Alison Crary • Arizona • waow
| Landscape | Horses | Plein Air | Flowers | Trees | Water | Sunset | Grand Canyon | Alpine Landscapes | Southwest Landscapes
"I have always loved spending time in nature and doing art, and most of my early childhood memories are outdoors."
Women Artists of the West, Associate
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Alison Crary
Life has a way of getting busy for all of us, and for too many years I didn't make time for art. After over a decade of working as an Occupational Therapist, and the chaos of working home health through the pandemic, I started doing art again as my own form of therapy. After hundreds of hours of practice, they started turning out well enough to hang on my walls. As others started to express interest in them too, I decided to risk a change- and pursue art full time!
I find myself constantly inspired by light, color, and the sense of atmosphere found in western landscapes- from grand vistas to simple scenes with interesting light. My goal is not strict realism but rather to convey the 'feel' of a particular place and time; I want to share the sense of excitement with you that made me want to paint that scene in the first place!
Many pieces are painted 'plein air', or outdoors on location. Others are created in the studio based on plein air studies or photos taken on my outdoor adventures. Often these adventures involves backpacking, climbing, paddling, riding horses or hiking with dogs. I honestly feel so blessed to be able to get out and experience the sense of wonder found in these wild places, and I love to share that sense of gratitude and wonder with others through my art.
I started out working in soft pastels, and am honored to be a Signature Member of the Arizona Pastel Artists Association. I love the immediacy of pastels, and the fact that you don't have to wait for paint to dry. However, I found myself tiring of cutting glass and wishing for more colors to fit in my already-full portable plein air box, which led me to learn how to use oil paints. I discovered that I love mixing colors from a limited palette, as well as the texture you can create with oils. I recently joined the Oil Painters of America where I hope to continue to grow my skills as I admire the work of so many talented artists. But no matter the medium, my goal is to always create loose impressionistic work that draws people in, so you as the viewer can participate in enjoying the beauty found all around us.
Women Artists of the West
