Olivia Alexander

I have been notified by the Société Académique of ART SCIENCE & LETTRES - Paris, that I will be awarded the *diplôme médaille d’Argent* (silver medal) in recognition of my art career, on 16 October 2022.,

Founded in 1915 the Arts-Sciences-Letters Academic Society aims to recognise and promote women and men who, through their talent and work, participate in the influence of culture in the artistic, literary and scientific fields.

This is a great honour from France and I am thrilled that my art career has been recognised in this way.

 A beginner’s guide and easy tips to collecting art on any budget.  by Olivia Alexander© and published on Artlovers Australia 11th Feb, 2017.  
 
 
 Please, don’t be intimidated by the term ‘art collector’. 
 
At one time, art collecting was thought to be for the rich and famous. Those with surplus funds who collected the big names like Picasso, Warhol and Renoir, to name a few.  But actually, building an art collection is achievable for most people.  
 
A home looks empty without art on the walls and collecting original art is a great way to add character and your own special touch to your home or office. 
 
In this article, I'll share some easy tips on how you can get started in the exciting world of art appreciation and collecting original and limited editions prints.   Embracing the new art world opportunities 
 

Art World changes

The past decade has seen huge changes in the art world.  The internet has given us access to online galleries, art studios and other art platforms worldwide.    Besides this, there are still ‘bricks and mortar’ art galleries hosting exhibitions or, venues run by artists themselves and other options like Open Studios and art trails.  All these are opportunities in which we can engage with art and its creators, face to face.  
 
While well-established or big name artists may be out of reach for the average income, considering emerging and mid- career artists is a great way to collect some fabulous art from some promising creatives, as well as building a collection to be proud of.  
 
It's all a matter of knowing what to look for.  
 
Getting started. 
 
Although the options and choices can seem overwhelming here are some tips to make it easy. 
 
The Art Collector… which one are you? There are basically three types of collectors; 
 
The investment collector, The ‘I Love Art’ collector.’ And the ‘Art to match the sofa’ collector. 
 
This article is focusing on the first two and if you’re new to this then read on for some ideas. 
 
 Where to look for, and learn about Art 
 
There are lots of options for finding and learning about art, which is a great idea if you’re new to the ‘art game’. 
Here’s some suggestions to get you started;

 Local exhibitions, group and solo shows.

 Galleries; public and private

 Artist run studios or co-ops.

 Online Art Galleries

 Artists’ Websites

 Art magazines and books.

 Museums

 Art Appreciation or art history courses.  
 
Tip: The online option can be overwhelming so having a few artist’s names in mind will help to keep you focused as you get started. 
 
How to buy 
 
To get a feel for what you like start by visiting the places suggested above, but try to be a bit open-minded in your preferences. Your tastes will change over time as you become exposed to more styles of art and your knowledge grows. 
 
Two basic tips to remember. 1. Buy what you love! 2. Buy what you can afford. 
I know, it sounds too easy but really this is a solid foundation for starting an art collection and if you follow those two rules, you won’t go wrong. 
Now, let’s expand these a bit further. 
 
To get some suggestions, I spoke to Andrea Hope from Kiama Art Gallery, a long time collector of French art. Andrea also runs online and offline courses on Art Appreciation and Art history. 
 
Here are some of her tips. 
 
 Buy what you love! If you buy what you love eventually you will have a collection to be proud of.

 Don’t buy second-best. Wait, save up or see if you can pay it off. If you really love it, buy it!  So many people say, “I wish I’d bought it”, and then it was too late.

 Andrea also said that her collection is eclectic, embracing many different styles and genres.  Not just pieces from famous artists but also local artists.  Works that are technically competent, both in terms of design, balance and colour.                 
    
 
Tip. If you’re new to the art world, consider undertaking an art appreciation course. 
It will open up a whole new world and build your confidence as a collector, as well as more enjoyment of your collection. 
 
Who to look at 
 
3. Make use of the Internet. If you have found some artists that you are interested in, then do some research. 
Most serious artists these days have an online presence or website. 
Look them up and explore their work.  Read the ‘About section’, CV resume, Artist’s Bio.  
It will help to give you a greater sense of the ‘artist behind the work’, particularly if they work in a style that is unfamiliar to you. Consider these options 
 
Mid-career artists are a great source to find quality original work. 
They have most often worked consistently at their art for a number of years and have a solid artistic background.   
Emerging artists are another source to look at. They may not have a long CV or exhibition history but do have a look at their work. 

Tip: Questions to ask yourself are; Do they have a consistent body of work? Can you see that they are growing as an artist? 
 
What to buy 
 
4. If you’re still not quite sure where to start and feel a bit concerned about buying your first artwork, then start with small. After all, if you make a ‘faux pas’, it won’t be so obvious.  
And really, you can’t go wrong anyway. The art you buy doesn’t have to appeal to everyone else; it’s about what you love! 
Small to medium size pieces are great because they can easily be moved around your home till you find a spot to suit. 
5. Look for original art, those ‘one of’ pieces. Then you will have something truly unique. 
 Limited edition prints are another consideration, especially if your budget is tight or you can’t afford the original piece but have fallen in love with the art work. 
 Limited editions are usually a very small number of prints, numbered and signed by the artist. 

As your confidence grows you maybe feel ready to select a larger piece of work as a feature for your collection. 

Themes 
 
You may want to collect works that have a theme, subject or period. Perhaps still life, portraits or landscapes. 
 It’s your personal choice but you may notice that you are continually drawn to a certain theme. 
You can still be eclectic in your choices, even while keeping to a theme. 
Ask yourself, “What is it that I love about this work? Is it the colour, style, the story? Is it because it’s different to my usual taste?”   
You will be surprised about what you learn about yourself and your tastes as your collection grows! 
 
 
One very important final point 
 
One thing you may not have thought of is the artists themselves.  

6. When you buy original art work you enable that artist to live and to be able to afford to continue their work and career. It may sound simple but you actually have an impact on them and their future. 
 That’s pretty neat!  
 
So, some quick tips to recap:

 Buy what you love, buy what you can afford. Easy peasy!

 Develop your knowledge by visiting galleries, exhibitions, online platforms and art studios.

 Look at mid-career and emerging artists both online and offline. 
 Start with small works if that’s what you feel most comfortable with.

 Look for original art.  Limited edition prints can also be added to the collection.

 While there’s nothing wrong with buying art to match your sofa, don’t make this the main criteria for your purchase. Look for works that are strong in design and that capture your attention and appeal.  Ask yourself “What will add more strength to my collection?”

 Don’t be afraid to be eclectic in your selection, your tastes will change over time anyway.

 When you are hanging or displaying the art in your home or office, move pieces around till you find where they ‘fit’. There’s always somewhere for them! 

I hope that this has helped you in some way and that you are ready to go out and start your own art collection. 
Good luck as you explore the exciting world of Art! 

©2017
About Olivia Alexander

Olivia Alexander is an international award-winning Australian artist who works with mixed media to create abstract and expressionist paintings. Since 2003 her work has appeared in many group exhibitions as well as solo and joint shows in Australia, Italy, France, USA, India and Dubai. Her works are in private collections worldwide. 
 She currently holds nine international awards including bronze and pewter medal diplomas from the Society of Arts, Sciences & Letters (ASL) in Paris in 2012 and 2014 and, also a silver medal diploma from the prestigious Academy of French International Merit & Devotion (MDF) in June 2014.  
Olivia worked with Andrea Hope from Kiama Art Gallery to set up a local art studio trail in 2013 and she regularly hosts her own open studios. 
She is passionate about art, writing, photography and living the ‘Artrepreneurial’ life. 

 

An article I wrote for online news platform, CrowdInk.com http://crowdink.com/artist-of-the-week/artrepreneur-new-breed-artist/

We’ve all heard of the term entrepreneur; someone who is a game changer, innovator, risk taker, business owner. They see the gap in the market and plan how to fill that gap. Names such as Sir Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Larry Page the founder of Google, spring readily to mind and are but a few among the thousands.

