A Bohemian Rhapsody in Art: Alannah Mason

Wonder of wonders and talents galore, Alannah Mason creates art wrapped in a whirlwind of energy turning everything she touches into treasure. During childhood, books and colours kept her engrossed and entertained, early exposure to colours helped burgeon Alannah’s inherent tendency to produce art with an ease reminiscent of flowers blooming in the wild. Competing with her sister when they were both young gave Alannah ample practice, and ultimately the experience to turn art into her career choice. 

New York Before 9/11

“I became so good at photo renditions that I could draw just by looking at an image and scaling it without any tools, even from very small to incredibly large.”

Aquatic Goddess

Her gypsy life style helped her pick up talents from all around the world. She met people of different backgrounds and absorbed every potential and craft she could. Her ability to morph art and present it with her stamp of individuality gives her a new visage with every form of art she creates. 

Tropical

“My creative process is elaborate because I wear so many masks.”

Painting a Newsstand for the City

Alannah’s repertoire is vast and all of it is self-taught. At school, she was sought after by friends for calligraphic tasks and for painting the back drop for school plays. At the same time, she developed her unique style of embellishing the female form with colours. This is now her signature move, along with her unique belly dancing steps. On her trip to Egypt, she became spellbound by the Egyptians and their ability to have magicked art as if out of thin air. During the same trip she was bewitched by the pyramids and the beauty and luxury of the female form. 

Pearl

Alannah gives a face to women’s alter egos. She dons her own alter ego when she dons her Isis wings, veils, fans, swords, candelabra, or Shamedan plate to perform at an event. The form of art that is closest to her heart is dance; it is the time when she can let the music take over. Just like music, art flows through her veins and she relishes her freedom to create. 

Motivational

“Anything that gives me the freedom to create liberally with a brush and use a magnitude of colour increases my thirst for creativity.”

Alannah Mason in Robert MacNeil's "Zahra" Series

When we asked Alannah what her dream event as a host would be like? Her eyes shone and the smile that appeared on her face said it all. It was like a million fireflies had been released into the night sky and the brilliance outshone even the brightest starlit sky. And here is what made her shine like a star:

“I will host a Fashion Extravaganza in a castle. Showcasing body-painted models on platforms wearing painted fashion by a variety of artists; the models will act as live sculptures. A series of models revealing high fashion by world-renowned designers will enter the showroom by coming down a dual set of staircases revealing international couture. There would be fire breathers and magicians entertaining the crowd, aerial dancers hanging from the ceiling, a samurai performance, an art auction, hors d’oeuvres, sushi and cocktail bars, belly dance intermission, and an ice sculpture (serving drinks) similar to one of Alexander McQueen’s classic designs.”

Follow Alannah's art on the following social media channels: Facebook: www.Facebook.com/amasonart Twitter www.twitter.com/amasonart

Through The Looking Glass: Wesley Neal Rasko

Swirling colours, emotions, nature, and awe-inspiring fascination, this is what Wesley Neal Rasko captures in his unique pieces of glass work.  Glass, a medium most cannot associate fluidity and flexibility with, is what Wesley finds to be the most romantic. It was always this way. He was always attracted towards art in some form or manner. Humble beginnings are what help Wesley make pieces of art that people are able to connect so well with. As a child he was always doodling, drawing, or creating one thing or the other. 

“I didn’t have many friends and as such the avenue of art gave me a way to escape into my own ‛world.’ ”

Through Time

His escape to the world of art became not only a way for him to channel his energies in an effective manner; it also became an important connection with nature and people. His father’s influence in shaping his love and passion for art is undoubtedly great. He reminisces about the times his father would take him on the road with him and buy unique pieces of art directly from the artists. This helped set a precedent for when Wesley himself would become a well-known artist. On a memorable trip Wesley walked into Bohumil Elias’s studio; he was mesmerized by the Master at work. It is still a mystery to Wesley, exactly what it was that compelled Bohumil to offer him an apprenticeship, but it was time for Wesley to be preened for the world of art.

“I’ll never know why Bohumil offered me to stay and learn with him, it could have something to do with the jaw-dropping reaction I had to his work upon first seeing it, like a child in a candy store or the first time a little boy sees a porno magazine…AMAZED!”

Formal education served as a stepping stone for Wesley, but it was his apprenticeship with Bohumil that helped him find his unique flare in creating art. He learned and learned as much as he could about the magical medium of glass, finding a friend, a painter, a teacher, and a mentor in his Master. The next thirteen years Welsey spent learning from trial and error, painful as it was, at the end of it all, his art was able to leave a blazing mark. 

Erotic

The process of creating a single piece of unique art can span over 4 - 6 weeks. From a simple idea that sparks the basis for a piece of art, it takes creating sketches again and again and being meticulous enough to note down even the slightest of detail for materials to be used in the piece to complete an exclusive piece of art. The idea can spring forth from anything present in emotions, nature, memories, and feelings. The piece above symbolizes the sensuality of nature’s most romantic creatures: women. 

At some point in his artistic career Wesley would love to partner with great artists such as Janice Taylor, because her use of bright, vivid, and contrasting colours attracts him; Jules Slangen (Holland) and Takeshi Ito (Japan), because of their expertise in the use of the magical medium: glass. Wesley loves exhibiting his work and finds great joy in how easily people are able to connect with glass as an art medium. 

Chameleon

“Many of my sculptural ideas evolved around emotions, and it is not a medium that is seen commonly. Especially the combination of glass and stone has a powerful presence. If I am blown away during the creative process, I can expect the viewer to have a similar reaction.”