“ I feel that not having a formal education in art allows me to create in a way that is uninfluenced by learned techniques and has made it easier for me to find my own unique style ,” Brasa says .
The Laguna resident is most inspired by the freedom of beginning an art piece without knowing ahead of time what she will be creating . “ It was when I decided to not use the conscious mind and allow a different kind of content and expression to materialize that I found my inner voice and my deepest self-expression ,” she says .
Brasa appreciates abstract painting because it ’ s more liberating . “ For me there are no rules and no mistakes ,” she says .
For each piece she works on , Brasa might first sketch some line work then adds color based on the form , making adjustments as her creation takes shape . “ I can physically feel when a piece works and has a correct vibration , almost like doing architectural design work — all components have to be in balance ,” she says . “ Occasionally , I will start with a general idea and then let go of the need to create the image , going with the flow to capture a deeper emotional representation .”
Brasa tends to paint in bright , bold colors with strong shapes that flow together . “ I have thought about this and it seems that growing up in East Germany , where there was a predominance of drab colors , I might be reacting to that formative influence by trying to bring more color into the world ,” Brasa shares .
She primarily uses acrylic paint and freehand brushwork on canvas , but sometimes paints on found objects like sculptures , store mannequins or even couches . “ While painting in the gallery , I accidentally spilled some paint on our gallery sofa ,” she recalls . “… It was too much to clean up , then [ I ] decided to keep adding paint . I never thought it would be something that people would want to purchase — only … a gallery novelty , but people seem to love them and I ’ m currently working on No . 4 in the Brasa Art Couch series .”
Brasa says , of all her work , her favorite piece is most often “ the latest one I ’ m working on .”
BRASA GALLERY 490 S . COAST HIGHWAY , STE . 1 949-204-7370 ; MANDYBRASA . COM
Above : Isabelle Alessandra ; right : her painting , “ Tell Me What You ’ re Dreaming ”
Emotive Expression
I sabelle Alessandra ran a successful consulting company that provided strategic advice and training to education and business leaders . But it was the words of her 96-year-old mother during her final hours in hospice that made Alessandra leave all that behind to become a full-time artist . Now , Alessandra , a Newport Beach resident who paints in the abstract style , exhibits at Laguna ’ s Festival of Arts , Sandstone Gallery and more .
So what did her mother say ? Alessandra shares those powerful words here : “ I have one important regret to share with you , and it ’ s not about what I did with my life , it ’ s about what I didn ’ t do ,” her mother told her . “… I always found an excuse not to fully pursue my gifts as an artist : work , then family , then caring for your dad , then finally losing my eyesight . … [ There were ] always reasons that put my desire to create on the back burner .
“ You have the same gift I had , and I ’ ve watched you shelve it just like I did . So , after 96 years on earth , here is my best advice for you , right now — use your gift , develop your talent and work full time to let the world know what you can do .”
Alessandra took that message to heart . “ Exactly one year after my mother passed , I closed the doors to my company and began painting every day . My work as an artist is a life force that absolutely lights me up , and it ’ s a cherished legacy from my mother .”
Her work is inspired by what ’ s around her . “ Because the idea of ‘ feeling ’ my work is important to me , my palette is often inspired by the music I ’ m playing and , although it isn ’ t necessarily intentional , my surroundings also influence what happens on my boards ,” she says .
The artist , who grew up playing in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains , tends to incorporate many colors found in nature in her art . “ Inspiration can also come from seeing different kinds of art , from talking and laughing with friends , from when it ’ s raining or the way the sun hits the sand . It ’ s endless .”
Alessandra views abstract work as “ a full mind-body experience .” “ For me , art that represents or looks like something familiar , implies how or what the artist — and the viewers — should see and even feel ,” she explains . “ My own abstract art is a visual expression of emotion using color and form . It ’ s not that I don ’ t deeply admire representational art , because I do — it ’ s more that my own connection to the ideas and feelings in abstract work stretches me in new and unknown directions every time I create a painting . I love that .”
She builds layers and layers of acrylic paint on birch wood panels , then scratches , etches and sands back into those layers to reveal what she calls “ the history of the painting .”
When starting a piece , she likes to “ paint boldly and a little out of control ” then get more intentional about composition . “ It becomes a sort of conversation between me and the work ,” she says .
Alessandra creates artwork specifically for Sandstone Gallery ; in May , a large collection will be featured on the gallery ’ s lower floor . And her current show at The Ritz-Carlton , Laguna Niguel will run until at least May 1 . /
ISABELLE ALESSANDRA ISABELLE-ALESSANDRA-ARTIST . COM
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 31