CROMWELL - Ali Lenehan believes creativity is the essence of self-expression. Her life and artistic experience has, time and again, shown how creativity is about �"getting lost and finding freedom in what you are doing whether it be painting, creating music, dancing, crafting, and so,” she says. �"It’s so much more about the process than the outcome.”

       A Cromwell native, Lenehan is an illustrator, graphic artist, and painter. She also teaches private lessons to children and adults. A graduate of Paier College of Art, her soulful paintings have been exhibited and sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts and California. Upon study of her artwork, one is immediately drawn into the emotional landscape brought forth not only in facial expression, but in the way light, depth and color play upon the features to evoke feelings that are often hard to put into words.

       â€�"I am inspired by the quiet stillness of the soul while in deep contemplation,” Lenehan said of her artistic style. â€�"By capturing a figure’s facial expressions or body language, by using color to create a certain mood and incorporating symbolic images, I feel that I can tell a story of emotion through painting… sometimes of love and tranquility, sometimes of heartache and despair.”

       In addition to ongoing work with her series of oil paintings, Lenehan has illustrated a children’s book, Every Body Does Yoga, that was written by another Cromwell native, Lynn Eddy. Lenehan also makes time to teacher painting classes through Cromwell Belden Library and is often joined by her sister and mother in this endeavor.

       Her mother, Rosemary Matus, encouraged Lenehan and her sisters to be creative from a very young age.

       â€�"There were always art supplies and craft supplies around our house,” she said. â€�"My mom is a creative soul who has always had art projects going on, from craft projects to cake decorating to painting--she does it all! She took me to museums and sent me to private art lessons in my teen years. I am so grateful for her influence and encouragement.”

       Lenehan also credited her high school art teacher Aline Grandazzo as an early inspiration during her years at Cromwell High School.

       â€�"She always encouraged me and helped me believe in myself. I spent as much time as I could in her art room,” she said. â€�"Mrs. Grandazzo made it such a welcoming place. I thank my lucky stars to have had her influence during such time of uncertainty and growth.”

       Lenehan took a little time away from her work and family life to speak with us about her creative process.

      

       Were you creative as a child, or did you discover your artistic talent later in life?

       I think I was creative as a child mostly because of my surroundings. My sisters and I were always encouraged to be creative and we learned a lot by just watching my mom in action with all of her projects. I noticed how much I enjoyed the creative process at an early age. I think I was about 13 when I realized my passion for drawing and painting.

      

       Where do you find inspiration for your art?

       I find inspiration in nature and in human emotion. I love to find those moments of stillness and contemplation and make them last on the canvas. I also find inspiration in music. As I was growing up, my dad would sometimes listen to music and look out the window pensively. He listened to folk music like Jackson Browne and Simon and Garfunkel or classical piano. It’s the kind of music that makes you feel deeply. It helped me to develop a contemplative and spiritual side that I think comes out in my art.

       My family is another source for inspiration for me. My husband Mike and my three children, Molly, Braden and Mia, are all very creative in their own ways.

      

       What artists have most influenced your artistic style?

       Alice Neel is one of my favorite artists. Her portraits are filled will expression and depth. I am also influenced by the raw expressionism in Van Gogh and Edward Munch’s work and the dreamy quality of Chagall’s work. There is so much feeling in the colors and brush strokes.

      

       How does your creative process work, from the start of a

       painting to the finished piece?

       When beginning a painting, I usually do a small study in pencil and watercolor. I usually use photographs that I have collected over the years as a reference for anatomy and nature. Once I feel confident in my subject, I do a loose drawing on the canvas with charcoal. Then I add washes of color in acrylic or water-based oils over the entire background and subject. Final touches and bolder colors are usually done in oil. The vision I have before I begin a piece is never set in stone. I let my intuition and mood guide me.

      

       What types of challenges, or blocks, do you encounter in your process. How do you work through this?

       A major challenge these days is time. My family is my main focus in life and there is so much involved with being a working mom. I think the reason I have stuck with painting for all these years--even though it is difficult to find the time to do it--is because I have a driving force inside of me that makes it impossible to let it go. It is just who I am and I would not feel complete without out it. I know it is important for my soul to be creative; no matter what I make time for it.

       I sometimes will get stuck on a painting and not know what the next step should be. It helps to step away and come back to it later. I will often start another painting before finishing one piece. I like to have a few paintings in progress so that I can move to the next one when I do get stuck.

      

       What advice would you like to share with aspiring artists of any age?

       Don’t be worried about making your art perfect. Your art is an extension of yourself. It is unique. Many times our mistakes can inspire us to take a different approach to what we are doing. Make your art your own and don’t compete with others. Everyone’s art is different and that is the beauty of it. I also believe that we all have an innate creativity that needs to be nurtured and encouraged to bloom.

      

       Ali Lenehan’s artwork can be viewed at www.facebook.com/pages/Artwork-by-Ali-Lenehan/271441154525

       Learn more about Every Body Does Yoga at www.facebook.com/pages/Artwork-by-Ali-Lenehan/271441154525

      

       The Cromwell Arts Alliance will show their support for local artists like Lenehan by featuring images of their works on the Alliance Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/Artwork-by-Ali-Lenehan/271441154525 .