I first came across Alessandra Genualdo's beautiful work on Instagram and instantly feel in love. Her intricate playful paintings of ladies in amazing outfits, dogs and plants always make me smile and I was so happy to find out that Alessandra lives very close to me and that we even walk our dogs in the same park.
This week I went to visit Alessandra and Kira, her beautiful English Setter, in Ale's light-filled studion in Hackney Wick and chatted about dogs (mainly!), the importance of reading and our creative processes. Originally from Puglia, Southern Italy, Alessandra did a MA i illustration at Camberwell College of Art and now works as a freelance illustrator and tutor. Working with gouache painting and coloured pencil on paper she takes inspiration from everything from botanical illustration to fashion collections (recent collaborations include work with Erdem & Gucci). The female figure plays a predominate part in Ale's illustrations and the ladies and girls that she paints manage to be mysterious, innocent, fashionable and melancholic- all at the same time. For more inspiring work check out Alessandra's website, if you ask nicely she might even take on a private commission.