We recently connected with COURTNEY ALAN ROSSY and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, COURTNEY thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’ve always been interested in art, creativity and what drives creative people. Being creative and making art is a necessity for me and needs to be a part of my daily life. I have always known that I could not work a job that didn’t encourage creativity. As an art educator, I get to use my creative thinking daily and guide students to use theirs in both studio art and art history. Before changing careers, I worked in marketing in the magazine publishing industry. While the job was fun and allowed me to meet great people, travel and learn about event planning and promotional design, my passion for art and making art was not fulfilled. I tried to keep up an art making practice outside of work but it wasn’t meaningful. Now, as an art educator, being surrounded by creative thought and the art world, I find my own art practice is nourished. I paint daily and am constantly learning and growing creatively. Because of that, I am very happy being an artist and creative and could not imagine a different path.

COURTNEY, 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?

I was born in NY and received a BA from Boston College with a double major in Studio Art and Communications, focusing on visual communication and design. I started college as a psychology major wanting to study creativity with Dr. Ellen Winner but couldn’t get into the classes. I then started taking advertising and drawing/painting classes and figured I could go into graphic design. I took so many studio art classes that I ended up switching to a double major. After graduation, I began working in marketing and design in the magazine publishing industry where I worked with the Art Director and Marketing Director on events and promotions. After a few years, I realized I needed more hands on creative work so I pursued a Masters in Art and Art Education at Teachers College at Columbia University.

I have been teaching Art and Art History for over a decade, encouraging young artists to develop creative problem solving skills and find their voice through art making. This aspect of teaching has allowed me to share my love of art, creative research and the importance of participating in the world beyond what they know. It has been wonderful helping students start careers in art through partnerships with local museums and arts organizations. Years after, I have gotten to study with Dr. Winner and her partner Dr. Howard Gardner while teaching through her work with Project Zero.

I currently live and create out of my home painting studio in Bedford, NY. My studio practice focuses on exploring concepts that connect humans and the natural world. A love of materiality and learning from art historical traditions inform my expressive color use and direct application of paint. My current body of work investigates memory and perception through colorful abstract paintings. I am inspired by an inclination to connect with light in nature and the dynamic interactions of colors and life-bearing forms. Through layers of paint, texture and movement, I explore parallels between life experiences and the feeling of being immersed in nature. My visual vocabulary echoes feminine curves and flora inviting the viewer to approach the canvas where they are.

A few years ago, I started showing my art locally in New York during the height of the pandemic and have been showing regularly to stay involved in the local art scene. I decided I wanted to be properly involved in the artist community and began participating in group shows, residencies and publications. I recently have a solo show “What It Leaves” up in Cross River, NY at Yellow Studio Gallery and am excited to continue to grow as an artist and challenge myself.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

First and foremost, my goal is to be authentic in my own artistic journey. With the amount of stimuli from social media and technology, it seems hard for people to stay true to their own vision. I want to continue to make original art with my unique visual vocabulary that inspires viewers to look deeply and actively participate. It is important in today’s world to make time to slow down and explore. I’d like my work to be a place for people to explore their connections to the world. Beyond that, I want my work to encourage viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the natural world and consider their role in creating a more harmonious and sustainable future.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society can support artists by valuing their contributions. Throughout history, artists and creatives have provided valuable records of the circumstances of the world we live in through their art. It has also been proven that arts education has multiple benefits in a child’s education such as development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and innovation. We need to continue advocacy for arts education in schools so programs are not cutting funding.

Recently, I have noticed an increase of artists supporting artists and encouraging growth among individuals through building communities, crit groups, collectives and artist run galleries that are helping make the art world more inclusive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.courtneyalan.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/process.sketchbook

Image Credits
Install Photographer – Kelly Schwark Headshot Photographer – Aiko Austin