Meet Molly Alexander

Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Alexander.

Hi Molly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been drawing and painting ever since I can remember. Being an only child raised by a single mom, I often had to entertain myself and was always either reading or sketching. I was lucky enough to have an accomplished watercolor artist as my grandma, and when I would visit, she would always sit me down with paints and brushes and all sorts of cool stuff that artists have!

I started out with a Fine Art major at UCLA but, after a year or two, decided that there wasn’t enough teaching going on, so I began taking courses through Parsons Paris over one magical summer in France. It was there that I truly learned technique. I studied and practiced every day–being in the most amazing city in the world, painting and drawing in a new neighborhood each day… it was heaven!

Even though I came home brimming with inspiration and ideas, I still wasn’t happy with the program at my school and switched to a major in graphic design. I ended up going into advertising and then pursued a career in fashion, but I always loved art the most- it was my secret passion, I just thought I could never make money painting pictures all day. The best artists are dead. Right??

I ended up owning my own successful screen-printed clothing company for five years, and my designs were sold in over 40 stores nationwide. When we moved to Carlsbad a few years ago and I could no longer run my business for various reasons, I knew it was time to change course.

Cut to last year when the pandemic hit. I honestly was at a loss and felt pretty depressed. I enrolled in an immersive (but virtual) acrylic abstract expressionism course that ended up lasting for five amazing months. When I tell you it was life-changing, it’s the understatement of the century! I ended up selling two pieces before the class was even over, and it’s been my life ever since! I have sold over 15 paintings in just under a year, and I can’t wait to become an active member of our vibrant San Diego art community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My artistic journey has had many ups and downs. While creating original art can be extremely fulfilling, it can also be challenging to paint when I’m uninspired or have creative blocks. I think one of the reasons I got turned off of being an artist in a corporate environment was the fact that sometimes they want you to create from 9-5 and anyone who’s an artist can tell you that sometimes it just doesn’t work that way.

I was so lucky to be supported and inspired by my family through my messy journey and at the end of the day, I really do get to paint and draw all day! I really can’t complain.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m heavily inspired by my grandma, who was a professional watercolor artist and kept meticulous art/photo sketchbooks from about 1968-1997. I have inherited them and now have them all in order in my studio. I often get so much inspiration and ideas from these books–my grandparents were world travelers and planted the travel bug in me at a very young age.

I was also taught very important things from her like- never be afraid to mess up your work, don’t worry about mistakes (usually the best things come out of them!), to always look around at the world as a child does, and to never color inside the lines (boring!).

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I am happiest when I’m outside in nature, just soaking in the beauty of this world! It sounds corny, but Mother Nature teaches me something every day. I love being in my studio when I’m immersed in a project. I also look at painting/drawing as somewhat of a puzzle- it is always a challenge to reach into the depths and translate that onto a two-dimensional surface. I also love to learn. If being a professional student was a career option, I’d be first in line!

Pricing:

• Prints – from $10 and up
• Original Art – from $350 and up

Contact Info:

• Email: Info@mollyalex.com
• Website: https://www.Mollyalex.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyalex_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyalexart