"The act of taking the time to create is what opens the door for inspiration, connections and new ways of seeing and thinking. You have to take the risk of showing up first."
An interview with Alyson Khan
We sat down with Denver artist Alyson Khan to learn more about her art, creative process and how the pandemic has impacted the art scene.
Q: How long have you been a professional artist...and what motivated or inspired you to pursue a career out of creating?
I have been a maker since 1996, and became a full-time artist in 2015. I didn’t necessarily pursue a creative career, it sort of unfolded on its own after lots of small shows, odd jobs, serendipitous connections, putting my work online, getting some press, and gradually getting noticed by art consultants, gallery owners, and collectors. Eventually it felt like there was enough momentum behind me that I decided to at least try quitting my job and going full-time. When I took the leap, it was actually quite terrifying. But once I made that commitment, my career started to snowball.
Q: It sounds like one of those dream jobs where you get to be so creative and make people's walls + homes more beautiful, but we know that there must be a down + dirty side, too...along with all of the pretty, exciting stuff, what's the reality of your day-to-day?
The reality is that making paintings means spending a lot of hours alone in the studio not exactly knowing what I’m doing. This messy part of the creative process can be very uncomfortable, uncertain and groundless. Another challenge is not putting too much pressure on each painting, and maintaining the sacred space of making the work. I think when you experience some success as a creative, you can get mixed up in wanting your work to be successful before it even has a chance to just be. But the truth is, if the work isn’t originating from a place free of expectations, it won’t be successful--in any sense.
Q: We're familiar with a lot of your work, because it's often featured in Guest House listings, which is one of West + Main's staging partners! Where else can people see your work + even purchase pieces for their own collections?
The best place to see my most current and available work is my website: AlysonKhan.com
I also have an upcoming exhibition at Space Gallery in Denver in mid-August. www.spacegallery.org
Q: As we're all navigating the pandemic and everything that the past year has brought into our lives, we're definitely seeing people's needs change and evolve...whether they are working/learning from home, needing more amenities, or are just unhappy with how their space is looking now that they have spent much more time than usual in their homes. How has this past year changed for you in relation to your clients + collectors?
Gratefully, I am the busiest I have ever been. And I have heard the same thing from many artists and designers. It seems that being forced to stay at home is not only motivating people to dial up their interiors, but also the pent up longing for travel is being soothed by art collecting. Art can invoke that feeling of something foreign and exciting—like visiting a new place. It can also tap into unknown parts of your imagination and emotions like nothing else. Living with art that you love does more than pull a room together; it can transport and transform you.
Q: If you had one piece of advice to leave our readers with, whether they also aspire to create on a casual or professional level, or if they are looking to invest in works of art for their own homes, what would that be?
If you have the urge to create, go with it. Just start. And also know that a lot of what you make at first will suck. But if you commit to making, it will commit back to you a hundredfold. Another thing to remember is to not wait for inspiration. It is fleeting. The act of taking the time to create is what opens the door for inspiration, connections and new ways of seeing and thinking. You have to take the risk of showing up first.
If you are interested in starting to collect art, go with your heart, go with what you love. Don’t worry about what other people think or the color of your couch. If you are drawn to certain work, trust that.
You can find Alyson online at:
Instagram: @_alysone
Website: www.alysonkhan.com
For more remodel inspiration, checkout the first two editions of our magazine here.
