You might’ve seen Allison Fennell‘s awesome works around town lately—images of clusters of gemstones and minerals, surrounded by a starry vortex. You know, everyday sorts of prints. Armed with a camera and a computer, the recent Atlanta transplant creates her ethereal collages that mesh earth and space in a delicate way. And if you’d like to run into her, your best bets are the zoo or aquarium, although if you’re baking something delicious, she’ll probably find you anyway. Allison has a passion for creating and a love for people. CommonCreativ sat down with her to find out a little more about how she puts together those stunning pieces of art.
CommonCreativ: How did you get into making art?
Allison Fennell: I was a photography major at the University of Georgia, but I’ve always had a love for painting and what you can do with that medium. The entire time I was studying photography I was trying to discover a way to combine photography with painting that fit my aesthetics. For my final work I started blending images that I had taken and filling in the spaces with imagery that I had always been drawn towards such as stars, glitter, raw gems, basically anything that sparkled. My first image was Starry, a combination of mushrooms, stars, moss and other plants that had textures and colors that caught my eye. After that I couldn’t stop.
CC: What’s your artistic process?
AF: Each piece begins with an idea of a landscape I’ve always wanted to exist or with a place at which I’ve always found peace, joy or wonder. I’m constantly thinking of new things I can create. Reading always helps me when I’m in a slump because I can let my brain relax and become enveloped by a story. Other artists’ work also inspires me to dream bigger and try something that may or may not be possible. As an artist you have to have a blinding optimism about your own work and that it can achieve what you set out for it, too. Otherwise all those ideas will just sit in your head and go to waste.
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When creating my photographs, I have a general process that I use. I think up a landscape, world or object that I would like to see exist and then I begin to find textures, colors and objects that I think would work in creating my image. After that it’s a lot of time in Photoshop and too many layers to keep count. My final goal is for the photograph to be as believable as possible. I won’t go as far as to say that my photographs look realistic, but I’d like to think that they have the realness of Harry Potter: Everyone loves to believe he’s real but deep down we know he’s a fictional character from a book.
CC: Any advice for other artists looking to do the same?
AF: Use your resources. Whenever I can’t figure out how to create the effect I’m wanting (or I can’t happily stumble upon it) then I talk to friends, take full advantage of Google or research what other artists are doing now and what they’ve done in the past. These options are also the resources that will push your art, challenge you and provide feedback.
CC: What is it that you find most fulfilling?
AF: I like to think that when people look at one of my photographs that they were able to get lost in the details and escape reality, much like you do in a novel. That’s a little idealistic of an answer, so if you wanted something more realistic than I would have to say making people to laugh. That sounds really cheesy…
CC: What inspires you?
AF: This list could be pretty long but for the sake of not rambling I’ll pick my favorite: the ocean. I don’t know if it’s the mystery that is the ocean, the colors that surround it or the endless patterns that can be found there. But there is something very captivating about that water.
CC: Are you a huge fan of any local creative projects?
AF: There are so many! I guess you could say I’m still pretty new at meeting everyone involved with art in and around Atlanta, but I have been a part of the Indie Craft Experience twice now. It was my first art show where I could sell work and it’s introduced me to so many people and places around Atlanta. It’s a great place to get started.
CC: How would you describe the creative community in Atlanta?
AF: The artists in this area are so talented it can be a little intimidating, but then you realize you live in Georgia and Southern hospitality is our mantra. But in all seriousness, everyone I’ve met in this community is incredibly welcoming and helpful.
CC: What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever made? Ever. This includes food and kindergarten art projects.
AF: That would definitely have to be a homemade six-layer caramel cake complete with caramel buttercream icing and homemade caramel sauce. It’s my life’s goal to be one of those old Southern ladies in church known only for her mastery of cakes.
See more of Allison’s work and shop her prints here.
