P Alexandria

I am P. Alexandria, an artist from Northeast Ohio. I currently work in drawing, watercolor, and batik, but have also dabbled at times in ceramic sculpture and wood sculpture. My current specialty is batik.

I have been formally educated at Columbus College of Art and Design, as well as several other art schools on and off throughout my life. I also have degrees in Geology and Mechanical Drafting. My background is a curious blend of the artistic, the technical, and the scientific.

I vastly prefer to work from life; from live models, as opposed to working from photographs or other two-dimensional forms. I feel I can best create life on paper or cloth if I work directly from life itself. The human form with its incredible power, complexity, and beauty has always been my favorite subject. The interplay of skin over muscle over bone, and the way that light and shadows reveal those dynamic relationships, is endlessly fascinating to me.

In batik, I am fascinated by the unpredictability of the medium. Instead of always trying to control the behavior of the molten wax, I prefer to play with its depth and fluidity and mystery. The character of the image created by the wax is very three-dimensional and can create apparent depth within a two-dimensional surface. Although most of the wax gets removed from the batik in the final process, I usually some leave some behind to add to the depth and luminosity of the color.

I currently use Dharma Trading Company's Procion Dyes, as well as their soda ash, sodium alginate, urea, and synthrapol. I've shopped around in the past, but found no one better for service, quality, and price.

My web page is currently under construction: www.artofbatik.com