The Artrepreneur

 ‘Artrepreneur’ is a term we artists are hearing more and more; a new breed of creative, an artist who is also business savvy and technology aware.  A combination of the business savvy attitude of an entrepreneur with the skill of an artist or other creative.

In the ‘good old days’ the artist would work in their studio creating artworks then take them to the galleries that represented them to sell. The gallery took care of all the marketing and sourcing of collectors as well as hosting exhibitions, while the artist took care of creating the artworks. When the artwork sold, the artist would receive his or her payment minus commission.

 It was a happy partnership and there are still a small group of artists that enjoy that benefit today, but it is a small and ever decreasing group.

What’s brought this change?

With the growing world- wide web and online shopping, we have seen an increasing number of commercial galleries closing their doors making it harder for artists to find representation and venues to sell their works. With this decline of ‘bricks and mortar’ galleries we have also seen a plethora of online artists’ websites, social media pages, online galleries and blogs emerging.

With the internet bringing so many seemingly negative changes it also brings a world of opportunity for those who embrace it and that’s where the artrepreneur steps in.

Some Good news!

The good news is, you don’t need a degree in art or business to be an artrepreneur, just a determination to learn and not give up.

A change of mindset from the ‘starving artist’ to a business savvy creative can open a whole new market place for the artist and their art.

In the New York Times Bestseller, ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ by Spencer Johnson, four little characters, Hem, Haw and two mice Sniff and Scurry live in a maze. Each day they go to the same part of the maze to find cheese to sustain them but one day the cheese has been moved. The crux of the parable is either they learn to start searching elsewhere for their cheese or they starve. Some embrace change and succeed, some don’t. A simple but very illustrative story.

The new breed of artist; the Artrepreneur learns how to think ‘outside the square’. They realize it’s about developing relationships with collectors, networking, knowing the ‘why’ behind their work and add value for their clients.

They become adept at marketing, money management, photography, writing, sales, websites and many other skills. Multi skilling becomes their middle name.

It takes persistence and time but the rewards are there to be had.

Change is not always easy to embrace but if we can see it as opportunity rather than loss, then we are half way to succeeding.

 

About Olivia

Olivia Alexander is a full time Visual Artist, Blogger and art tutor. Her art career has received international recognition with many awards including five from several prestigious French academies. She has exhibited, and is represented by galleries and curators in France, Italy, USA, India, Dubai and Australia where she is based. You can find her Atelier Blog on her website at http://www.OliviaAlexanderArt.com

EDUCATION

CERTIFICATE 3 IN MICRO BUSINESS 2014
ADVANCED MIXED MEDIA – 2008-2011
CERTIFICATE IN INTERIOR DESIGN – THOMSON DIRECT EDUC. 2007
FINE ARTS CERT. 1 – TAFE College, ALBURY 2004
CREATIVE & ADVANCED DRAWING 2004- 2007
PAINTING IN ACRYLICS- 2004-2006
PAINTING & DRAWING - 2004 – CEC WODONGA

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
Vermeil Medal Diploma – European Institute of Contemporary Arts (IEDAC) France Oct 2015
Artist Value Certification – Jacques Akoun Art Valuation – France Sep 2015
Brisbane Art Prize – Finalist Australia Sep 2015
Art Critics Award Italy June 2015
Art Achievement Award for contribution to art in Europe – IEDAC France May 2015
Rome Imperial International Prize – Effetto Arte/ Russo Italy May 2015
Silver Medal Diploma – International French Academy of Merit – France June 2014
Pewter Medal Diploma – Societe Academie Arts, Sciences, Lettres, Paris June 2014
Bronze Medal Diploma- Societe Academie Arts-Sciences-Lettres, Paris June 2012
Feast, Pray, Love Art Prize – Finalist Melbourne March 2014
Lethbridge 10000 Art Award, Finalist Melbourne June, 2011
4TH Prize Overall - Kiama Art Society 32nd Exhibition, Australia 2010
2nd Prize - ‘Surfaces’ Exhibition, International Competition, ‘Light,Space,Time’ USA 2010
Best Mixed Media - International Online Competition, Manhattan Arts International, USA 2010
First Prize - Albury show 2003 ; Highly Commended - Albury Show Australia 2003


