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ARTIST STATEMENT
“I paint in watercolour because I love its versatility and the range of effects
it allows, from the delicate hues achieved by transparent washes to the dramatic
tones achieved by application of concentrated pigment on a dry brush. I am also
passionate about detail and I use the tiniest brushes to obsessively sharpen
every line and draw everything I see down to the last minutiae”
A British artist, currently based in Sydney, Alix is self taught. Yet drawing and painting have constituted an important part of her life for as long as she can remember. Driven to capture the world around her on paper and aspired to recreate a particular chosen moment in all its intricate detail and depth. Growing up in the English countryside, Alix questions if the peaceful landscapes of her childhood contribute to her fascination for cities with all their contrasting grit and organised chaos. Her paintings are snapshots of daily urban life that aim to convey aspects of a city’s character and that of its people.
Since moving to Australia in 2009, Fairbairn’s artistic focus has been on capturing the inner Sydney landscape. The process of observing and painting, helps Alix define her own relationship with the city. The paintings of crowded streets and heavy traffic express the pulsating energy of urban life, the constant ebb and flow of street activity.
Engaging the
viewer to join Alix in her city adventure, the compositions taper off into the
distance, conveying a feeling of infinity. The city never rests.
Twilight scenes are a particular source of inspiration for Fairbairn. The
strange, lurid palette they demand. Using skilful watercolour techniques, the
ethereal glow created by street lights and neon signs, the pearly sheen cast on
the ground by car headlights, are all captured and transferred to the
watercolour paper with such purpose, skill and confidence.
We are there with
her, captured in the headlights.
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