Felicia Aroney – Artist Painter

Read this Q&A with artist Felicia Aroney and find out what drives her to create these amazing paintings…

When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realize you had talent?
My mother realized I had a talent for art well before I did. In her diary entry she wrote that she had “observed my ability to draw a perfect circle and copy images” (I was 2 years old).
I requested “private art lessons” on my 8th birthday and continued these after school for years.

Where did you learn your art?
I learnt most about during my private art lesson sessions, and then continued to learn more in high school. I then studied Graphic Design at Curtin University WA and there learnt more about the technical side of art.

What inspires you most?
I’m most inspired by both my Greek and Australian upbringing. Both have such different flavours and elements and yet mesh together so perfectly in creating my work. The damaged ruins in Greece inspire my technique of layering paint with a palette knife, and the beautiful landscapes and birds in Australia are clearly seen in my paintings.

Describe your studio… Describe your studio…
My studio is quite a mess! I work so furiously on my work that large buckets of paint surround me so as I can dip my palette knife into them simultaneously. My floor and walls are covered in paint! I love working in this environment. It`s so freeing. Although I must say, my house is so well kept and organised. Very Yin and yang!

Describe your typical day of creating art?
My Typical day of creating art starts with a strong coffee! Then after drop the kids off at school I hide myself away in my studio and take off where i left off the day before. This usually involves planning, sketching, colour mixing or I may be head strong into a canvas. Either way, i never stop (until school pick up).

What mediums do you use and why?
I use both Oils and acrylics. The acrylics are a wonderful medium to layer. They dry faster and hence allow me to complete work within weeks rather than months. I use expensive acrylics (Matisse) and so the colour and pigments resemble oils. I too use oil paint on my finer brush stroke work (the detailed birds). It`s actually lovely have this resting point in my work, because the applying of acrylics is so physical!

What are you working on now?
My work is forever evolving, yet I think my “style” of painting remains similar. I am still painting my landscapes, flowers and birds. However, I have recently discovered “black linen” and I am painting some moody landscapes. I am still applying paint using a palette knife along with some fine brush work. This new body of work will be seen towards the end of the year, it’s quite sophisticated.

What do you love most about what you do?
What don’t I love about what I do’ I am so lucky! I am living my dream. Painting is my passion. Sometimes when I see a weekend approaching with social events i think ” Bring on Monday!”

Where can you see yourself in 10 years time?
In 10 years time I hope to be a well established Australian Artist. I have been lucky enough to have launched into an International project this year with Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics (where my art design was used on cosmetic bags in Australia and the US). This along with the representation of six Australian Art galleries has given me a great head start. I was also recently announced as a finalist in this years well acclaimed “Mosman Art prize” which has stirred more interest in my art. Yes, I paint because I love it, but I too am ambitious and always hungry for more! No doubt about that.