Painting the town abstract – Young artist Annaleise Aiken ‘brushes’ with fate
Published:Friday | December 17, 2021 | 7:17 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
The purest form of human expression. That is what art means to Annaleise Aiken.
Proclaiming her natural love for the visual arts, she told Living, “I can’t ever remember there being an Anna without art.” Reclusive as a child, a young Aiken found an escape in her world of imagination. The artistic realm, inclusive of the immersion in new paintings, still brings her immeasurable peace and unspeakable joy.
“I love the accessibility of art. You don’t need fancy tools and paints. All you need is an idea and the will to try to create. I also love that art evolves with the artist, so long as you keep exercising that will to create. And I can’t wait to see what my work looks like 10 years from today,” she explained.
Taking it closer to home, Aiken described her art as bold, abstract, vibrant and evolving. “I love to play with colour and texture, so a lot of my paintings have big, chunky brush strokes and a vibrant palette. My growth as a painter is [reflected] in my work. Right now, I love painting feminine portraits which show different kinds of expression. I also love doing abstract pieces where I can just follow an organic instinct to simply paint,” she revealed.
Inspired by the greats before her, the artist listed local art legends like Albert Huie and Osmond Watson. As catalysts for change, the two pioneers have made the greatest artistic impact on her life. Additionally, she made special mention of moving modern artists such as Lennox Coke, Ebony Patterson, Richard Nattoo. These influencers, she said, possess tremendous talent and unquestionable authenticity.
Aiken spent a great deal of time exploring other people’s art to both inspire and develop her own technique. “It’s critical to my process since I am a self-taught painter. Sometimes, I am able to paint from a feeling. Other times, I’m trying to be adventurous and do something I’ve never done before.”
Her top five favourite pieces ever created by the stroke of her brush include the first-ever abstract piece she ever painted – ‘Patchwork’, an abstract exhilaration of colour and texture; ‘Fertile’, an artistic take on her fascination with female portraits; ‘Tranquili’, a peaceful picture of the woman and ‘Hummingbird’s Flight’, a homage to the island’s nature and beauty. The most memorable piece to date took a detour from her comfort zone.
“My best friend asked me to paint her family home as a gift to her parents. It was such a departure from my comfort zone, but I had so much fun challenging myself to a more technical painting. I definitely hit some rough patches, but it felt so rewarding to have her and her parents be so happy with the painting,” she said.
Her advice to aspiring artists who are seeking to pursue their passion but don’t know where to start is to just begin the creative journey and keep at it. “Keep honing your craft, stay open and keep learning. Also, start sharing your work with loved ones to build your confidence.”