Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Duncan.
Alison, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up with a love of art and creating, with early memories of my mom taking me to Saturday morning art classes and telling people I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I was so fond of summer trips to visit my aunt (who is an artist), who would take time with my sister, cousins and me to design and paint a special t-shirt for ourselves. It was great! Somewhere along the way, my pursuit of art as a full-time career option was lost, though I remained creative on occasion, painting gifts for friends and family. After undergrad and a few years working, I went to law school and later became a corporate attorney. I was at home on maternity leave with my twin girls when I looked at a blank space on our wall and remembered a random canvas and acrylic paints we had in a closet. Painting that piece triggered something in me. It hung on our wall for a couple of months until I decided I wanted to change things up and tried to sell it on social media. I got a larger response than I’d expected, which gave me the encouragement I needed to try that a few more times. My friends began requesting commissions, then through word-of-mouth, people I didn’t know reached out to request commissioned pieces as well!
Now, I feel so fortunate to be able to stay at home to raise my three girls (and our fourth due at the end of August!), while also doing freelance legal work and painting. I am still very green as an artist and have spent the last several years exploring, learning techniques and experimenting with different mediums and subject matter to figure out what is life-giving to me. There are times when I regret not pursuing art school so that I could have that knowledge and could have already done that exploration and experimentation, but then I remember that I truly do love the legal work I do as well—it’s a part of myself that I need to exercise just as much, so I am grateful for this [perhaps unusual] path that I’ve taken.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I primarily paint abstract pieces on canvas or cradled wood, using acrylics, graphite and oil sticks. Though right now, I’m at the end of my 100 Day Project (which a couple of creatives adapted for the Instagram platform) and have been exploring figurative art and loving it! I discovered I love abstracting figures and will begin to incorporate this work into my wheelhouse! I love how art can make you feel and make you feel a connection with something or to someone—it can have the same impact as music. The color, brushstrokes, texture, layers all impact the composition and can create something so special. And, I just love the way it changes a space when it finds the perfect home!
I have discovered that I find inspiration in so many places—books, music, interior design, fashion, my travels, photographs, and most especially through nature and my children! My favorite pieces have been inspired by spontaneous moments with or pictures of my kids having fun and I love capturing the feeling of that experience in an abstract piece. And I love that someone else can create their own story to go with the work!
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I believe that we can all be influencers and can affect change. I think we can create beautiful and meaningful work that is powerful. It’s a privilege to be able to use gifts that I have to help others or influence change. I’ve been so delighted and blessed to be able to donate work to causes that I believe in, and have been able to donate pieces to Dwell With Dignity and Beloved, and as well as to various children’s school auctions. Currently, I have a piece of work for auction with other incredible artists and makers to raise money for RAICES to offer support to refugee families.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
As I mentioned, I am very green, so the best way is through Instagram! I have a very sad existence in my Etsy shop and do not yet have a website (which will hopefully change soon!). But please reach out and connect with me on IG!
Contact Info:
- Email: alisonkellyduncan@gmail.com
- Instagram: @alisonduncanart
- Facebook: Alison Duncan Art
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Image Credit:
Ryan Duncan
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