Alex Wissenbach
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
AQ Volume IV artist Alex Wissenbach is a painter and sketch artist from England. Alex studied art up to A-level before moving onto a Liberal Arts degree whilst pursuing creativity in her spare time. Throughout University, she kept her artwork private. It wasn’t until a year later, during lockdown, when she found more time to invest back into her artwork. This is when her lightbulb designs were born.
She’s always been fascinated by art from all mediums—from film to photography to painting—working as a producer for several years in London post-University. The thing she marvels at most is how people can have an idea in their heads and make it something visual for others to see.
All of her collections are heavily influenced by the period of time in her life. Encasing objects in lightbulbs was at a time when we were all contained in our homes during lockdown, to her sea life watercolours being inspired by her upcoming move to Australia to step away from city life and build a new coastal lifestyle.
Alex received the Mayor of Warwick prize for her A-level artwork, but this magazine will be the first time her art has been displayed publicly beyond her own platforms.
Her favourite visualisation of her future is being a full-time artist, spending her time painting in a beautiful studio with a view out to the sea—and that her artwork brings joy to many, many people and their spaces.
https://www.alexwissenbach.com/
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
It brings me peace, which I find hard to source. And I know I'm not the only one! But when I’m sketching or painting I either have time to think about something I’ve been dwelling on, or I think of nothing but the thing I’m creating. With a busy head, this is medicine to me.
I also feel proud of what I create, which is also hard to find. Whenever I finish a painting—and I truly love it—I feel like the best version of myself. I’m genuinely proud of me, whether that’s for practicing the craft or dedicating time to something I love or just feeling truly buzzed by the outcome.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My most recent works are my sea-life pieces. My happy place is the sea. It always has been.
I’m making a move to Australia in October—in an attempt to experience a life I’ve always wanted. Living by the sea, warm climate (most of the time), work/life balance, outdoors more than indoors. So I started painting all things sea and nature. I think I did it subconsciously at first as I’ve always focused on my pencil sketches and lightbulbs. But I felt an urge to add more colour and be more fluid with what I was creating—in the same way I was thinking about how I wanted my life to be out in Australia—so things living in the sea and outdoors were where my head went. And I truly love them
What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?
Imposter syndrome. There are so many incredible artists out there—those that have built a huge following (rightly so) and sell their artwork full time. Me, devoting my spare time to it, feels like I can’t quite catch up or can’t match that level. But I do believe in my work, and I believe in the love I have for creating the work—so that’s what I always try to come back to.
I believe if you continue to focus your energy on things that bring you joy, you can’t fail. What you create will be as authentic as it can be if joy is why you’re doing it.
And comparison—as we know—is the thief of joy.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
I’m not a very good planner before I paint or create… I like to just get stuck in. If I have an idea or commission, I want to make it happen quickly. A blessing and a curse. I’d like to dedicate more time to smaller projects, sketches, trialling new mediums etc. I’ve recently bought a sketchbook specifically to do just that—to try and not just paint to sell or to exhibit, but to do more on-the-move sketches and observations. Collect up more ideas.
Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?
Headphones. Music. 100%. And there is absolutely no guardrails for what music. Entirely depends on my mood.
I also need to be alone—or at least have a set space for me. It's hard to explain but I like it feeling like a secret between me and the thing I'm creating at first—even if I'm filming the process. Then, when I get to the end and it becomes something I want to no longer be a secret... I know it's ready.
So that's a stop ritual too—when I reach a point I start to feel really good about it, I do my best to stop. There’s nothing worse than spending hours and hours on a painting, being too critical, and then overdoing it. I’m also teaching myself to step back from it for a day, if time allows, then return with fresh eyes. You might see something you completely missed that you wouldn’t see after 5-6 hours of painting…
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
Again, joy. I hope wherever my artwork sits—it brings joy to that space or the people looking at it. Or brings peace. Or is associated with good memories. I hope that my artwork does that for people. I want to be a part of what makes someone’s home feel like home.
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
“Don't wait until you know who you are to get started. If I'd waited to know who I was or what I was about before I started "being creative," well, I'd be sitting around trying to figure myself out instead of making things. In my experience, it's in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are. You're ready. Start making stuff.” - Austin Kleon
