About the Artist
Alex Squires
Artist's Statement
My art is motivated by the desire to capture what photos don't quite do justice. I aim to capture the feeling, light, and color of a moment in my paintings. I want the viewer to feel as though they are there, not by conveying every detail of the scene with exact realism, but by evoking the crisp air or twinkling lights with the expressive brush strokes of impressionism. I choose to paint en plein air for this reason: painting from life allows me to really see and feel what I'm painting in a way that painting from a photograph doesn't. Some of my paintings are easily recognized scenes, but I truly enjoy finding the beauty in places people may overlook at first. I want to show those who view my paintings how I see the world around me. I want them to notice the dancing shadows, the interesting shapes between tree branches, and the way sun lights up the edge of a cloud. Though my paintings capture specific moments in time, I believe they are moments that are common to many of us. Maybe they can bring you back to a moment that a photo couldn't quite capture, or help you appreciate the beauty of something your eyes skip over every day.
Alex Squires
Biography
I've been painting since I can remember. In 2019 while I was studying abroad in Europe, I felt like my eyes were glancing over some of the most beautiful places in the world without appreciating the details. I needed a way to pause and truly take in the beauty around me. I found an art supply store in Paris, bought some canvases, and painted en plein air for the first time without any idea what I was doing. Since then I haven't put down my paintbrushes. I've traveled across the United States to paint scenes in person, and am always searching my own city for new places to capture in paint. As an extension of my interest in plein air, I took up painting live at weddings and other events, and I feel truly blessed to participate in such special occasions. I now live in Knoxville and am working on a PhD in Mathematics. The city of Knoxville has brought new opportunities to expand my artistic community, and the mix of urban and natural scenery has brought refreshed inspiration.