Strong, Sexy Female Forms Dominate

Lianne Alcon dominates the canvas with color and the female form. Her photography also elicits inspiration from her global adventures. She was raised in Madrid, Spain before she moved to the East End, where she is the Indy’s graphic designer. Now through Thursday, September 5, her work will be on display at Romany Kramoris Gallery in Sag Harbor alongside art by Barbara Groot and Herbert August. Alcon also has a solo show running August 31 to September 2 at Ashawagh Hall in Springs.

How did you get involved with Romany Kramoris Gallery?

I got involved at Romany Kramoris Gallery a few years ago. I had always liked her gallery and choices in artwork, as well as merchandise, so I stopped by one day and dropped off a portfolio of my work. She liked it, and that’s when I became one of her exhibiting artists.

We all seem to have a very colorful palette, and the pieces work nicely together. The current exhibit includes a series of my “Blue Nudes” — these are loosely painted figures depicting women in various positions mostly in shades of blue.

Your art seems to focus on the female form. Why is that?

I grew up in a female-dominant household, and also, most of the women in my family have been incredibly independent and strong-willed. So, I think for me, that created a vision and idea that women represent strong and dominant, yet feminine and sexy/sexual creatures.

How does your Spanish upbringing inspire you?

Madrid is a very rich, cultural city, much like New York. I was always attending great art museums, like Museo Nacional del Prado and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and seeing what all these great artists had done. I also paint a lot of flamenco dancers and other Spanish-influenced art. I think not being there and having some homesickness all these years has also influenced my work.

Describe your process.

My process has a lot to do with how I’m feeling and what I need to express. Sometimes it’s flamenco dancers, and I need to show movement and force. Sometimes it’s simply a mood I reflect through colors and figures. It varies, but I typically start with a rough sketch on the canvas and then move on to adding colors in order to capture the image in my head. It just builds from there and takes a life of its own.

I play around with multiple materials and media, sometimes on canvas, sometimes on wood, and recently I decided to try my hand at fabrics. We’ll see how that goes. In the end, although the initial thought process or idea is the same, sometimes the execution varies a little.

How would you classify yourself as an artist?

If I had to classify, I would say expressionist. I look to evoke an emotional experience, not necessarily through a realistic portrayal, but instead through colors, texture, and subject matter. When I paint, my main purpose is expressing whatever I’m feeling, and I hope that comes through in the work.

How did you get into art?

I’ve been into art, drawing, painting, etc., since I was able to hold a crayon. It’s something that has always made me happy, and I seem to have a knack for. All throughout childhood I was the kid that was either running around climbing trees or sitting quietly in the corner for hours drawing and coloring by myself. There was no in-between.

I excelled in art classes throughout my school years and my mother, as well as my teachers, all encouraged me to pursue something art-related. So, when it came time to go to college I chose fine arts. Of course, I feared the “starving artist” scenario so, while I pursued fine arts I also decided to take graphic design and photography courses. These were rapidly-growing fields back then.

Your photography captures color extremely well. Is that intentional?

It’s intentional. My photography is meant to capture color and texture. I try and focus on the things I love — bright colors, patterns, and architectural details. I try to use Photoshop, filters, and other retouching options as little as possible. I really miss being in the darkroom sometimes, although digital is much less of a mess.

What other ways do you express yourself artistically?

Painting, drawing, and photography are my most common forms of creative expression, although every now and then I do like to write poetry. Graphic design also takes up part of my creative time, working on ads, logos, and various other projects for people. I also love to cook, which can be considered an artistic expression, but my boyfriend is an excellent and professional chef, so I let him rule that creative outlet at home.

For a look at her other work and more details, visit Alcon’s website at www.liannealcon.com.

nicole@indyeastend.com