Meet Alicia Hobbs | Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Hobbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, how do you think about risk?
It’s funny because risk has never really occurred to me in the moment. Risk taking is very much an analytical process and calculated way of thinking, and is basically the opposite of how I think as an artist. In hindsight, the choices I’ve made that have brought me to where I am now can all be written off as traditional risks, but really I was only doing what felt right at the time. I like to think of it as pursuing an opportunity rather than taking a risk, and the outcome will either work in my favor or it will be a learning lesson to build on. It’s crazy to think that the past few magical years of my life would have never happened had I chosen security and comfort over my passions and dreams. I know I would have been very unhappy had I chosen to go with my safe path of pursuing medical school, which is what has made taking “risks” so much easier.

Like any business owner knows, you have to take on opportunities to make good investments. Sure, there will be some struggles and hard lessons learned, but the reward of watching your business take off and seeing positive results daily is worth the struggle. Knowing I’ll never have to face regret in pursuing my passion is well worth it. Painting has brought me to LA, introduced me to my newest friends, brought me closer to old ones, and has given me a quality of life I had never deemed imaginable. And hey, if that’s the reward of risk, then I am here to take them all on!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My playful style is the distinguishing factor of my art. I use unexpected color combinations, bold brush strokes, and intentional texture to give a skewed representation of typically traditional subject matter. I’ve been told my paintings are flirty, which I think is a fun way to describe them.

This style, however, has taken years to form and is constantly evolving. I am always trying different color combinations, using varieties of brushes to discover new textures, and playing around with light to create different shadows. This has led me to discover something new in each piece that I paint.

In the same way, trying new things and not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone is really how my business cultivated and is what led me to Los Angeles. Naturally I am more of a quiet and introverted person, so learning how to take leaps of faith and how to be uncomfortable is definitely something I am most proud of.

And of course trying new things does come with some challenges, failures, and learned lessons. But my business has grown exponentially at the expense of my mistakes. When something hasn’t worked out, I take a new road and try something else. It’s all trial and error, really. Those tougher parts of a business just need to be loved differently! And when something does work, I take it and run with it and constantly build on it. It’s fun running a business!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hold up, let me check the list I’ve made in my phone. My favorite part of Los Angeles is having guests to show around!

First and foremost, I bring them straight from LAX to Cava- my favorite restaurant, my guilty pleasure, the place I miss the most once I leave town. A Greek bowl grab-and-go type restaurant which is perfect for grabbing a bowl to go and picnicking at Pacific Palisades park.

For daytime activities I love to take my friends to Malibu, Brentwood farmers market, on a hike, to an art museum, or a bike ride down Manhattan beach. There are always fun pop-ups around LA too that I keep an eye out for. Day trips to Laguna or Catalina island are on the list too!

My go-to happy hour place to bring friends is La Boheme in WeHo. Or if we’re on that bike ride in Manhattan, Esperanza is always a favorite pit stop. Both places have such a fun environment with the best food, drinks, and service.

And finally, the number one activity I add in the itinerary is a comedy show, and LA has some of the best. Personally, I am always on the hunt for Gabby Lamb stand up shows (@gabbylamby I’m your biggest fan!!) and her shows make for the perfect girl’s night out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandmother, my Nannie, my forever best buddy- I give all the credit to her when it comes to my art career. Sadly she passed in 2019, but my Nannie was my biggest art fan and the reason I had the confidence to continually pursue it. From the day I picked up a crayon at age five, she told me everyday after I was the best artist in the world. And I believed her!

She noticed my talent early on, and did everything she could to foster and encourage it- she signed me up and brought me to art lessons, bought my first easel and paints, and reminded me daily I could be anything I wanted to be. I remember as a child I’d run straight to her house down the road after finishing an art project so she could see it first.

My family and friends have also been there every step of the way. I truly would not be where I am at without their constant support and encouragement!

Website: Aliciahobbs.com

Instagram: @aliciahobbs.art

Facebook: Facebook.com/aliciahobbs.art