UO Interviews: Alice Straker @alicestrakerart
Alice Straker, is a recent London based artist to drop her work at UO. As part of East London Prints, Alice’s colourful paintings and prints are the exact playful, bold and mood lifting creations we need on our walls right now. To celebrate her designs launching on site we caught up with Alice to discuss her art journey, creative process and best advice she’s been given.
Where did your art and design journey begin and what inspires you to create?
My journey began after an encounter with a slice of raspberry meringue cake at La Colombe d’Or in 2014 – it was so beautiful that I felt compelled to express it beyond words. I got home, picked up a paintbrush and a box of paints, and so it began! I started painting full time a few years later as the result of a mental breakdown; I left London and my job in advertising and came home to recover – I painted every day, it became a source of healing and was the silver lining that carried me through the darkness. My inspiration comes from my families love of food, my mother and twin brother are both chefs. At the start I was enchanted by sweet things; lemon meringue pies, jellies, parfaits - but over time I delved into all sorts of foods. Most recently I have been painting savoury dishes – steaming pots of mussels, shellfish and then delicious vegetables such as mushrooms and artichokes. There’s always something sweet on my easel though, usually an ice cream or chocolate éclair! I am hugely influenced by Art History which I studied for 3 years at Bristol University. I am regularly visiting galleries and absorbing art, which inspires and challenges me to paint and progress. My other source of inspiration is colour theory – I’m always considering the colours and how they relate to one another.
Tell us about the creative process behind your prints… I start with an idea for a series or an idea that I want to explore, for example looking at food from the perspective of the camera or creating three dimensional textures to make the work appear completely edible. I will then choose my subjects and find images including real life examples and set up still lifes in the studio. I will then do a series of sketches, figuring out the colour palette and composition before starting on canvas. When the painting is complete, I photograph it and then create prints. I like to experiment with different coloured backgrounds in the edit to find unexpected colour combinations.
My journey began after an encounter with a slice of raspberry meringue cake at La Colombe d’Or in 2014 – it was so beautiful that I felt compelled to express it beyond words. I got home, picked up a paintbrush and a box of paints, and so it began! I started painting full time a few years later as the result of a mental breakdown; I left London and my job in advertising and came home to recover – I painted every day, it became a source of healing and was the silver lining that carried me through the darkness. My inspiration comes from my families love of food, my mother and twin brother are both chefs. At the start I was enchanted by sweet things; lemon meringue pies, jellies, parfaits - but over time I delved into all sorts of foods. Most recently I have been painting savoury dishes – steaming pots of mussels, shellfish and then delicious vegetables such as mushrooms and artichokes. There’s always something sweet on my easel though, usually an ice cream or chocolate éclair! I am hugely influenced by Art History which I studied for 3 years at Bristol University. I am regularly visiting galleries and absorbing art, which inspires and challenges me to paint and progress. My other source of inspiration is colour theory – I’m always considering the colours and how they relate to one another.
Tell us about the creative process behind your prints… I start with an idea for a series or an idea that I want to explore, for example looking at food from the perspective of the camera or creating three dimensional textures to make the work appear completely edible. I will then choose my subjects and find images including real life examples and set up still lifes in the studio. I will then do a series of sketches, figuring out the colour palette and composition before starting on canvas. When the painting is complete, I photograph it and then create prints. I like to experiment with different coloured backgrounds in the edit to find unexpected colour combinations.
How do you know when a piece is done?
I was told by a great artist friend that the feeling of a completed painting is very guttural, you just know, rather like falling in love. I do think you have to trust yourself and sometimes admit when you’ve taken it too far! Less is sometimes more.
Sum up your artistic style in 3 words... Bright, bold and edible.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
David Hockney said that ‘every brushstroke has an energy’ - which makes me consider mark making and the importance of every stroke.
Which emerging artists or artworks should we check out?
Helen Beard and Jack Penny.
I was told by a great artist friend that the feeling of a completed painting is very guttural, you just know, rather like falling in love. I do think you have to trust yourself and sometimes admit when you’ve taken it too far! Less is sometimes more.
Sum up your artistic style in 3 words... Bright, bold and edible.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
David Hockney said that ‘every brushstroke has an energy’ - which makes me consider mark making and the importance of every stroke.
Which emerging artists or artworks should we check out?
Helen Beard and Jack Penny.