Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexander Brewington. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alexander, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Ever since I was a kid, I had the desire to be a storyteller. It was something I picked up from my mom and dad. From my earliest memories, I was captivated by the many facets of the human condition, drawn to the idea that our shared experiences and narratives held the power to unite us more than they could separate us. As a youngster, I lost many days to the timeless classic, “The Lion King,” It was a film that certainly enchanted my imagination, but I didn’t understand the real magic of that film until I got a peek behind the curtain. When I was a bit older I stumbled upon the anniversary special that showed the complete creative process behind the iconic film. It was a revelation, a turning point in my life. Witnessing the passionate collaboration of artists, writers, and visionaries coming together to craft a masterpiece filled me with awe and inspiration. In that singular moment, I realized that being a storyteller and an artist was not just a distant dream; it was tangible, it was something that I could really achieve.
Although “The Lion King” was, in essence, just a movie, it showed me the profound importance of arts and culture in our society. It emphasized how creatives and their art have the power to shape our perceptions, touch our hearts, and teach us about ourselves. From that moment onward, I made an almost immediate commitment to pursue this passion full steam ahead. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could stop me from dedicating myself to this path. I just wasn’t sure at the time what that was going to look like.
Alexander, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My artistic journey as a painter started during my high school years, little did I know, that laid the foundation for the creative path I walk now. In high school I received a lot of confidence that I could have a future in art, thanks to my incredibly perceptive and encouraging art teacher. She saw something in me that I was unaware of, she saw the potential that under the right circumstances I could flourish and evolve into something special. She even suggested that I could pursue a major in Fine Arts in college. Yet, as a seventeen-year-old dealing with so much uncertainty and pressure to make a decision for my future, I couldn’t envision a viable career in Fine Arts. Instead, I charted a course toward what I believed to be the “safe creative option” – the world of graphic design. With youthful enthusiasm, I embarked on this path, only to swiftly discover that graphic design did not align with what I wanted for myself. So for my first few years of college I experimented with so many different mediums. From trying my hand at pen and ink, charcoal, digital art, 3D modeling, printmaking and beyond, it wasn’t until I took an elective oil painting class my sophomore year that reignited my love for painting, when I did, I knew I found my home. It wasn’t so much that I had suddenly chosen painting, it had always chosen me, I just needed to see that.
For me, the heart of painting lies in the relentless pursuit of mastery. The long tradition of oil painting has a rich history that spans centuries, a vast treasure trove of knowledge passed down by artistic giants who have graced the canvas. Drawing from this deep well can be a daunting task, yet this is precisely what I love most in my artistic practice, you never stop learning. No matter how far you climb up that painting mountain, the peak always rises with you.
I find joy in uncovering unique ways to pull from the many archives of art history, whether through their choice of color schemes, the composition of each piece, the varying types of mark-making, and a myriad of other factors that go into making a painting. It’s a balancing act that marries the techniques and ideas of the past with the moment we’re living in now. In my journey as an artist, particularly during my MFA Thesis show, artists such as Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, and Eugène Delacroix were heavy inspirations for my thesis. Yet the subject matter alluded to the events of the pandemic, the riots in 2020 and my own personal experiences. This is the essence of what sets my practice apart, carving out a space for contemporary tales to be told through the lens of painting tradition.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
After graduating from undergrad, I found myself standing at the crossroads of uncertainty. No job awaited me, and I had to leave the vibrant streets of New York behind, retreating to the quiet suburbs of Maryland. Armed with ambition but lacking the necessary tools, knowledge, and experience to kickstart my career as an artist, I had quite the task ahead of me. In my heart, I knew that the path to my artistic aspirations would only come to fruition if I went to graduate school, pursuing an MFA. I believed it was the path to the knowledge and skills essential for a thriving career as a fine artist. The pull of New York, being the center of Art in America, instantly drew me back. In the first year after my undergrad, I started a journey that would test my resilience and determination. I applied to half a dozen different MFA programs, each one carrying the weight of my dreams, only to face rejection from every single one.
In the midst of these challenges, a glimmer of hope emerged from an unexpected source. A company I had long admired, one that I even toured with during my senior year of undergrad, reached out to a former professor of mine inquiring about hiring me. An alumnus of my school’s art department conducted the interview, making me feel like the perfect fit for their team. With determination, I meticulously assembled a stellar portfolio and diligently tackled every task they assigned. I could already envision myself working alongside their talented team who shared their plans and expectations with me. But, despite the promising beginnings, I received no further communication, leaving me in a state of limbo.
To compound the hardships I had endured, just two months later, March of 2020 ushered in a global pandemic that reshaped our lives in ways we could never have foreseen. I found myself trapped in my hometown, with the future shrouded in uncertainty. During this turbulent period, the most valuable piece of advice I received was to keep painting, to hone my craft, that this challenging era was temporary. The question I needed to answer was, where did I want to be when the storm had passed? In a small storage room at my parents’ house, amidst all of the doubt and uncertainty in the air, I painted diligently for two years.
Then, in the year 2021, I decided to take another shot at pursuing my MFA dreams. This time around, I had not only created a body of work that showcased my growth but had also gained wisdom from the trials of the previous two years. The acceptance into the MFA program felt like a hard-earned victory, sweetened by the challenges I had overcome. It was a pivotal moment that set me firmly on the path I walk today, steering my artistic journey towards a future full of possibilities.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In our society, the profound importance of art and culture often eludes us, hidden beneath the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Yet, it’s essential that we recognize the impact they have. In truth, art serves as a powerful bridge that has the ability to connect and foster a deeper understanding with one another. Art, in its various forms, acts as a mirror, one which skilled artists use to reflect the society we inhabit. While some may argue that the objective of art is to shatter this metaphorical mirror, I hold a different belief. I am of the belief that art’s true potential lies in its ability to illuminate the common truths that bind us together. Through the lens of art, we have the capacity to shift our perspective and to reshape the way we perceive the world. It possesses the inherent power to compel individuals to pause and consider the aspects of life that often slip through the cracks of what often feels like a never-ending rat race.
For me, the most important action we can take is to find ways to actively support the arts. This support can start from attending a friend’s art show, seeing their play, going to their open mic night, or watching their short film. It involves the act of engaging, of participating in the movement even if one does not create art themselves. By taking on various forms of involvement, whether large or small, we contribute to creating an ecosystem that is not only safe but also inherently supportive.
Contact Info:
- Website: Xanderworks.com
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