Sometimes you meet another human being and there is a connection. There are no words for it, it just happens. In this case not a romantic connection but most definitely a love. The first time I met this incredible woman was in her studio, she thrust a glass of red in my hand, gave me a huge smile, a bigger welcome and made me feel right at home.
There aren’t enough words in the dictionary, hours in the day or glasses in a bottle for all the conversations we have had & hope to have. We have cried, laughed & exclaimed in mutual appreciation about so many things. We just get each other..I say what I feel with words on pages and Alana says what she feels with brush to canvas. It was most fitting that I made her a part of my project, it wouldn’t be complete without her in it, she has definitely made my transition here easier, funnier, emotional and very rewarding, so I want to share her beauty with you.
There is a lot that is beautiful about her.
Her face, her art, her lovely girls and her love for Nick her husband.
Name: Alana
Occupation: Artist
‘Artist, because I am actually loving figuring out that is what I am. I feel like I am the most settled I have ever been and its because I am painting and I have figured out that this is what I am meant to be.’
1.Where were you born and raised?
South Perth, Western Australia. And raised all over Western Australia.
‘Dad was a school Principal and we travelled every two years as we moved to different schools.’
‘We were close knit family, Mum & Dad worried about money all the time, like most people. There were four constants in my life, my family, my art, sport & movement.’
‘It was a routine the moving but there was the anxiety, I always felt like I had one foot out of the door. I never wanted to be lonely. I would always be the first person when I moved to a new place and hold out my hand and say hi. I’m Alana.’
‘I fell into going to Graphic Design School as I was at an art High School. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, I didn’t like Graphic Design but loved the art there.
2.Tell me a childhood memory.
‘With the movement I just remember at about 10 years old going into a new school thinking I have got to make friends fast, that was me, I’m a friendly person and I just felt like I had to fit in straight away. I was standing on my own in the playground and everyone else was playing and I saw this girl and she was just standing there. She had been in the school for a few years but she was so much lonelier than I was and I could feel it and I went over to her and said ‘Hi, I’m Alana and it’s my first day.’ I still remember it because that gesture has been what I have done to settle and to make other people feel more comfortable to this day.’
3.What is your favourite season and why?
‘Winter has always been a favourite for me. It’s Christmas, the happy memories, the lights. Christmas in Australia is stinking hot so I love Christmases here because it is cooler but even in Australia we had the Winter Christmas Cards. It is Winter, when you are supposed to be with family, all together and cosy.’
4.Tell me about someone you love.
‘I can’t narrow it down to one. With Nick I have so much pride and admiration, he is the best Dad. He has worked so hard at so many things and done so much more than many men ever would.’
‘Everyone loves their kids. They are my pride and joy. They are like my little buddies. They are very similar and both have my freckles, I don’t know how I feel about that! Riley is so creative, her mind is everywhere and brilliant with a voice of an Angel. Then theres Boo who knows exactly where she wants to go and has the biggest heart. They get on so well. I just live for them.’
Alana talked at length about her love for Nick, her pride and support in his career. How together they have created their beautiful family not an easy journey for them, taken for granted by so many. You can see how ‘together’ they are. Alana described their girls character, Riley like her Mum, Halle like her Dad..they get on well too. A perfect balance.
5.What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life.
‘Live it completely, celebrate the small things and don’t just wait for the big stuff to come around because sometimes it doesn’t.’
6.Dreams for the future.
‘I haven’t thought about the future for a long time..I was always constantly thinking I am out of here where am I going to go next and now I am actually really happy to not have any dreams for the future. It’s the first time in my life that I am actually here, I am actually present.’
Alana is a humble person. She struggled for a long time to call herself an artist because of this but she isn’t just an artist, her talent is immense, it’s incredible and there is a long line of people, clients, subjects to testify to this, I feel privileged to not only know her but call her a friend.
It’s a good judge of character when a person has many friends, I feel its safe to say that Alana has a lot of friends, all of which I am sure have incredible stories to share about her.
What I like about this woman is how normal she is, no pretence. Says it how it is, laughs deep down to her belly, loves her sport, loves her tennis and is so good at that too. I feel like she is still working out creatively how else she is going to make her mark on the world, there are lots of avenues still to explore. You can see her thinking, she pauses when she speaks, thinking about the opportunities before her.
Alana doesn’t just live, she is alive. Singing and dancing it all in and enjoying it. It may have taken her some years, through difficult times, in many towns, cities and countries but she has found her happy place. Not in geography necessarily but in herself, in her family and in her truly beautiful art.
