Have you ever wondered how custom portrait paintings came to be? Do you aspire to be a world-renowned artist like Aleksandra Szymanska? Are you curious about not just the type of paint used, but the actual story behind each piece of art?
Welcome to Behind the Canvas, an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful animal oil paintings and custom portraits created by Aleksandra Szymanska.
One look at the art, and you can see how much passion and love goes into each project — something that the artist herself wishes to express.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we’ll examine Aleksandra’s journey toward becoming an artist, the stories she wishes to tell about (and through) her work, advice she’d like to pass along to future artists, and more.
Stay tuned for this exclusive look at custom portrait painting and contact the artist today to have your portrait commissioned.
Becoming An Artist: A Lifelong Passion
Question: How Did You Get Started As An Artist?
Aleksandra Szymanska: I’ve liked drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I always felt I had a natural ability to depict correct shapes and colors. Art was part of my life through high school, college, and even during the 15 years of my career as a child psychologist.
I think I always had that inner voice telling me I should be an artist.
Q: What Do You Like Most About Being An Artist?
AS: What I like the most about being an artist is solving problems; how to mix the right colors, how to design a harmonious composition, how to draw or paint my subjects so they look realistic and expressive.
Sometimes the answers can be found by referring to color and composition theories, but sometimes they can be found only through experimenting.
Analyzing all those issues within the quiet sanctuary of my studio brings me a lot of joy.
Another cool thing about being an artist is that is has changed the way I see things; I pay more attention to colors in landscape, human skin, and clothing. I analyze how objects are shaped and how their form could be depicted in a drawing or painting. The visual world became more colorful, more interesting, and more rich in details since I’ve become an artist.
Expressing Love Through Art
One of the strengths of Aleksandra is her ability to show her passion and love for animals through her custom portrait paintings.
Her series titled “Portraits of The Human-Animal Bond,” for example, captures the spirit and love of humans and their pets. From horses, to dogs, to cats, Aleksandra’s love for animals and their expressions shines through in each custom portrait.
Using high quality oil paints and her unique artistic process, Aleksandra clearly displays that there is a story behind each photo, but more importantly, there is love behind each bond.
Q: What Story Do You Want To Tell People About Yourself And Your Art?
AS: I grew up surrounded by animals. As a life-long equestrian and a dog owner, I experienced firsthand how powerful an animal’s influence can be on human life.
My passion for animals combined, with my profession as a child psychologist, led me to working at animal-assisted therapy centers.
There, I saw how animals can help suffering people feel better, be more open, learn more about themselves, and face their problems. The power of the human-animal bond is a subject I care very deeply about. I want to explore it in my art.
Q: Who/What Are Your Inspirations?
AS: For me, the most fascinating and inspiring art theme is portraiture. I love the challenge of studying the human face and capturing its unique expression.
I’m also inspired by nature, especially by animals. I’m fascinated by the variety of shapes, colors, and textures that natural world has to offer.
As an art viewer, I’m more drawn to figure and portrait paintings rather than landscape or cityscape. My favorite portrait artists, Ilia Repin and Valery Serov, belong to the era of 19th century realism. I also admire work of classical artists who specialized in animal portraiture, such as George Stubbs, Alfred Munnings and Sir Edwin Landseer.
Q: What Advice Would You Give To A Young, Aspiring Artist?
AS: I would say to study the foundations of art, such as color theory, rules of composition, and analysis of form.
Whenever you can take art classes and workshops, do so. It is very difficult to see flaws in your own artwork, so it’s important to seek feedback from other artists — especially those who are more experienced than you.
Also, remember that it takes time to build art skills and techniques. In the beginning of this journey, you’ll create quite a few bad paintings and drawings; instead of taking them as failures, appreciate them because they help you learn to be a better artist.
Q: How Do You Get Your Work Seen? What Do You Like About Art Shows?
AS: Painting is mostly a solitary activity. I spend most of my days in my studio, immersed in my own creative process, talking only to my dogs.
That’s why it’s so refreshing and stimulating to show my art in public and to be able to interact with viewers and fellow artists.
I think shows are a great way to display artwork. Sharing images of paintings on the internet is great, but nothing can replace interacting with the original piece.
I love talking to people who come to see my paintings. Many pieces I display are portraits of dogs, cats, and horses. It’s amazing to see how this subject resonates with viewers. They start telling me about their own pets, and sharing memories about animals they loved in the past. It’s very touching, and strengthens my belief that human animal bond is worth celebrating through art.
I also like to interact with other artists, share experience and exchange ideas with them. I feel so inspired by other painters’ work, and I hope I’m a source of inspiration and encouragement to someone.
Custom Portrait Paintings
Are you interested in having your own portrait commissioned into a custom oil painting? Contact Aleksandra Szymanska today and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Behind The Canvas series.