Alicia Reid
What initially captured your imagination about the medium you use? Acrylic paints, mediums, and gels are my current obsession. Texture fascinates me and I’m attracted to the tactile qualities of glass bead gel, light moulding paste, soft gel gloss, and fiber paste.
What types of things inspire you to create art? Travel, hiking, and other outdoor experiences often influence my work. I strive to be open to inspiration from any source…the sky, a movie, poetry, dreams.
What life experiences have helped to shape you as an artist? As a former instrumental music educator, nature education coordinator, and geography instructor, I’m connected to the art I create through these experiences.
Tell us about your creative process, from the beginning of a typical piece to its completion. After the initial idea for a piece, I’ll create a series of sketches, each more detailed. Lately I’ve also relied on value sketches to emphasize my placement of lights and darks. I usually paint in those darkest areas first, then identify areas to apply texture and text as the painting builds.
What plans do you have for the future direction of your art? My current work is much more connected to reality than is typical for me. I’ve an idea for a series of abstract minimalist seascapes, and sequence of map-related collage pieces linked to some of my favorite novels over the years.
