Alison Tomei—a Placerville-based mixed media artist working mostly in acrylic, spray paint, paper, pencil and ink—recently won first place in 2016’s Banners on Parade. Along with her workshops and private art parties at ArtSparks!, Tomei teaches at Chroma Studio, Images of Hope Cancer Center, and Rescue Elementary School. Through her work, she engages in community outreach for healing and health through the creative process. “I feel there’s currently a movement in art toward intuitive painting,” shares Tomei. “The process of making art fills a deep need for emotional and spiritual wellness, [which] inspires me.” View Tomei’s work through December at Images of Hope as part of the El Dorado Arts Council’s Art in Public Places program.

HLB: How’d you choose to interpret this year’s Banners on Parade theme of “El Dorado Gold”?

AT: I love gold and use a lot of metallic in my work. Beyond the obvious historical connection of the area being pivotal to the Gold Rush, I took the idea of gold to be an intention of where our community is headed. I wanted to speak to the richness of talent, new ideas and wealth of small business ventures popping up in our quaint, special town. My design was also inspired by my love of vintage circus imagery and gypsy culture, as well as the power, strength and beauty of the feminine. 

HLB: Tell us more about your teaching. 

AT: My intention is always to connect others to their own creativity. I’m passionate about the power of creativity and the process of making art, more so than the destination of “pretty art.” My advice to students is always to let go, play and trust the process. I provide technique and color theory, but always return to the benefits of art as self-discovery. When we can open up to the experience of making art, we bypass the mind and move directly to the heart. I teach my students to keep showing up, be open to the unknown and willing to allow the work to speak to them [in order to] have a relationship with it. When we do this, we can learn so much about ourselves.

HLB: What inspires you? 

AT: I’m inspired by life and by emotion. The human figure is always an inspiration, as well as texture and pattern. I love the spirituality of nature, particularly plant life and birds. I’m very influenced by many of the masters, as well as the drama of Gustav Klimt, the honesty and boldness of Frieda Kahlo, and the emotion and sensuality of Georgia O’Keefe. 

HLB: What do you love most about this community? 

AT: It’s wonderful [to live in such] a tight-knit community with beautiful families and history. This community has such a wealth of talent—so many artists, writers, actors and creators. I adore being an artist here and being inspired by so many, and love sharing my work and contributing to my community through it. To me, being an artist carries a certain responsibility—to oneself and to the world—to stay honest and see things that others may not.

By Heather L. Becker // Photo by Dante Fontana. Artwork images courtesty of Alison Tomei.
facebook.com/alisontomeiartist
studioatomei.com