Today we’d like to introduce you to Alli Mcafee

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I feel rather fortunate that I was born into a family that encouraged my creative inclinations from a young age. My Nana and aunts supplied me with endless inspiration through old movies, books, and imaginative play while my parents gave me the gift of exploring almost every medium I ever expressed a desire to work with.

I also feel fortunate that I had a high school art teacher who pushed me outside my comfort zone – which led to me discovering my love for watercolor – lots of friends who encouraged me to start painting again after an extended hiatus, other artists who lovingly accepted me into the community, and of course all of the collectors who supported my work when I finally did put myself out there.

I owe so much of my success to the overwhelming love and support I’ve received.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

This journey has definitely been a tough, but extremely rewarding one. One of the biggest challenges was learning to navigate ever-changing, ravenous social media algorithms. Posting on social media has become a much larger part of my work than I ever thought it would be and it can be frustrating when I’d rather be spending my time painting. But the way it has connected me to collectors, other artists, and opportunities outside of my local community makes all of the work worth it.

Of course, like any creative, my recurring struggle is with self-doubt and trying not to let extrinsic factors affect my confidence. It’s easy to feel confident when a show goes well or you have a very meaningful conversation with someone about your work. The hard part is remaining confident in your work when a post doesn’t receive much engagement or an event doesn’t go as well as you’d hoped. Reminding myself that I am the one that determines my work’s merit and cultivating a strong circle of friends who echo this sentiment has been crucial to this endeavor.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am the self-taught artist of Bower Bird Fine Art. My work is a unique exploration of the dark and alchemical themes found in nature and folklore. It blends familiar stories and archetypes with surreal symbolism and color palettes inspired by the natural world. The inclusion of recognizable imagery invites introspection while still conveying a nuanced approach to old narratives.

My main medium is watercolor, which I love for its versatility. I create the base painting by building up thin washes of color, often incorporating texture by sprinkling salt or lifting while the paint is still wet. I finish by layering several inks, colored pencils, and wax pastels on top to outline and define shapes, create shadows and highlights, add patterns, and embellish.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowerbirdfineart/profilecard/?igsh=aXU2aWx6d3cxeHB2
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081784323390&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

Headshot taken by Brittany Windham