Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Piccolo.
Alicia, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve had an innate drive to create artwork ever since I can remember, from making cards for birthdays or teaching myself to draw at age seven, by copying Disney characters. The sense of fulfillment and empowerment that making art provided from a very young age still remains incomparable. Today I draw inspiration from everyday life, especially observing the endless shapes, colors and juxtapostions in nature. I grew up and live in Rhode Island in a New England seaside town and am fortunate enough to experience the visual depth that the four seasons affords. The balance, rhythm and harmony in the natural world is what intrigues me most, and if I can impart this essence into my work, I’m happy.
I began painting in college and graduated in 1994 with a BFA from the University of Rhode Island. After graduating, my path led me into graphic design and I’ve been working in the field ever since. There was a large span of time, while I was immersed in graphic design, that I set painting aside. I was spending so much time on the computer that I really longed to have the physical movement of making art with my hands. So, out of self-care, I decided to dedicate time to paint again. My interest in art for healing and transformation has always been strong, too, and I’ve completed most of the expressive and creative art classes at Salve Regina University with the intention of facilitating my own workshops in the future.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Currently, I paint layer upon layer using acrylic paint, acrylic mediums and various traditional tools along with found and homemade objects to make marks. I choose to work organically without much of a plan, except thinking about what colors I’d like to start with. Each layer directs the next, keeping me in the moment while creating. For me, the process is a perpetual state of taking risks and letting go. There is great freedom in that.
I cannot project what others are going to feel or think when they view my work, but I have found that viewers say that they sense a lot of energy and a calm at the same time. I like there to be a bit of a mystery to the work, where the viewer is left wondering how I got to the end result.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
For a while I had my art studio in my home and it served me well, but I did get to a point where I wanted to feel part of an artist community and have a connection with other creative people. The decision to rent a studio in a public group art space wasn’t easy because I worried about being able to afford it. Now, I’ve had a space at The Velvet Mill in Stonington, CT for over three years and I have no regrets. It has enabled me to meet and become friends with many other artists who I can learn from, collaborate with, offer support and be informed of upcoming art shows. I also post a lot of my work on Instagram and Facebook and it has been a great avenue for connecting with other artists all over the world. It provides a sense of camaraderie.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have a studio space where I also show work that is located in South Studio 12 at The Velvet Mill, Stonington, CT. This fall, I have a solo art show at The Cooked Goose in Westerly, RI and it will run September 17, 2018 until January 1, 2019. I also have paintings on display and for sale in the OH! Spa at Ocean House, a Fifteen-star resort in Watch Hill, RI. There are other things in the works for 2019 and the best way to find out more information is by visiting my Instagram and Facebook pages or my website.
Contact Info:
- Address: South Studio 12
The Velvet Mill
22 Bayview Ave, Stonington, CT 06378 - Website: www.aliciapiccolo.com
- Email: aliciakpiccolo@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciapiccoloart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliciapiccoloart/
Image Credit:
Alicia Piccolo
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