Just Draw Something

While there are many subject matters that I find interesting, I return again and again to topics involving people – the body language of dancers, children playing, captured moments, or a thoughtful expression captured by a camera. I find it fascinating to capture a person’s expression, and in some ways their thoughts and personality, to tell a story that is unique to each subject.

My favorite subjects are those candid, unplanned ones that capture a moment, a feeling or expression. It is my goal to move each viewer in a little closer to understand the story and fill in the missing pieces for themselves. That engagement makes us look at a painting over and over again, and that is my goal. 

About Alaina

I have been drawing and painting since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I guess it has always been a part of who I am as a person. But in this new phase of my career, art is more than a hobby for me. It is a driving force that pushes me to find my voice and put that down on paper. I think about the purpose of each piece and now find myself showing those to others to see if the message got through.

The Turning Point

Almost every artist has a turning point when something shifted and they got serious, found their medium, and discovered their voice. For me, it was a point in my life when I was questioning my career. Did it still bring me joy? Was it time for a change? And if so, to what?

It was during this personal chaos that my lifelong best friend said, “Just draw something and you’ll figure it out.” I hadn’t drawn anything for myself in a while and my creative juices were feeling a bit burned out. Nevertheless, I picked up a sketchbook and started drawing. I rediscovered pastels with a new sense of purpose. The game-changer for me was discovering artist Alain Picard and the online community of artists from around the world he has brought together to critique and encourage each other as we all strive for that next goal. 

“Just draw something.”