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We all come to the arts from different places. Alexander (Lex) Halakan
began his career as an artist four years ago and won the Grand Prize
Award at the 2002 Cooperstown Art Association 67th Annual National
Exhibition in Cooperstown, NY. “Metroland Magazine” in Albany states,
“His pieces…draw the viewer in to examine the velvety texture of the
pastels and the subtle changes in color.”
And how did this life change occur? He credits artist, Deborah
Webster (his wife), as his inspiration. Taking guidance from Deborah, he
began with pencil drawings and found that he liked it. After months of
pencil drawings, he longed to add color and switched to pastels,
creating pieces as small as 5 and 7 inches. In the past year, he has
moved to oils and is now creating larger pieces up to 36 inches, which
he finds very rewarding.
As you view Lex’s work, you will see that he is inspired by water and
sky. He states, “Visits to the National Seashore on Cape Cod inspire me,
and I am mesmerized by the grandiose aspect of the ocean and its power,
the shape, forms and unexpected aspects of the sky. I am particularly
drawn to the blending of where sky and sea meet, and this is what I try
to capture and represent in my work.” He rarely works from photographs,
relying on his memory to present his vision on the interaction and
reflection of water and sky.
For the past thirty years, he has taught school and is looking
forward to devoting full time to his art. He loves his work as an
artist, and as many of us do when doing something we love, often loses
himself to his painting.
Lex has exhibited widely in his short tenure as an artist:
Cooperstown, Spencertown, Sugar Loaf, Troy, Glens Falls, Colonie,
Cobleskill, Ballston Spa, Clifton Park, and Albany, in
New York State as well as Omaha, NE, and Montclair, NJ. His work is
regularly available at Morningside Gallery in Latham, Departure – The
Shop of the Capital Region Museums in Albany and, Bertoni Gallery in
Sugar Loaf, NY. He will have work on display in the show “X 2: Couples
in Art in 2003”, Invitational Exhibition, at The Cooperstown Art
Association Gallery, Cooperstown.
To see more of Lex’s work, visit his web site:
www.halakan.com |
