Alaina Joelle

I am a still-life oil painter who creates work to evoke comfort and serenity. I construct my compositions from artifacts I collect and possess, choosing them for their sentimental value and connection to my own experiences. Inspired by the pages of I Spy books and scenes from my daily life, my paintings reflect personal memory while engaging an imaginative visual language. I root my practice in realism, but incorporate a semi-stylized approach that reveals my hand in the work, balancing precision with individuality. 

My connection to I Spy books began in childhood, when I enjoyed them simply for entertainment. As I grew older and transitioned into an artist, I returned to them and recognized their images as complex still-life scenes with multiple points of view. This realization shapes my work today, allowing me to slow down time, live in the moment, and find the pleasure in looking, translating, and responding to what is in front of me, giving a flat surface form.