Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Bryson.
Hi Alexandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much for having me! I’ll start from the beginning. From the time I was little, I was captivated by art in all forms. To me, art was a way to communicate with the world in a language that I could understand. I was fascinated by the way people were able to convey so much emotion through art. It was emotional. Raw. Vulnerable. I was enamored by the kind of beauty that could come from such a deeply emotional state. And I wanted that—the ability to tell a story without words. So, I immersed myself in any art form I could find. I learned how to play and write music, I got involved in local theater, I learned how to sew, and began making my own clothes. I even went to beauty school and found creative expression there. I was always searching for ways to express myself through creativity. When you are passionate about something, you want to learn everything you possibly can about it. I couldn’t get enough. And when I picked up a paintbrush for the first time, I knew that I had found what I was looking for. Complete and total freedom of expression. No rules. No lines to memorize. Just you, your imagination, and a story to tell.
I wasn’t very good at first. And as all artists do, I compared myself to others. But mostly, I just had no conceptual focus. I painted still life, landscapes—I even attempted abstract painting…and no, it wasn’t good. Although I always enjoyed the cathartic process of painting, the story I was telling wasn’t my story. I couldn’t connect with what I was creating, and if I couldn’t connect with my own art, how could anyone else? So, the first time I painted the curves and shadows of the human form, I saw myself unfold in front of me, and I knew that this was my story.
There have been many events in my life that have caused me to become very detached from my own body. That have created an internal divide and hindered me from finding solace in my own skin. Honestly, I never thought that I would find that connection again. Until I realized that I had been immersing myself in so many different external forms of creativity for such a long time, that I had forgotten to look inward. I had overlooked the very thing that had driven that passion and inspiration to express myself creatively in the first place. So, I began drawing from my own source. Taking the very thing that brought me the most pain in this world, and turning it into something beautiful.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think a common struggle with becoming a profitable artist is developing a sense of value as a creator. I have been around many artists who have a hard time putting a price tag on their art or recognizing their worth as an artist. The business side of art is something that I have had to learn and get used to and is not always something that comes naturally. When I create a piece, so much is going into it that is not tangible or marketable. Emotion, feeling, process, visualization, concept…things that aren’t seen by the collector and are also hard to put a price tag on. When I create a piece, I don’t think, “I wonder how much I can sell this for…” I think about what emotions I will potentially evoke, and how the viewer will connect and relate to what I am trying to say. Because that is what is important to me. That is what I believe is the true value of being an artist.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I consider myself a figurative artist and focus primarily on the human form. When I create, I am driven by the expression of self, and the connection that inspires with others. My goal when creating is to inspire self-reflection, vulnerability, and empowerment, which has helped lead me to develop a connection in my community with other artists and creators who are passionate about the freedom of sexuality, identity and expression. I work in a variety of fine arts mediums—acrylic, watercolor, oil, charcoal, graphite, and most recently, linocut printing. Keeping that diversity in my artwork has allowed me to never become stagnant when creating, and keeps me in a position of constantly growing and learning as an artist. Which is part of why I love working on commissions—offering a variety of mediums gives me the ability to customize each piece to the collector and give them a unique and individualistic experience.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I have a variety of different art books that I use as references to create, and I am always looking at references on Pinterest. But my primary source of inspiration comes from other artists out in the world. I try to always involve myself in local gallery showings, newly installed museum exhibits, and craft markets. I like to check the weekly newspaper in Austin to see what shows are opening and closing around town and submerge myself in what is going on in my community as much as possible. I’m a very hands-on creator, so physically being around work by other artists is necessary for me to stay inspired.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@alexandrabryson.co
- Website: https://www.alexandrabryson.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrabryson