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Mondial Art Academy – Australian Ambassador & Officer Academician- France
European Institute of Contemporary Art- France
Who’s Who Art Club International- Switzerland
French International Academy of Merit and Devotion - France
Artec – France
National Association of Visual Artists, Australia
Arts-Sciences-Lettres- Societe Academique d’Education et d’Encouragement - Paris
Copyright Agency/Viscopy Australia
Kiama Arts Trail – Australia
Trevisan International Art- Italy

CURRENT GALLERY REPRESENTATION

Galerie des Charmilles – Longjumea- ILL-DE-FRANCE
Xanadu Gallery- Studio Artist, Scottsdale FL USA
Muse Gallery – Milawa, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Shoalhaven Fine Art Gallery – St George’s Basin NSW AUSTRALIA
Harn Gallery – INTERNATIONAL


PUBLISHED LITERATURE

‘CAPTURING THE NATURAL WORLD’ by Olivia Alexander- Jan 2015
‘EVERYTHING IS ART’ MAGAZINE – Aug 2012
'INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MASTERS' VOL IV published - Jan 2011
‘AUSTRALIAN ART COLLECTOR’ Magazine Oct-Dec 2010
‘ARTIST’S PALETTE’ magazine, Dec 2008, Issue 69 and Jan 2009, Issue 70
‘AUSTRALIAN ARTIST’ magazine, September 2007 and April 2008


GROUP & SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 2015
• ‘Oceans of Oz’, Olivia Alexander & Ann Dunbar, Galerie Art et Miss, 1-8 Dec 2015 PARIS
• Kiama Arts Trail members exhibition 13-19 Oct 2015 AUSTRALIA
• Scarborough Art Show Oct 2015 AUSTRALIA
• Brisbane Art Prize – Finalist Sep. 2015 AUSTRALIA
• Augustus Momentum, SCAS group, Wollongong NSW Australia
• Who’s Who Art Club International, Honfleur, FRANCE June 2015
• Salon Antares Creativ , Toulouse, FRANCE 29-31 May 2015.
• Art Design Show- Dreem St Gallery , St Tropez and Lavandou, FRANCE 16 Feb- 26 Mar 2015
• KAT Members Exhibition, Kiama AUSTRALIA Feb 2015

GROUP & SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 2002- 2014

• HABITAT- Beth Hulme Gallery, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Sept 2014
• PERCEPTIONS Workshop Exhibition GARGANO, ITALY, June 2014
• KIAMA ARTS TRAIL GROUP EXHIBITION – KIAMA, AUSTRALIA, Mar 2014
• FEAST,PRAY, LOVE ART PRIZE – MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Feb – Mar 2014- FINALIST
• ABLAZE BRASSERIE SOLO EXHIBITION – NOWRA, AUSTRALIA, Feb - Mar 2014
• KIAMA ARTS TRAIL LAUNCH EXHIBITION, KIAMA, AUSTRALIA, Oct - Nov 2013
• KIAMA ART SOCIETY 35TH EXHIBITION, KIAMA, AUSTRALIA, Sept 2013
• CAMART EXHIBITION, CANTEBURY, AUSTRALIA, Aug2013
• PREMIO NAPOLI 2013 NAPLES, ITALY, May 2013 (Nominated for People’s Choice award)
• ARTIST’S HAVEN GALLERY’ Ft Lauderdale, FLORIDA, USA, Nov 2012
• ‘SONGS FOR SYDNEY’-Alexander,Morant,Rowling, Cao- Global Gallery, SYDNEY, June 2012
• ‘POSTCODES FROM THE EDGE’, Wollongong City Gallery, AUSTRALIA, April 2012
• L’ALTERNATIVE’, Salon d’Automne, PARIS, FRANCE, Oct 2011
• ‘INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MASTERS’, South Nevada Museum of Fine Art, LAS VEGAS, USA 2012
• LITTLE TREASURES, Galleria De’ Marchi, BOLOGNA, ITALY, April 2011
• ‘DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE’, World Bar, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 2010
• BRUNSWICK STREET GALLERY, ‘Small Works’, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 2010
• KIAMA ART SOCIETY 32ND EXHIBITION, (4th prize overall) KIAMA, AUSTRALIA, 2010
• TREVISAN INTERNATIONAL ART, Summer Exhibition, ITALY, 2010
• ‘RATHER BE NAKED’, Mils Gallery, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 2010
• ‘JAMES KIWI WATERCOLOUR PRIZE’, Wollongong City Gallery – AUSTRALIA 2010 (Juried)
• ‘LITTLE TREASURES’, BOLOGNA, ITALY 2010 (Invitation only)
• ‘THE DUBAI ART PROJECT’, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 2010 (Juried)
• ‘ALL ABOUT EVE’, BOWRAL 2009
• ‘INSTINCT’, Coffee Culture, Solo Show, BOWRAL, 2008
• ‘STAGE 4 – IMAGES OF THE DROUGHT’, WODONGA, 2008
• ‘2 POMS & A PAINTBRUSH’, ALBURY, 2007
• ‘JAMES KIWI’ WATERCOLOUR PRIZE, Wollongong City Gallery, W’GONG, 2008 (Juried)
• KIAMA ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION, KIAMA 2007, 2008, 2009
• THE DOG SHOW ART EXHIBITION 2007
• BUDS OF MAY ART SHOW 2006 (Guest artist)
• CARCOOLA ART SHOW 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• ST. AUGUSTINES ART SHOW, 2006
• CREATOR’S GALLERY POSTCARD EXHIBITION, 2006
• ALBURY WODONGA ART SOCIETY ART EXHIBITION, 2004, 2006
• COROWA FED. SHOW, 2003,2004, 2005
• TUMUT ARTS EXHIBITION, 2004
• CHILTERN ART EXHIBITION, 2004
• BRIGHT ART EXHIBITION, 2003
• CORRYONG BUSH FESTIVAL EXHIBITION, 2003
• CULCAIRN LIONS CLUB ART SHOW, 2002, 2003
• ALBURY SHOW, 2003

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

PRIVATE CHILDREN’S ART CLASSES: 5-10 years old- Chinese Community, Wollongong Feb 2015
WEST STREET WOMEN’S CENTRE: Wollongong City Council, Drawing Workshops, Aug-Sep 2014
MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP: Wollongong June 2012
ARTSPACE: Illawarra Children’s Services, Corrimal, Feb 2011
WEST STREET WOMEN’S CENTRE: Wollongong City Council, July-Oct, 2010
PAWS IN THE PARK: Wodonga City Council, children’s art class assistant. 2007
CHILDREN’S FAIR: Wodonga City Council 2007
CEC WODONGA: Acrylic Painting Adult Classes, July 2007
School of the 3rd Age Albury- Drawing - Adult classes, Temp position. 2006

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Art Edit magazine, Edition 7 Editor’s Pick ‘Best of Abstract’ July 2015
• Lake Times & Kiama Independent Newspapers July 2015
• Effetto Arte, Italian Art Magazine, May 2015
• Radio VOX Fm 106.9- Live interview, Mr. Maestro, ‘Art, Music & Paris’ Nov 2014 & Mar 2015
• Illawarra Mercury- ‘To Paris & Back Again’ Aug 2014
• Daily Telegraph- ‘Best Weekend’ magazine, Nov 2013
• Kiama Independent – Following the Trail, Oct 2013
• Illawarra Mercury – Kiama Arts Trail, Oct 2013
• The Australian- ‘Songs for Sydney’, June 2012
• Illawarra Mercury- ‘From Paris with Love’, May 2012
• Shellharbour Advertiser- ‘Olivia on the World Stage’ Apr 2011
• ‘Hot Art” Southern Highlands – ‘All About Eve’ exhibition & artists. 2009
• Southern Highland News – Celebrate Artistic Women Article. 2009
• Art Matters – Dec 2008, Paintings & photo
• Border Country Mail, 7 July, 2007 ‘After The Rain’ Interview & photo.
• Border Mail, 5 July 2007 ‘ARTS” & ‘PLAY’ Interview & photo
• The Post 5 July , 2007 – Article about Stage 4 Exhibition
• The Land Magazine – Aug 2, 2007 Interview & photos, ‘Seeing Beauty Behind the Dry Horror’
• Prime TV News – Interview & Coverage of Exhibition Paintings – ‘Stage 4 Drought’ exhibition
• Border Mail, 8 Feb, 2007 Interview for ‘2 Poms & a Paintbrush’ exhibition
• Border Mail, 10 Feb, 2007 ‘What’s On’, Photo

I've just returned from Brisbane where I enjoyed soaking up the sunshine and some of the wonderful restaurants and cafes by the river.

I was there as a finalist in the international Brisbane Art Prize. I didn't win the art prize, but you know what? I felt that I was rewarded in many other ways.

 

Often it's not about the prizes (and who doesn't love them!), and it's not about the sales. I mean, we always need more sales,  right?

Lets face it, us artist don't live on fresh air and we do have bills to pay, just like normal people. 

But, what really hit home for me as I attended this event, was the sense of community, connection and network.

 

I spent most of my time getting around the artists' stalls, introducing myself, asking questions, admiring art and encouraging where I could. I had a ball!

 

I made quite a few new friends, we chatted about possible future collaborations and most of us shared a common story; the fact that it takes years and years (and did I say, more years) to become a 'successful' and known artist in the world of art. We discussed the discouragement and  frustration that can threaten to overtake and sabotage our careers unless we learn how to manage it.

 

When I talk about the artist here, I'm talking about the serious creative who wants to pursue art as a career, make a living and live in the passion of art.

 

The Artist job description should say; "able to run for long distances with little encouragement or sustenance".

It's definitely a task for the marathon runner , not the sprinter!

 

The artists I spoke to talked about the fact that even when you win awards it's no guarantee of sales. We all agreed the Australian market is a hard place to sell. The value of original, good QUALITY art is not really appreciated. Sales can be prolific for some months and then for no apparent reason, drop off for a month or two. The art market is unpredictable for various reasons.

I don't share this to discourage but rather to point out that if you're an artist and your art isn't selling it doesn't mean it's not good.

I mean, that might be the case, but probably not!

Seriously though, many professional artists in Australia are finding it hard going, so you aren't alone.

My number one aim is to enjoy the journey!

It's not all about the sales.

Don't get me wrong, I do desire and need sales of my work and I market it accordingly. In fact I work on a full time basis on my art business.  After all, I have a mortgage and need to feed my family, just like everyone else. In fact, this year has been my best yet and my works have increased in value.

But what I love about the art journey is the wonderful people I meet and friends I make all around the globe.

As an artist I spend many  hours in solitude creating my artwork or perhaps writing, and it's easy to become disconnected from the outside world. Building a community in my art life helps to keep things in perspective, it stimulates the creative brain and excites with thoughts of new artistic collaborations with like-minded humans on the same mountain trek as myself.

 

We artists have a tendency to be a 'little bit' on the intense side, so being part of an arts community helps by reminding us that we aren't the only ones on this trip.

 

I've found it can take time to find your 'tribe', it certainly has for me. Not everyone you connect to turns out to be on your side, but that's all part of the learning curve. Artists can be a competitive lot and I'm sure most of us have encountered the nasty side of the art world from time to time.

Eventually though,  we find who we can work with and then help one another climb that ladder.

 

I titled this blog, Prizes, People and Pizza. "What has pizza got to do with it" ,you ask? Well, nothing but I couldn't think of anything else beginning with 'P'!

Anyway, that's about all for now, but hey! My studio is open this coming long weekend so why not make it a date, come see what I've been up to with my works for Paris or just come and say hi, you'd be most welcome!

Sat and Sun.3-4th October  10am - 4pm.        No appointment need,  just drop in.  

Monday I will be open only by appointment, so if you can only make it on Monday, please give me a call and we'll make a time.  All welcome!

Where: 1/27 the Boulevarde, OAK FLATS, NSW 2529

Contact ph: 0411 197 254.        Email; info@oliviaalexander.com         www.OliviaAlexander.com 

I’m sitting on the beach in Jervis Bay on the New South Wales coast. Ian and I have taken a few days off and headed down to one of our favourite coastal areas to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary.

Yesterday we went for a beach walk. It was great to feel the sand between my toes and scour the water’s edge for all sorts of interesting objects.

 

I love to take lots of photos and I came across this delightful little terrier dog. She was chasing the waves, trying to catch them as they rolled in and out. Tirelessly she raced up and down the shore, little legs going like the ‘clappers, undeterred with a smile on her face.  

Well, I thought she was smiling; I do think dogs laugh, in their own kind of way.

 

She inspired me, so I snapped her photo on my iPhone and made this little poster....

 

 

My husband Ian often says I’m like a terrier; I hold onto my art dream and refuse to let go! Lol!

 It’s true. I can’t give up, even when I’ve wanted to. My desire, gift  and passion for art and to earn my living as a full time artist just can’t be walked away from.

When you have a passion for something it’s like that. We can’t deny it because it’s the fuel that drives us.

 

Many people don’t know what the life of a professional artist is like. They think we spend our day at the easel, relaxing with brush and paint and really, why don’t we just get a ‘real job’?

How far from the truth!

At least for myself and many other serious artists that I know and talk to.

 

Catch the wave!

While we were here in Jervis Bay I caught up with my fellow artist, Steve Harris. We were talking about this very thing. Steve has been a full time artist since Adam was a boy; well anyway, a long long time! He works at his easel from early morning, stops for meals then continues on till about 10pm, every day.

That’s passion! That's drive!

We chatted about the images that we feel describe this driving. For me I can relate to the sea. 

In the summer I spend a lot of time at the beach snorkeling and ‘boogy boarding’. The waves of the ocean roll towards me and I have to time it just right to catch that wave and lying on the board, ride the wave into shore.

The secret is seeing the wave coming then getting the timing right to catch it. Sometimes I fall off the board and end up getting tossed about like a rag doll but I jump back on the board and get ready for the next wave. It’s huge fun!  

Pursuing a dream is like that. Looking for opportunities, being ready, not giving up even when you fall off the board but also having some fun on the journey.

For Steve Harris, he could relate to a scene from Ben Hur, the movie. You remember the chariot race? Charlton Heston with his ruggedly handsome face, square chin and bulging muscles, he’s in the lead. But look behind him. There’s another chariot slightly out of focus. The guy in that chariot is hanging on for dear life! White knuckles clench the front of the chariot, eyes are bulging, feet off the floor.

But he ain’t letting go, no siree!  He’s hanging on till the end of the race!

Steve said that’s him, he can’t let go!

 

Stay in the Race!

I guess the thing is if you want to make it these days as a serious artist then you have to stay in the race till you win.

I think the trick is learning how to pursue the dream and maintain the passion without choking it to death or letting it drown you in the process. We as modern day artist have to pace ourselves and our energies. It can become consuming, as I know too well.

Multitudes of ideas floating around my head at all hours! I even have a notebook in my car’s glove box and another one beside my bed and I have learnt to draw in the dark so I can jot down ideas in the middle of the night.

As someone who has battled adrenal fatigue for 14 years I have had to learn to pace myself and prioritize.

How do you eat an elephant again? Oh yeh, in very small bites!

Priorities

Here is a tip given to me by my business mentor that you may find helpful;

Pick three things you want to achieve in your art business/career/dream in the next 12 months.  Now each morning dedicate 2-3 hours (for those not working in another job) to working on those three things only. These are your priorities. Yes and set a timer so you don’t overwork. When those 2-3 hours are up, go and do the other things that your  art career/business requires. After 12 months you will have achieved a huge amount of progress in those three priority areas and moved your business forward.

If your priority list has more than 3 things on it then you don’t have a priority list; you have a ‘to do list’!  That’s ok as part of the long term business plan but if you are like me I end up with lots of lists to keep track of my ‘to do lists’!

This 3 Priorities idea has helped me feel less overwhelmed and bit by bit I can see I am making progress.

