Artist Statement
Art has always been a comfort and an escape. The intricacy of creating distracted me from all the anxieties of my life. I’ve dealt with an anxiety disorder for over 15 years, and despite these struggles, art was always there. The freedom to make what I wanted was what helped me cope with my issues. My art embodies that sense of peace and escape. What I’m most inspired by is the world around me. I explore the beauty and peace of nature and how the stillness of life in landscapes can take one’s breath away. I’m very drawn to the majesty of mountains, seas, and prairies. I take photographs of anything that strikes me, whether that be a stream rippling over rocks or the Seattle skyline under the stars. I show my audience what I see when I view a landscape–not just a place, but a beautiful aspect of our world that invites one to stop and appreciate it, and remind one that the world is not full of negativity, but wonderful beaty.
Inspired by the impressionists, in my paintings I use dynamic brushstrokes to give visible texture to the work, letting the paint lay thick on the canvas. You can see the paint as if it were jumping off the canvas, and if one went to run their hands over it, they would feel each individual brushstroke. Rather than extensively blend the paints and colors, I’d rather your eye blend the colors for you. The painting is different from two different angles: close up, you can see the details of the brushstrokes, and from far away the colors blend beautifully together and you can see the whole majesty of the painting. I also work with and explore relief printing and monotype prints, especially appreciating the visible strokes and textures of monotype prints.
About Alexis
Alexis Winget is an artist based in Eastern Washington. She mainly works with oils, illustration, and printmaking. She is self-taught and she has honed her craft throughout her academic career. Her journey with mental health struggles and anxiety gave way to her using art as a way of freedom and self-expression and a way to cope with her struggles. She captures the beauty of her home: the Pacific Northwest, from the rainforests of the Sound to the desert of the Columbia Basin.
With her main subject matter being different landscapes, she uses impressionist ideas to create dynamic work utilizing visual brushstrokes and texture. She invites viewers to stop and think about the beauty of nature, and of the way that the stillness of landscapes and nature around us can become an escape from the anxieties and stress of everyday life. She captures the beauty of life that surrounds her and documents anything that catches her eye. Using different mediums such as painting, illustration, and printmaking, she explores these ideas and experiments with these mediums and occasionally tests how these mediums can blend. Every day she is looking for new ways to manifest her ideas and make them a reality, not shying away from experimenting with new techniques.
Outside of art, Alexis enjoys baking, reading sci-fi novels, and watching and learning to play ice hockey.
