Graphic Designer | Illustrator | Artist
It’s no doubt at all that Summer and Fall are my favorite seasons! I love to get outside, go to the beach, attend farmers markets, and am inspired by the activities of the season. Theres nothing better than snacking on a ripe watermelon, or cracking open a coconut or pineapple. The latest series of illustrations and hand lettering combines the best of all of these into adorable art pieces ripe for hanging. They will be available soon in my Etsy shop!
I’ll never forget the laughter and look of shock and horror that my design professor gave me as she said these words to me:
“Oh honey, you can’t be both! You need to choose!”
This was during my senior thesis critique, which encompasses design and photography on the topic of “Typography and Circus Posters”.
I started photography before I went to finish my degree in graphic design. I didn’t actually fall in love with it until my senior year of college while working with clients and comparing artistic shoots. I also worked as a second shooter for my friend who did weddings, dreaming of being a lead some day.
I also love art and design, from drawing and painting, to digital art and lettering and traditional design work. Not all aspects of being a designer in the corporate world are glamorous, a lot of it is editing other people’s files, copy and pasting, using templates, using stock illustration and photography instead of making your own, and just a touch of being able to put your own spin on things. It’s wonderful to be able to work with a team of like-minded and career driven people though, something I have yet to find in a company job. As a freelance designer I have found joy in my job, collaboration, and thriving off of our team. I do honestly love my career path when I get to work creatively and utilize my illustration and design skills! When I work on an illustration project, it’s like time flies. I’m consumed in ideas, creativity, and my passion drives me to work harder!
Then there’s my growing wedding photography and calligraphy business: I photograph weddings, engagements, dancers (did I mention I do that too!?) and artistic portraits. I also address envelopes, design invitations and write out wedding signage, escort cards, place cards, etc. as a hand lettering designer and calligrapher, and I’m growing and becoming more successful for every year that goes by!
I think having multiple talents that harmoniously work together is a great thing! It gives plenty of options and offerings to clients and employers alike. Bringing someone down by mocking their dreams and ambitions is not a healthy way to educate. I always tell people they can be anything they want, it’s never too late and no dream is too big!
This comes from the designer/ illustrator/ artists / dancer/ photographer/ calligrapher herself!
Cheers to creating!
And keep dreaming BIG!
Alicia
Even though I work full time as a designer, try to stay active, and am building a photography business, I have been wanting to get back into painting both watercolor and acrylic for quite some time. My friend had mentioned she wanted to get a camera shutter tattoo with some floral designs but couldn’t find anything to reference to show me. An couple ideas came to me so I decided to paint out both of them starting with this one. Here’s the process:
Line work
Cross hatching shading:
Instagram picture!!: (follow me @aliciaannart)!
First washes in the petals:
Hopefully I’ll be finishing this up tonight! The final print will be available in my Etsy shop as well!
Alicia
For anyone (like all of us starving artists here!) who don’t have a ton of cash to spend this season, and spend a lot of time stressing over what to get your family and friends for the holidays….don’t!
Crafty-ness to the rescue! There are a TON of great things you can make for your loved ones that will be meaningful, come from the heart and won’t break the bank.
Here’s how:
2. It’s all about family! This is the season where you will see family and friends, eat lot of food, drink lots of wine, and be merry, not worry about your budget and if they will be disappointed if you don’t buy a gift. You can create perfect gifts for family, ABOUT family. Last year I made mini albums for my step-mom, Mémère, and sister of all of my nephews birthday photos for a whopping total of $18. Three people covered for $18! Win!
3. What would they enjoy? Maybe they aren’t enjoyers of any particular hobby or have any crazy passions (as a dancer, I get little ballerinas all the time, I’m easy to buy for!) but what would they enjoy? I did little mini paintings for my mom and sister last year of owls. Are they obsessed with owls like me? Nope, but they loved them anyway.
4. What are YOU good at? This is the perfect time to put your crafty skills to work, and if you don’t have one the perfect time to learn! Maybe you’ve always wanted to take up knitting, painting, calligraphy or floral decoration. Learn something new, and apply it to gifts that will be treasured because they were made with care and not bought. My Aunt even makes me amazing hand kit scarves, mittens and leg warmers every year!
And finally, remember no matter what, your family and friends will still love you if you don’t come down the chimney with a sack full of gifts. Use this time to expand your horizons, learn something new, and see their faces light up when you give them something handmade.
This years gift to my barista friend!
A custom painting for my airplane loving nephew
Happy crafting!
Alicia
Hello!! This is my first blog post about my art, so let me introduce myself! My name is Alicia, and I am an artist and photographer residing in beautiful Rhode Island. Much of my art is inspired by nature, it’s animal inhabitants and the ocean. Growing up minutes from the beach, it was always a huge influence and way of relaxing when I was stressed.
Art, to myself and many others, is about encouraging emotion. Step outside and take a look around you….no, really, look! What do you see and hear? The sound of birds, the crashing of the waves, the wind through the trees, people passing by, each one with a unique and hidden story to tell. This is what ignites my passion for art and creating!
I started drawing and painting as a child, and my love of photography grew from that while in school. My work is inspired by nature, wildlife, tranquility, and artistic expression of dance and yoga. I create because I want to share all of these things that inspire me, with other people. When someone looks at my work, I want them to feel like they are there, surrounded by natures beauty. We spend too much time indoors stuck in offices, and I create to break free from that!
So embrace it! Captivate your senses, feel that ocean breeze, look for that owl high in the tree, feel the tranquility of lakeside yoga. Because life is a journey, too beautiful to miss.
And that is what I hope to bring to my viewers with my art!
Alicia
Alicia Heaney 