Oona Aiken

You were born in London and now study in Montreal — how have these places influenced you as an artist?

I’m very lucky to have grown up in London with artistic, culture-loving parents who often took me to galleries, exhibitions, and museums. Those early experiences sparked my fascination with visual culture and beauty. I remember being very young, visiting the National History Museum, and feeling mesmerized by all the strange and wonderful animals on display. As an artist, I try and capture that same sense of wonder – the strangeness and beauty of nature. Growing up surrounded by art in London, helped me build an understanding of what art can be: how art has no boundaries, and how one can have a personal connection with art.

Now, living and studying in Montreal, I find inspiration in a different kind of artistic environment. The city is bursting with vibrant street art and murals – which are insanely detailed and unique, they add so much colour to the city. These murals brighten my day, and they remind me of how art can make a positive impact in everyday life – how it can make everyday life more colourful and interesting. The street art in Montreal inspires me to create work that can have that same kind of impact – making the everyday, mundane aspects of everyday life a little more interesting and colourful.

When did you first discover your passion for painting and visual art?

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, but I really discovered my passion for visual art during secondary school. At the time, I was struggling with questions about my identity and where I fit in socially. Art at this time became a way for me to articulate my thoughts and emotions I couldn’t always put into words. Art became a kind of therapy that helped me understand myself better. Through Creating art, I could focus on something that distracted me from other worries. I was also lucky to be sourrounded by kids who were equally passionate about art as I was, and their passion drove my passion.

Oona Aiken | Blue Skin

You are a self-taught artist — what has that journey been like for you?

Being a self-taught artist has been a journey of experimentation. Teaching yourself means always making and trying new things – different mediums, tools, different colours, and brushes. This experimentation allows me to see what works and what doesn’t work. I’m glad to be self taught because it’s allowed my style to develop uniquely: No one told me how to create, so what I’m making is coming from my own curiosity and intuition. I also learn by observing other artists. Seeing how others use materials and approach their subjects often inspires me and pushes my work in new directions. Recently, I’ve been inspired by contemporary artists like Anna Vereshchaka and Kim McCarthy.

Your portraits show a lot of emotion and character. What draws you to painting people?

Thank you! I am drawn to painting people because, to me, people are the most interesting things in life. We are social beings. Our connection with people is what gives life it’s meaning. Connections to people enables love, and what is life without love? People leave lasting impressions on us. I’m drawn to painting people for these reasons. Visually, I find the eyes to be the most impressionistic feature about people, and I love painting eyes. If I’m painting a person and I’ve painted the eyes, its like magic, the painting comes to life, like I’ve created a soul, that’s how powerful the eyes are. Eyes are another reason I’m drawn to painting people.

Oona Aiken | Kiss

You also experiment with photography — how does photography connect with your painting practice?

I often use my own photographs as the starting point for my paintings. I like to photograph my friends and family, asking them to pose in ways that capture a certain emotion or atmosphere. These images then become references for my paintings. Experimenting with photography has also deepened my understanding of light and it’s importance, which has enriched the way I handle light and shadow in my paintings.

Oona Aiken | Flourish

Fashion, film, and literature are important inspirations for you. Can you share an example of how one of these influenced a specific artwork?

Yes! One of my most recent paintings, Kiss, was inspired by a film still from the 1960’s French film Plein Soleil, which is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. I wanted to capture the sense of problematic love – something beautiful yet tinged with danger, a romance that exists on the edge of tragedy. That duality is what i love about the film: it’s so romantic and visually stunning, yet simultaneously underneath it all lies murder, deception and danger.
Another painting, Flourish, was inspired by a look from Alexander McQueen’s Spring/ Summer 2011 collection, titled Ensemble. I was interested in the butterflies of that design – how they can simultaneously symbolize the sense of butterflies in your stomach or in your throat when you’re emotional or excited. In Flourish, I wanted to explore that symbolism.

Oona Aiken | Girl And Veil

When viewers look at your work, what feelings or thoughts do you hope they experience?

I hope they find beauty in my work. I create art because I want to bring something beautiful into the world. I believe that beauty is the most valuable thing in life. I live for beauty. Beauty is my obsession and my greatest comfort. So, if my art can allow someone else to experience beauty, and if my art lets someone else feel the comfort that beauty allows me to feel then that, to me, is a success.