We were lucky to catch up with Alisa H. Workman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alisa H., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I’ve always loved art and creating, but I was never encouraged to follow that passion. Instead, I went to college and studied geology with the hope of earning a Masters in crystallography, but all of that changed. After graduation, I married, started a family, and found a job in bioacoustics.

In my free time, I developed a passion for flower gardening … planting and nurturing wild swaths of color to liven our large back yard. I spent every spring, summer, and fall planting and playing in the garden. I loved this so much that I began doing plantings and other installations for a handful of friends. As my love of gardening evolved, I began to create garden accessories … painting and tiling terra cotta pots and birdbaths … and that became my new obsession.

My life took another turn when, after 15 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I took a job as an assistant in a preschool class at an independent school. I still spent time in the garden during those summers, but there was no time for the creating that I once had. In time, that assistant position grew to a lead teacher assignment teaching art to preschoolers. In that new world, I drew inspiration from reading and exposing the children to things that I was interested in…nature and art. I loved what I was doing, but I still had that desire to create … to create something that was all mine and that I could be proud of.

In 2015, 43 years after I graduated from high school, I bought a book that I hoped would guide me as I struggled to learn to paint. I tried the simple lessons, but was discouraged by the results. I continued to work at it without enthusiasm, without inspiration or reward.

Then, in 2016, tragedy hit my family. My sister, who had been caregiver to my mother, took her life and a week later, my mother died. My life was turned upside down, and I put painting on hold.

2017 came, and I was excited because I had signed up for a three-day painting workshop. There I met a wonderful group of women who were seasoned artists as well as those who were beginners as I was. I don’t know how much I learned, but exposure to this enthusiastic and varied group firmly planted a feeling that painting was something that I actually could do.

A month after this workshop, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and things began to tumble out of control again. It was then that I found that painting could be my safe place, a place to relax, a place to pour out my feelings, and a place that was all mine. I became more confident in what I was doing, and I was happy creating art.

My journey has been a long one. Would I wish to have begun earlier? If I had, would I have had all of those experiences to draw from? Would my art be what it is today? I don’t think so. What I paint today, how I paint today are shaped by who I am today, shaped and sharpened by who I’ve been. Had I started painting earlier, I wouldn’t now be who I am, and I’m happy with who I’ve become … I’m happy that I’m in an older, comfortable and creative place in life. I learn every day and I’m excited to find all that may lie ahead.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

It’s taken me a long time to get to where I was supposed to be; but three things are true: I’ve had a love of flowers all my life, I love color, and I have always loved creating. My love of flowers started at an early age. I can remember pulling off the flower heads of the marigolds in my grandmother’s garden. It’s been flower love ever since.

Since I’ve always loved flowers, when I decided I wanted to learn how to paint that’s where I began. At 61 years old, I bought some canvases, paint, and a book. Over the next two years I put paint on canvases. My flowers didn’t really look very realistic so I tried just to paint something abstract because it looked so easy. Needless to say, it was anything but easy. I might have given up had I not met David Lorenz and Ronnie Doyal. They were artists in their own right, but ran a studio and photographed other people’s art. They helped me with the mechanics of painting … how to wire frames, what hardware to use, how to sign a print … they knew it all. They also had a small space that they turned into a gallery, and in 2017 that’s where I had my first exhibit in their Gallery Upstairs. Over the next three years, they provided space for me to exhibit my work and introduced me to the art community in Dayton, OH, and I painted and painted.

As I painted and showed my work, my confidence grew. I started applying to local shows and even looked to other venues to display my art … restaurants, libraries, hospitals, and boutiques. Through the artist community in Dayton, I learned that everyone was willing to help. Artist Mikee Huber, did an on-line interview with me during the early days of the pandemic in 2020. Mike Elsass, a nationally known local artist, gave me time to paint with him in his studio and filled me with energy and an excitement to paint. Artist Lori Daugherty was there to answer questions and give encouragement when I needed it. Local gallery/business owner, Laura Pribish, began showing my work and gave me a permanent place on the walls of her gallery. I even carved out a relationship with Murals Your Way, an on-line company where 17 of my paintings can be made into murals for walls in your home.

All of this hasn’t come without hard work and lots of time. I realized that to grow I had to paint and paint often, I had to find my style, and I had to produce a piece of art that someone would be proud to have in their home. The quality of the materials used and the physical presentation of the art are as important as the image.

My style has been described as “lightly abstract florals”. I never was able to translate my paintings into realistic captures, but I’ve found that wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to do. I wanted to create a beautiful piece that I would be happy with, a piece that would bring someone joy. That simply is why I paint … to bring joy to someone … it’s that simple.

My website, AH Workman Art ( https://www.ahworkmanart.com ), showcases the paintings that I have created. I’m proud to say that through hard work my paintings can now be found in four galleries, Dayton Art Solutions and Edward A. Dixon Gallery in Dayton, OH, Hayley Gallery in New Albany, OH, and Karen Anderer Fine Art in Lancaster, PA.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As an artist, you have to be able to take criticism. That criticism can beat you down especially if you are early in your career and don’t have the confidence to believe in yourself.

I remember stepping inside a large, well-known gallery. At that time, I was only showing work in a small gallery. I was interested in seeing the work of artists on display within this larger gallery in the hope of applying to see if they would take me on as an artist. I spoke with the owner at length and was told that because I had a full time job, I couldn’t possibly be an artist. It didn’t hit me at first, I left feeling pretty good about myself, but as I drove home I became angry. How could anyone think that painting was just a hobby for me? Did they not see how passionate I was? Those feelings I was having were enough of a fire starter to help me complete a painting that I couldn’t move forward on and gave me a great title for it too. It also reminded me that I paint for myself. While I hope others will love the art I create, that is where I express myself and pour out my feelings. My art is a reflection of who I am.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’ve had to work to create a social media presence. The best advice that I can give is to be there daily and interact with others. I try to schedule an hour a day. In the morning before I head off to teach art to preschoolers, I have set aside time to post and then spend time looking at other creative’s work. I try to comment on other’s work and always reply to any comments that were made on my posts. That interaction helps build a rapport and in turn a strong following. I have to remind myself that a large following doesn’t always mean lots of sales, but it’s a contact point. One contact here leads to another one and another. Eventually, you’ll find someone who is interested in representing you or in buying a piece of art that speaks to them. It’s also a great way to find others that have the same interests as you. Sometimes those connections can lead to friendship, education, and collaboration.

One other piece of advice that I believe is valuable is that you need to have a story to tell. There needs to be a personal side to what you’re doing. That occasional photo of you doing everyday things is fine, but if you are an artist, I want to see your work. Therefore, there needs to be a good balance between the two. Remember it’s about the art, but you’re a person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ahworkmanart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahworkman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AHWorkmanArt

Image Credits

Alisa H. Workman