Alayna-Rani de Graaf

This journey started when I was 8 years old, when I took a photo of my grandpa on our 1970's swing set. I always had photo albums, as mum encouraged me to take a few photos each time she bought new film for the family camera.
Some 40+ years on and I'm still intrigued by the way photography captures time at a stand still. Merging time into one image, some times it looks like you can see other dimensions in the images, or the persons soul in their eyes. I like to capture the love, emotions and other human interactions between people in my portraits, but equally I am drawn to the abstract passing of time and capturing that in an image.
I like to photograph landscapes, people, animals plus macro and abstract time delay photography.

I also have always enjoyed painting and did this as a pass time as a teenager to relax and express my feelings. I do the same thing now and have painted on and off over the years but more recently have been painting regularly.
I like blending colours and expressing emotions through painting. Sometimes focussing on sub conscious themes emerging.

When I joined Blue Thumb artists Facebook group I also was inspired by Jillian Crider, who is another artist here, with her kind words of encouragement and helpful advice. Thanks Jillian. I’m going with the flow in a positive way.

I have found that encouragement and support can come from the most unusual places when you open yourself up to interactions you wouldn’t normally have.

On other influences I’m intrigued by the creative process and find much of it comes from an unconscious or subconscious process. Same as with my songwriting or other art forms or hobbies I enjoy like jewellery making or sewing. I try to tune in to
my intuition, feelings and emotions when creating.
I identify with Expressionism and artists such as Van Gogh and Edward Munch. But I also like the Impressionist style of capturing light and time such as examples by Claude Monet. I adore The Pre Raphelites and whilst my style wouldn’t reflect them my choices of colour and emotion in my work might. I’m also a fan of Salvador Dali and the surrealist style and lastly also of Abstract painting.

I studied graphic design / visual communication in the 90’s. I also worked at photography studios around Adelaide such as GFP Studios and Advanced Life. I’ve also studied Programming Action Script, and marketing, plus Training and Assessment. At present I’m a full time Artist and trying to survive and support myself in this field that I felt destined to be a part of. My earliest memories are of wanting to grow up to be a Photographer and Artist. Even knowing how difficult it can be to succeed and support oneself as an Artist.

Some graphic art illustrations I did in 1996 were of Carl Jung as I find his ideas on Collective Unconscious interesting. (pls see folio). I like experimenting and experiencing or trying new things. I’m also adventurous and can be forthright with my views.

I’m passionate about activism (social justice) and changing the world for the better and like to think art can help make positive changes. Banksy being a good example of that.

The esoteric world has intrigued me since a child and brought me to introspective journeys and some times these influences can be included into my paintings.

I’m grateful to the Blue Thumb founders and the community, for giving Australian artists like me a place to display my / our work.

I feel gratitude for the existence I experience and go forth with love and abundance in my heart as I tread my own track. <3

Thanks for visiting, happy to do a commission or answer enquiry about my work.