Artospective: Figurative Paintings by Alexandra Manukyan from Los Angeles.

‘Making-a-Friend’, 40”x40”, oil-on-Belgian-linen.

An Interview with Alexandra Manukyan.

Who and where are you from?

I was born and raised in Armenia, and had a very beautiful childhood, full of fond memories. Since 1990 I live and work in Los Angeles.

How you got into this?

From a very young age I realized that I had a need of being creative, and the only way I could fully express myself was through drawing or painting. My parents engaged me in various after school programs, but at the age of 11 I urged them to take me to art school. After art school I graduated from Fine Art College, and later from State Pedagogical University where I majored in Teaching Fine Arts. Here in States I studied Fashion Design, and Graphic Design, and worked in fashion and graphic design industries for over two decades.

What is your driving force?

I have been greatly concerned about the global environmental changes, such as loss of biodiversity, species extinctions, and destruction of natural habitats. Most of my latest work is based on environmental theme.

Preparing the compositions for my paintings is an elaborate process, and sometimes it takes me months to come up with concepts, and start producing the paintings. I always think of a series and do several pieces to each series. I make the jewelry, and most of the the costumes you see in my paintings, myself. Before starting a series, I sketch out my ideas, and have a solid understanding of images I want to depict, and what models I’m going to hire, as well as what kind of clothing I need to make for my heroes. Each painting takes weeks, and sometimes months, to finish.

What kind of work you do and why?

In art schools I have been introduced to different art styles and mediums, but I really like working with oils, and do figurative art. I focus on combining traditional oil painting techniques with surrealist symbolism.

When you approach my paintings to examine closely, you realize that realism of the oil painting breaks down, revealing variegating, energetic brushstrokes, with thick impasto on lights of the skin of models, and in details and elements of clothing.

Also thanks to fashion design, I have developed my sensibility to textures, colors, and the finest details that make up such an important part of my paintings. On the other hand, graphic design immensely improved my conceptual thinking and refined my sense in composition.

Since 2012 I opened my teaching studio, where I teach atelier program, and help gifted students achieve their goals.