We recently connected with Alexander Peters and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexander , thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success is such a complex word that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Particularly in the world of art, success is often equated to an abundance of sales. However, as a creator and working artist, I find more fulfillment in the process and journey of bringing a piece to fruition from a blank canvas. The lessons I learn within the process and the “ah-ha” moments could equal success. That magical feeling when the work finds balance and there’s a sense of completion, that is the greatest reward an artist could ask for. Someone else finding equal value in said work and the desire to acquire it, comes secondary.

Alexander , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a newcomer to painting and I have spent the last several years cultivating my style and craft in this artistic medium. Concurrently, I am also a principal dancer for Miami City Ballet and I have identified as a dancer for the majority of my life.

I am primarily inspired by color and the materials at hand. Working from my bedroom studio in Miami Beach, the first and last things I see each day are the works-in-progress. With an insatiable need to paint almost every day, these works develop over the weeks and months, by creating shapes, forms and textures with each new layer of paint. Abstract landscapes seem to inadvertently emerge from the canvases, however there is no specific point of reference other than the intuitive actions and choices that the brushes make in the process of creation. I prefer to paint standing up with music playing; traversing the room to change my vantage point and seek different perspectives for inspiration. You could say that my process is sort of like a guided improvisational dance session— I begin with a single stroke and then riff off of that idea. It’s all very intuitive and in the moment.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Self doubt is one of the largest hurdles I’ve had to overcome in my journey. It can be frustrating, but the process of creating is not linear. For every “showstopper” that comes forth, there’s a series of failures that lay in its wake. However, without all that experience behind me, the piece would have never found it’s way to come to be. It can be difficult and the saying is cliche, but “trust the process”.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In light of all the pieces I’ve made that would be considered failures, it’s has remained paramount that I continue forward. The road blocks are just complications to be solved and resolved. The greatest reward when tackling them is seeing where I’ve emerged on the other side. I am always better for keeping at it, even when it feels like a lost cause.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexanderpeterspainting.godaddysites.com/
• Instagram: @a.Peters.painting
• Other: https://visugallery.com/artists/35-alexander-peters/works/?fbclid=PAAaYF0FgN00Nyz7gjzTt_CX5rymZOOnCDq4u0zJ4bulOjCPmIB-Sc854jAj0

Image Credits
Blake Pearson