ABOUT ME

Alison McIntosh prentice

Artist

I live in Kirkwall, which is located on the beautiful Orkney Islands and I am constantly inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds me. Currently, I work with Gesso on various surfaces such as canvas, board and wood as this medium offers endless possibilities for creative expression. Having had the privilege of travelling worldwide, I have developed a keen interest in interpreting everyday observations and emotions through my artwork. I am passionate about the creative process, from the initial idea to its transformation into a finished piece of art on paper, board, or canvas. I keep a constant record of my ideas in notebooks and sketchbooks, and I always have a stream of new ideas waiting to be explored.

I have travelled to various places to find inspiration for my artwork including Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Vienna, Vietnam, New York, Paris, and St. Petersburg. One of the most significant experiences I had was visiting Cezanne's studio in Aix en Provence. Seeing the little plaster cherub bust and items from his paintings reminded me to paint what is around me and to stay true to my own experiences. As a tactile person, I touched Cezanne's coat hanging on a peg, and it made me feel connected to greatness. Another profound artistic awakening I had was while visiting the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Even though Picasso wasn't one of my favourite artists, seeing the progression in his work and the scribbled early drawings was truly inspirational. It has also encouraged me to experiment more and paint from the heart. I am aware of the misogyny associated with Picasso, but during those times, many male artists I admire were also guilty of the same. Therefore, I am educating myself on female artists of that time such as Berthe Morisot, and the work of Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's wife. Her work inspired me to try gesso works as I researched the history of this process. Charles Rennie Mackintosh is also a life-long inspiration of mine, most famously known for designing the Glasgow School of Art. I had the privilege of visiting this building many times before the devastating fires destroyed it. In April 2018, I even took a painting course with the GSA. Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona has also been a source of inspiration for me.