Immense beauty on a small scale

Artist Alice Trow is happiest when she is out in nature soaking up the smallest details of the environment around her.

It might be a crescent moon rising in the sky, the golden glow of the evening sun or the sound of waves washing against the shore – all are energising sources of inspiration for her work.

The beauty of what she sees, together with the feelings of calm and quiet that envelop her, are then captured on paper or ply in the magical small-scale artworks she creates.

“I would describe my artistic style as a mixture of realism and expression,” the talented East Geelong creative says of her acrylic paintings.

“Whilst I love trying to paint a scene realistically, immersing myself in the tiniest of details, it’s also just as important for me to try and capture the feeling of a place.

“I like to create art which captures fleeting moments of beauty, and encourages people to seek out these moments they might otherwise overlook.”

 

 

Those pieces then go on to find homes across Australia and as far afield as the US, Canada, the UK and New Zealand.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get over the excitement that comes with selling a piece and knowing I’ve created something that has connected with someone enough for them to want to hang it on their walls,” Alice says.

“It truly is one of the best feelings in the world, and a feeling I want to chase for the rest of my life.”

Her most recent work explores the local coastline, with a particular focus on capturing it during what she calls the “magic hours” of sunrise and sunset.

“The ocean has always been a calming force for me and during the pandemic I took great comfort in painting it, attempting to capture this overwhelming sense of calm I felt from being near the sea and watching the waves roll in as the colours of the sky changed with the rising or setting sun,” she says.

 

 

“My most recent collection took inspiration from beaches in Torquay, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Point Lonsdale … it would be impossible for me to choose a favourite to paint as they’re all so beautiful in their own ways.

“I love that Geelong has the best of both worlds; only an hour away from Melbourne in one direction, and places like the Great Ocean Road and the Otways in the other.

“I have to pinch myself some days knowing I have so much beauty on my doorstep.”

Alice moved to Victoria four years ago after completing a fine art degree at the Queensland College of Art in Brisbane.

Her at-home studio is the spare room of a rental house she shares with partner Jimmy and, while it’s a modest space, Alice says it has everything she needs for now.

 

“It’s on the smaller side, especially with two desks squeezed in, but it’s one of my favourite rooms in the house, full of plants, books and art; all of the best things,” she says.

“I’m not too fussy when it comes to a work environment – all I really need is a desk to sit at and I’ll be happy.

“I’ll normally start off with a cup of tea and have a music playlist quietly on in the background but will get so immersed into my painting that the tea goes cold and I won’t notice if the music has stopped playing.”

Alice’s preference for working on a small scale is something that developed organically and means a compact studio is less of an issue.

“I’ve always loved delicate, hand-made things … to me, there’s something special about a piece that quietly catches your attention and draws you in closer to engage with it.

 

 

“I don’t believe something needs to be ‘big’ and ‘loud’ to be worthy of our attention, and I try to reflect that within my small works.”

As well as being inspired by nature, Alice admires many artists around the globe and lists her favourite local artists as including Nikole Ramsay, Anita Beaney, Ingrid Daniell and Natalie Anderson.

An artistic streak runs through Alice’s family and she says her 90-year-old grandfather in the UK still loves to paint.

 

 

“When I’m not making art, you can find me enjoying a good book, getting out into nature with my partner, Jimmy, trying to keep far too many house plants alive, going for sunrise/sunset walks by the sea, or hanging out with my cat, Max,” she says. “It’s the simple things for me.”

Alice is presently pursuing her art as a side hustle to a job in retail but the dream is to immerse herself in the world of art full-time.

“Over the years, I’ve always had my art as something on the side, never really getting my full-time attention, but after the pandemic I feel like my perspective has shifted.

“Life can change dramatically at any moment so why not put what I love first and see where that takes me?

“I’d love to keep selling my work online, but I’d also like to get out of my comfort zone a bit and try new things, like exhibitions and competitions.

“It’s a scary thought but also very exciting.”

Discover more about Alice Trow on Instagram @aetart or go to the aetart website.