 

Stay in the race till you win, chase the dream but have fun while you do it and while running the race don’t forget the people in your life :)

 

Ciao for now ,

Liv

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www.OliviaAlexander.com

 

To find out about Steve:

www.TheRealSteveHarris.com.au   and one of Steve's amazing art works 'I'll Paint These Tomorrow'.

 

Peaks and Troughs

 

As most of you know I live on the New South Wales coast of Australia and we have some of the best surfing beaches including 'The Farm' at Killelea, Bombo and one of my favorite places, Shellharbour North beach.

This little artwork is inspired by my experiences at the beach.

My husband and I often head there in summer, but we must be getting old because sometimes the waves just terrify us, so in the past few years, we've started using 'boogie boards' , which are like short simplified surf boards with a strap for your wrist.

Many a time we've been happily playing in the water when in the distance we can see a huge wave rolling in....a moment of panic, its too late to make it to shore!

Ever felt like that?

 

You know, that horrible feeling you get when the wave picks you up, flips you like a rag doll then embeds you head first in the ocean floor, all the while your life is flashing before your eyes in bold technicolour!?

It's during those moments, when my head is under the water, its completely silent (except for my internal screams that is),and I have no idea which way is up, that I think,

"If I get out of this alive I'm NEVER doing this again!"

Hence the boogie boards....something to hang on to so at least I will float to the surface at some stage!

After all, this we still manage to stagger out of the water, bags of sand down the swimsuit and stuck in unusual crevices, and thank God we have made it through to see another day!

Next year we will be back doing the same thing.

 

It's so exhilarating riding the board into shore, usually falling off in a few inches of water!

Not very elegant, but great fun!

It's a bit like that in life don't you think?

 

Peaks and troughs, ups and downs?

We don't always know when the wave will hit, we just have to get through it, survive, and try to have some fun on the way :)

Here's to surviving!

picture: 'Peaks and Troughs',

mixed media on 300gsm paper ,

by Olivia Alexander, copyright2014

300x460mm unframed, unmounted, ready to frame.

I've recently arrived home after five weeks in Italy and France where I had been on a painting trip and also to attend some award ceremonies where I was awarded two Diplomas recognizing my work as a professional visual artist. 

Societie Arts, Sciences, Lettres - Paris.

On June 14th I was honoured with a Pewter Medal and Diploma from the ASL Society.

Last year I was nominated for the award by my sponsor in France and was approved by the jury of the ASL. This is my second award from the ASL, the first being a Bronze Medal and Diploma two years ago. It will be another five years before I can be nominated again, which will be for the Silver Medal.   It was a spectacular night taking place in the Intercontinental Grand Hotel in Paris, just near the Opera. This breath -taking hotel was built for Napoleon III. The grand circular room, in which the ceremony took place, had floor to ceiling mirrors, chandeliers and pillars coated with 18 carat gold gilding. It had just been redecorated at the cost of 3 million euro.   I was the only Australian to receive an award and when I was called to the platform, my husband let out a roar of 'Aussie!' The room erupted in applause and I don't think it had ever hear anything like it before, lol!   There were many awards presented including Medals to surgeons, writers, musicians and other artists like myself.   We then had a great evening enjoying a spectacular dinner at the hotel with the opportunity to meet many people from around the world.  

International French Academy of Merit and Devotion

On Sunday 15 June we were back at the Intercontinental Grand Hotel where I was presented with a second award. A Silver Medal and Diploma from the International French Academy of Merit and Devotion. Like the ASL, this academy takes into account the whole career of the artist, writer or other professional and, once again, the candidate has to be nominated. The jury then studies the career of the entrant and decides on the award level.   I was very privileged to be given the award in a private ceremony as I was unable to make the presentation last December.   Mr. JP deBernis, President of the Academy, presented me with the award giving me several hours of his time to take photos of the group through out this amazing hotel.   I'll share more with you about the week of painting in Italy in San Meniao. That was amazing! Painting on the beach in the warm summer sun with 15 other artists from around the world! stay tunes for that blog coming soon. thanks for reading, Olivia  

 

 

About the Artist