“Through my work, I aim to capture the essence of life’s fleeting moments, reminding viewers of the preciousness of time and the importance of cherishing every moment we have.”
A Journey Sparked by Uninhibited Creativity
Allison Allessio never anticipated that she would one day become an artist. Her journey into the world of painting was sparked not by formal training or a lifelong ambition, but by an unexpected source—her young daughter. Watching her child freely express herself with paint and paper, without hesitation or fear of imperfection, inspired Allessio to pick up a brush herself. What began as a simple attempt to connect with her daughter’s creativity quickly grew into a deep and undeniable passion. She initially took art lessons from her daughter’s teacher, but as her enthusiasm intensified, she sought a more structured education in the field. This led her to study art at UC Berkeley, where she developed the skills and confidence that now define her work.
Allessio’s background is rooted in both academic rigor and a personal love for artistic exploration. She grew up in Fresno, California, later attending UC San Diego for her undergraduate studies and earning a graduate degree from USC. While her academic path was not initially centered on art, her eventual immersion in painting allowed her to integrate her intellectual curiosity with visual storytelling. Now based in Piedmont, California, she balances life as an artist, wife, and mother of three, finding ways to weave creativity into her daily routine. The unpredictability of life and the fleeting nature of time are central themes in her work, shaping her artistic vision. Through each painting, she seeks to remind viewers of the beauty in everyday moments, encouraging them to pause and appreciate the world around them.
Her dedication to the craft is unwavering, and she continues to push the boundaries of her creativity. Though she has explored various artistic techniques and mediums, her passion for oil painting remains steadfast. The rich, chromatic qualities of oil paint allow her to achieve the depth and luminosity she desires in her compositions. With each brushstroke, she refines her approach, striving to create pieces that are both technically sophisticated and emotionally resonant.
Allison Allessio: A Balance Between Realism and Abstraction
Allessio’s artistic style is a dynamic fusion of realism and expressive abstraction. She gravitates toward compositions that balance recognizable forms with painterly spontaneity, creating work that feels both familiar and dreamlike. Her subjects often include florals, still lifes, and landscapes, but her approach transcends mere representation. Light, texture, and color play a pivotal role in her compositions, lending them an atmospheric quality that evokes emotion and nostalgia.
Rather than treating objects as static forms, Allessio imbues them with movement and energy. A flower petal is not just a petal—it becomes a study in light and translucency. A glass vase or a draped fabric is not merely a still life element but an opportunity to explore reflection, depth, and materiality. She often contrasts vibrant hues with moody, muted backgrounds, enhancing the visual tension in her work. This interplay of light and shadow, sharpness and softness, creates a captivating visual dialogue that draws the viewer into her world.
Her compositions exude intimacy, often depicting quiet moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether painting an arrangement of fruit wrapped in crinkled plastic or a serene fireside scene, she transforms the mundane into something poetic. Her softened edges and diffused backgrounds echo the influence of Impressionist painters, yet her commitment to detail keeps her grounded in a representational tradition. Through layered brushwork and careful attention to color harmony, she crafts pieces that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
The Creative Process: Finding Focus and Inspiration
Allessio’s approach to painting is deeply intentional, requiring a space free of distractions. With the demands of family life, carving out time for creativity can be challenging, but she makes a conscious effort to dedicate at least two hours a day to painting. Even on days when productivity feels elusive, she believes that experimentation and practice are essential to artistic growth. Whether refining an existing piece or simply exploring new ideas, each session in her studio serves as a step toward further development.
Her influences are as diverse as her artistic style, drawing inspiration from master painters known for their handling of light, movement, and expressive brushwork. She admires the works of Joaquín Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Quang Ho, and Dennis Perrin, all of whom have shaped her understanding of composition and technique. Among these, Sorolla’s ability to capture light and atmosphere has left a profound impact on her own artistic philosophy. His painting The Beach of Valencia by Morning Light stands out as a particular favorite, with its masterful depiction of water reflections and delicate fabric folds. To Allessio, this piece is not only a testament to technical brilliance but also a window into a historical moment, portraying the resilience and daily lives of the people of early 20th-century Spain.
While oil painting remains her primary medium, Allessio has experimented with acrylic, acrylic ink, watercolor, and alcohol ink. Each medium presents its own challenges and rewards, but the luminous, layered quality of oil paint continues to captivate her. The patience required for its slow drying process allows her to build depth gradually, giving her work a richness that other mediums cannot replicate.
Allison Allessio: Looking Toward the Future
Beyond her current body of work, Allessio has an ambitious vision for the future. She has been developing a series of large-scale abstract paintings, a departure from her usual balance of realism and impressionistic detail. This ongoing project represents an exciting new direction—one that she hopes will eventually find a home in a gallery setting. The larger scale allows her to explore movement, form, and emotion in a way that feels expansive and liberating, pushing her artistic practice into new territory.
While her focus has long been on intimate and atmospheric compositions, this abstract series allows her to experiment more freely with gestural brushstrokes and unconventional color palettes. The expressive possibilities of abstraction intrigue her, providing an avenue to communicate emotion without the constraints of recognizable forms. Though still in development, these works carry the same sensitivity to light, texture, and color that define her representational paintings.
Allessio’s artistic journey is one of constant evolution. Whether capturing the quiet elegance of a still life or venturing into abstraction, she remains dedicated to exploring the endless possibilities of paint. Her work continues to resonate with viewers, inviting them to reflect on the beauty found in both the ordinary and the extraordinary. As she refines her craft and expands her artistic vision, the future holds limitless potential for her creative expression.
