’s the most important characteristic needed to embark on a career as an artist?
Perseverance. Keep showing up for your art because no one else will. It is the only way to continue to grow your skills, knowledge and feed creativity.
What advice would you give up and coming abstract artists?
Practice your art and keep pushing boundaries. Do not fear “ruining” a painting by trying something new or different. Happy accidents happen all the time! That is where the magic lies. Be fearless!
What’s your most fulfilling and enjoyable experience as an artist so far?
As an emerging artist, one moment in particular that was very fulfilling for me was when I sold a painting through a gallery to someone I didn’t know! That was a wonderful moment! It helped to solidify the notion that I was making art that was interesting and desirable to people outside of my immediate circle of friends and family.
Where do you see yourself and your art in 5 years?
Painting, creating, making, learning, growing artistically. I aspire to work in a series, produce several paintings with the same theme, approach a gallery for a group or solo show, and do an artist residency. I suspect my artwork style will continue to transform as I continue to grow as an artist.
What do you love most about abstract art?
As the observer, I love how abstract art speaks to individuals in different ways. I love how vastly different the art is from artist to artist. It can be a line, a colour, a dot or it can be intricate and infinitely complex.
As an artist, I love making abstract artwork for the artistic freedom it provides, the opportunity for exploration and unexpected discoveries.
Do you have any favourite quotes?
“To thine own self be true.” – Shakespeare
“Let the beauty you love be what you do.” – Rumi
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