Behind the Brush with Philpotts

This week, we welcome the talented Alison Philpotts as a new addition to the Calgary Art Market artist roster. From “Magic Hour” sunsets peeking through Kananaskis forests to the soft rounded rocks on a West Coast beach, Alison has a beautiful way of capturing a warm and inviting moment in time. In this post, we’ll share a little bit about Alison so you can get to know the person behind the brush.

Let’s begin at your core: what inspires you to paint what you paint?

I am continuously inspired by western Canadian landscapes. Having lived most of my life here in Calgary and with family on the west coast, I have an endless supply of inspiration for my next painting.

Your style is so smooth and beautiful; how do you achieve this particular look?

My style can be labeled as impressionistic, as I paint emotively, with loose and colourful paint strokes. My goal is always to shut down my brain, and paint from my heart.

How do you know when a work is finished?

A painting is done, when my paint strokes become ‘tight’ and it feels forced.

What song from the past just makes you so happy and what does it remind you of?

A song that always makes me happy is Staying Alive, by The Bee Gees. It always makes me feel good about myself, and then I translate this onto the canvas. I actually listen to 80’s dance music at times, to start or kick start a painting in progress!