Audaciously Alice
Portraits From Wonderland
My Solo Show was at Dacia Gallery in NYC
October 13th through 25th 2024
If you are interested in an Audaciously Alice artwork please see my Available Artworks page.
Avarice - The Queen of Hearts
Oil on Lead Primed Panel - Tondo - 22” x 22”
Artist’s Statement:
One of the deadliest of sins - the Queen of Hearts is not afraid to practice extreme greed in Wonderland. Depicted in this profile view with her sceptre raised her power is evident through her motion and the lively brushwork facilitated in this complementary coloured composition. The tondo is symbolic of the spiral rabbit hole that the artist was plunged into which became an inspiration for this body of work.
Escaping the Rabbit Hole
Oil on Panel - 36" x 48"
Gold Winner - OAA 51st Annual Juried Exhibition
Artist’s Statement:
This inward glance at the "self" depicts a quest to survive a devastating set of personal losses. Alex was plunged into the rabbit hole where she was convinced there was no way out. She fights to escape this emotional black hole through the practice of painting; this is her "wonderland”.
This body of work is deeply personal, whimsical and spiritual all at once, while facilitating a pastel colour palette, vintage icons and antiquities. The brushwork is looser in this painting than in her academic work, lending itself to the fantastical nature of Wonderland.
All on a Summer’s Day
SOLD
Oil on Panel - 16” x 20”
Winner of Boynes Artist Award “Red”
Exhibited at the Salmagundi Club of NYC
Artist’s Statement:
Inspired by Waterhouse’s painting “Cleopatra” this painting celebrates the Queen of Hearts and her moment of quiet contemplation - “Who Stole My Tarts?”
This intense and thoughtful moment of sweet vengeance is captured in red, white and black with accents of royal green and gold. The thick impastoed lead white is layered in the portrait with expressive brushwork to create subtle textures in the Queen’s expression.
This portrait was started from life and completed in the studio.
Pool of Tears
Oil on panel - 18” x 24”
Artist’s Statement:
“Pool of Tears”- a topic that resonates all too personally. “ I cried so hard that I thought I’d float 🌊 away”. -Alex/Alice I’ve since learned that “happiness 😊is a choice and the only time 🕰 that exists is Now”.
This painting marks Chapter 2 in my ongoing “Alex in Wonderland” series.
Who Stole My Tarts?
Nitram Charcoal and white chalk on toned paper - Oval 16” x 20”
Artist’s Statement:
A preparatory drawing for my Queen of Hearts painting capturing the moment of discovery. The concept for this work was influenced by Caravaggio’s Judith painting.
This drawing is comprised of Nitram Charcoal as I am a Nitram Charcoal Featured Artist.
If Alex Were Queen of Hearts For A Day
Oil on Lead Primed Aluminum Panel - 12" x 16"
Artist’s Statement:
Artists are unapologetic dreamers. In a world plagued with sobering facts, we continue to dream. This painting asks "What if?" What if I were Queen of Hearts For A Day? If I can paint it, I can become it. My outward gaze locks eyes with the viewer looking to the future, while my alla prima ruff is a nod to the past. Lost in thought, wearing my signature red bow, a very white graphic horizon line supports my make-believe castle as I think to myself "only I hold the keys to my kingdom".
Off With Her Head - Circling the Rabbit Hole
Oil on lead primed aluminum panel - 12” x12”
Framed - Round 24” x 24”
Artist’s Statement:
This Gorgonesque self-portrait is lopped off at the neck by a labrys-like lollipop. One blinky violet glass eye is partially open and is peeking from the shadows while the other closed in darkness. Her knotted twisted hair is reminiscent of writhing serpents. Her head is rocked back capturing the moment after the execution by The Queen of Hearts, while all things found at the bottom of a rabbit hole lie scattered. This tondo is custom framed and tied with a satin bow in Alice Blue.
The Offering (Gifts from White Rabbit To Alice)
Oil on Lead Primed Panel - 16” x 20”
Artist’s Statement:
The essence of the White Rabbit transcending into puffs of smoke is a clue that he is “running late for an important date.” He leaves these objects for Alice with much love at the bottom of the rabbit hole to assist in her journey to self discovery – aka Wonderland.
The White rabbit is Alice’s psyche and alter ego – a second version of herself that people rarely see embodying her mind, soul and spirit.
The Queen’s Pierrot
Oil on Lead Primed Aluminum Panel - 14” x 18”
Artist’s Statement:
This portrait was started from life and finished from the artist’s imagination. The sitter had the most unusual and compelling expression of sadness that it seemed an obvious choice to cast him as The Queen of Heart’s Pierrot. Pierrot is often portrayed as the simple-minded fool who wears a masked expression to disguise his true feelings. Here, in this case, he wears a clown-like hat with a jester’s collar which is absurdly upturned in a quirky manner against a textured inky-black background lending to his folly and despair.
Dark Alice
Oil on Lead Primed Aluminum Panel - 10” x" 10”
Artist’s Statement:
This alla prima self portrait from life celebrates Alice embracing the darkest of emotions; those being sadness, regret, disappointment and sometimes rage. These feelings are conveyed in a palette of predominantly red and black. Always keeping her faith and her eyes on the proverbial prize of self empowerment and autonomy Alice depicts herself diagonally. This compositional diagonal thrust suggests a sense of action - taking action for one’s self and growing to one’s rightful size despite past hardships.
Eminence - Queen of Hearts
Oil on Lead Primed Panel - Tondo - 22” x 22”
Artist’s Statement:
Shapes are very compelling to Alice - specifically the shape of a portrait in profile. Circles denoting the rabbit hole through which Alice plummeted are also very intriguing to the artist hence the tondo design of this painting.
The Queen of Hearts acts as Alice’s arch-enemy throughout Wonderland and is depicted in her powerful and amusing stance as the Queen is simply no match for Alice’s quick wit and understanding of the absurdity of it all.
The Caucus Race
Oil on Panel - 36" x 48"
Artist’s Statement:
Sometimes people expect things that are too demanding and self sacrifice is the result. This painting symbolizes having learned this personal lesson the hard way, struggling out of “the rabbit hole”. Alice always thrives and so will Alex finding herself in a Wonderland of sorts as she manages her own personal issues. Alex is faced with the absurd demands by all of the animals to produce “prizes” after the race as “everyone has won”. As she desperately fumbles through her pockets she realizes that all she has is a handful of candies. There are just enough for everyone but her. They demand that she too must have a prize and a thimble is all that she has left in her other pocket. Alex relates to the absurdities of life's demands and continues on her journey to make herself a priority in it.
The Pocket Watch and the Little Door
Oil on Lead Primed Panel With Gold Leaf - 18” x 24”
Artist’s Statement:
This is predominantly a drybrush painting offering a unique approach to how the artist typically works. This painting should be experienced in tandem with Escaping the Rabbit Hole - the catalyst for the entire series. The Pocket Watch and the Little Door not only is technically experimental through the use of monochromatic drybrush painting and gold leaf - but also conceptually as it offers three options for Alice’s escape. Three doors comprise this room - but only one has a doorknob to exit this dark space.