Hey everyone!  For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Allison. I am currently a senior in college finishing up my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in 2D artwork.

Ever since I was a freshman just starting in the art program at UW-Stevens Point I have been watching seniors year after year create all this beautiful artwork and put it in the gallery. Finally, its my turn!  This year has been stressful to say the least, but so worth it. I wont recap my entire experience, because that is for another post, but I will say I have accomplished more this semester than I thought I was capable of. I saw my art reach new heights, and I found a drive to succeed in myself I didn’t know existed.

The thesis for my show says that I think.

I have been absorbed by the thought that who I am is formed by the influences of people and moments in my life.  I am particularly interested in the people who have made a positive influence on my journey, and the way they make me feel.  I want to use my art to discover who has truly impacted me as a person and who has encouraged me as an artist.

Oil paintings are my most common form of art work.  When I apply the pigments to the canvas I use very small amounts of paint with a lot of paint thinner.  This helps me to layer the colors to create visual depth in my paintings, especially in the background.  I use a wide variety of color in my paintings and do not limit my color palette.

Because of my fascination, I have been working on painting portraits of the people who I believe have held a significant role in my life.  The figures in my work are painted to seem more realistic, while the backgrounds remain fields of color with mood and memory being the focus.  I chose portraits because I feel that portraits have held a significant role in history.  People have been painting portraits long before photography was invented.  Taking the time to capture someones image in paint means that they are important in some way.  I feel the time I spend creating these pieces is just as important as the time I spend with the people.

Check out the work from the show here!