Alison Woolley

Florenceart.net

Decorative painter

©Olga Makarova

Renaissance craftsmanship in contemporary hands

Alison moved to Italy from Canada in the late 1980s
Florence’s rich cultural heritage nurtured her talent for painting
Her atelier is situated in the scenic Tuscan countryside

Alison Woolley landed in Florence as a young graduate from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. “I was fascinated by the beautiful artisan workshops in the city," she recalls. “I went to all the studios with my paintings, until I was finally offered an internship in the bottega of a master decorator." What started as her post-graduate year became a lifelong commitment. “I was excited by the craft side of decoration, and how it was linked to the world of interior design. I preferred this route to being a fine artist selling through galleries.” Alison carries out a variety of commission works, and one of her specialities is the decoration of harpsichords with elaborate gilding and chinoiserie. She also holds engaging art classes, private lessons and online courses.

Interview

©Olga Makarova

©Olga Makarova

Do you use specific materials and techniques?: I use traditional materials such as gold leaf, natural glues and pigments, and techniques that I learned directly from the hands of the artisans in Florence, in an unbroken chain that has been passed on since the early Renaissance.
What aspect of your work do you love the most?: I believe it is the learning process, which is never ending. Many lessons of patience, keen observation, appreciation and engagement with the material world are absorbed into the way of life of an artisan.
Where does your inspiration come from?: It depends on the object. My harpsichord decorations are linked to the history of European Baroque music. Much of my aesthetic vision comes from my study of these motifs, themes and techniques. I am also influenced by my experience of life and nature.
On which occasion did you feel particularly proud of your work?: I think I was the most thrilled to have the harpsichords that I decorated in the Opéra Royal de Versailles and in the Opera House of the National Grand Theatre in Beijing.

Alison Woolley is a master artisan: she began her career in 1990 and she started teaching in 1995