Meet Alanna Peters | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alanna Peters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alanna, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is something I feel we use now to describe our struggle at finding harmony in our lives. I don’t actually believe that there is a work-life balance, but rather that it is all just your life and you make choices that fill you up or drain you. This harmony is also constantly evolving as life changes around you and presents new challenges and opportunities. I think that the way I try to find harmony is by making conscious choices to carve out time for certain things and doing my best to protect those times. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but when you make the choices to make things happen, they will happen. As an artist entrepreneur and mother of three, I’ve learnt to embrasse the fact that you can’t always juggle everything at the same time. Sometimes you need to drop some of it knowing that you can come back to pick it up later on. This fluid juggling is how I think of embracing a level of flexibility to weather the challenges as they arise. This means I have a plan and goals, but am willing and able to take new opportunities as they arise and adjust my plan as needed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I explore the interaction between abstract qualities of the environment and the detailed realism of the figure. Inspired by the idea of impermanence, I strive to freeze fleeting moments and create stillness within the constant change and noise of life. My work reminds the viewer of the importance of being present, to find peace in the chaos.

My work often incorporates the female form in water. I use oil paint on aluminum panels, with a focus on light and movement and the ways in which these elements distort and interact with the human body. I am fascinated with the figure and the shared beauty of our humanity. My paintings are about the human connection, to each other and to the world around us.

My artistic career has been one forged by myself through trying to improve my artistic voice and ability, as well as, looking for opportunities to exhibit and establish relationships with galleries and clients. Painting is a constant learning experience where I can see how I grow and this motivates me to discover new horizons. The business side of painting is something I am also constantly learning, which though motivating, can also be overwhelming at times. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into running the business side and as one person it can sometimes means very long to do lists and stress to get it all done. To overcome these challenges I try to break things into smaller chunks and prioritize what needs to happen first rather than looking at everything that needs to get done.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned and am still learning is to ask for help. I have a habit of trying to do it all myself and you really can’t do it all. So trying to ask for help and also seeking others opinions.

If there is one true hope I have for my art it is that it speaks to someone else on an intimate and profound level. That they are inspired by my work and want to have it share their living space and be part of their lives. If what I paint can touch someone else then I feel I have succeeded.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When people come to visit there are so many places we like to go. Especially since most people that visit us come from far. I’m Canadian and my husband is from France, so we really want to take people into the mountains and out to see the beauty of Colorado. We really love going out into nature in all seasons and exploring the incredible scenery all around. I would definitely take guests to discover the different Hot Springs around Denver. I often walk in City Park or go to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. If we are just hanging out close to home I like to hang around my Park Hill neighborhood. I am big on being able to walk to places, so just around the corner from us is Honey Hill Cafe, Cherry Tomato Restaurant, Long Table Brewhouse, Sexy Pizza and Em’s ice cream. These are regulars on our list. We are also still discovering so many places that Denver has to offer and often on weekends try to do an adventure to somewhere new.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the wonderful things about being an artist is you are able to establish a network of other artists that support, encourage and share resources. As art is unique to the one that creates it, there really is no direct need to compete. There is a market for all art, as it will all depend on the viewer and their taste. Many artists admire each other’s work without the need for competition. The benefits of social media is that you can establish this community across country borders and discover work from all over the world. I truly value my community of artist that I have met through exhibitions, art fairs and online.

Another incredible group of people that support, encourage and help my work grow is my family. I love my children’s direct honesty, their unbiased critiques and ability analyze what needs to change in a painting. Though they don’t always want to be dragged to art fairs and exhibitions they show they are proud of what I do.

Website: https://www.alannapeters.com

Instagram: @alanna_peters

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlannaPetersArt