We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alison Cuomo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alison below.

Alison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Because of my love of paper, I was an apprentice for a handmade papermaker, and I learned that if you want to learn something, you can find a way.

I was an artist’s assistant numerous times, and that taught me what it is like to be a committed, full-time, professional artist, and that it is a life you can aspire to.

From working as a textile designer for a weaving mill I learned, among other things, how businesses depend on their employees to show up and work every day, and that is how business gets done. I learned the importance of showing up and working with dedication.

I find that there is much more I would like to know, both in craft and in business, and I have to prioritize, because I cannot learn everything I want to learn in my lifetime.

Alison, 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 New York city based artist who works on paper. I received a BFA in painting from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. My work has been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions, in person and online over the years, and is in public and private collections in the States and abroad.

Luckily where I live I have easy access to nature, even though I live in New York city. I am continually inspired by the natural world, and seek to deepen my connection with it.

Painting exclusively on paper, I am always drawn to its receptivity and adaptability, and I paint on it when it is very wet. There is no going back with this technique, only forward, and I enjoy that about the process. I am crazy about color. I notice it in my daily life. then frequently come back to the studio to mix the color or color combinations I have just seen in nature.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There was a time when I got stuck in my artistic life, and no longer felt free while painting. I was torturing myself with the blank paper and couldn’t start. When I did start, I disliked my results. I was mired in unhappiness with what I was doing.

Finally, I tried a very old technique. I tried to remove myself as much as possible. By that I mean my ego. I tried to concentrate on the awe I feel for life, and most particularly the natural world, and on my love of the process of making art. In doing so, I came to realize that I don’t need to create anything, that everything is already here, and that my job is to be present. I am already full of images and sensations from my years of life, and don’t need to make anything new, just be aware of what’s here. And feel free to play.

It has been years since I made this shift. When I am painting now, I try to get into this state, and it’s deeply satisfying. I don’t always like everything I make, but that’s fine, too.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I was younger I was shy. Making artwork can be a solitary endeavor, and I didn’t understand how a community of other artists could be a resource that would help me to thrive.

As I have gotten older, I have pushed myself and learned how to meet people, and in fact, my fellow artists have made all the difference. We support one another in so many ways, by encouraging one another, by sharing opportunities, by trading thoughts and ideas, by giving each other technical help, and by being fellow tribe members.

Making artwork is something I do on my own, and I relish the time I spend that way, but I do it within a larger framework of knowing that I am not alone, that there are other people I greatly respect, working on their artwork and art businesses, and that we are connected. I am so grateful for my connections with other artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alisoncuomo.com
• Instagram: @alison_cuomo

Image Credits

Alison Cuomo