PaintersOnlineeditor’s choice
Meet this month’s editor’s choice winner from our PaintersOnline gallery
Alexandra Lavizzari is a Swiss writer and artist, now based in Somerset, having lived most of her adult life in various Asian countries and Italy. ‘Art has always been important to me,’ she writes. ‘I started by studying social anthropology, Arabic and Farsi and by working as an assistant curator in a Swiss museum specialising in non-European art.
‘During my years in Nepal I wrote a book about Tibetan art. But writing about art was not what I wanted to do all my life, so I began to write novels (in German) and also started to create my own art.
‘Here in Somerset I am lucky to have a studio at the end of my garden where I can work on different art projects simultaneously. I have taken a few courses to experiment with different styles and media but over the years I’ve found that soft pastels suit my artistic journey best. It is a medium that allows me both to loosen up and still be precise with details.
‘Being left-handed I tend to work on my pastel paper from top right to bottom left. I never use a grid or projector as I think it makes the creative process rather mechanical. I don’t want my paintings to look like photographs; my personal touch should always be visible.
‘For my recent still life, Vintage Paints – It’s All About Colour I chose some vintage paint tubes given to me by an old lady a few years ago when she stopped painting herself. There is something poignant and inspiring about these paint tubes. They tell a story of times gone by and, though used and stained, are still alive with a vibrant glow. I used Unison and Rembrandt pastels for a first layer and worked on shading details and the lettering with Caran d’Ache pastel pencils.
‘It was the first time I had attempted to render shiny metal. It was a challenge and caused some headaches, but I got the result I wanted in the end. I haven’t ventured out far from home with my art .... yet, but I exhibit and occasionally give pastel courses locally.’
To see more of Alexandra’s work go to www.lavizzari-art.com
To upload your own images to our online gallery, with an opportunity of being selected as the editor’s choice, visit www.painters-online.co.uk