Inverell artist Alex Mason can now add a collaboration with an international make-up brand to her list of impressive achievements. The artist, who specialises in bright, textured, floral paintings, was selected to provide artwork that will grace the packaging of Basics by B brand’s latest cosmetic product.
Ms Mason said that it all started on Instagram.
“The CEO of Basics by B, Bonnie Gillies, started following me on Instagram,” said Ms Mason.
“It was from here that I found out they were running a competition to find an artist to help design the packaging of their first ever eye palette – I entered, and I won!”
Basics By B Brand Partnerships Manager, Katie Philips, said, “After running a search competition last year to find the next artist to collaborate with, Bonnie was thrilled to see Alex’s entry ‘Spring Fling’ and thought it would be the perfect fit for her brand.”
“The two have spent the last few months working together on developing the product- Bonnie’s first ever Eye Makeup Palette.”
The product’s official launch date is the 14th of March, and an official launch event will be held in Syndey.
“I’ll be heading to Syndey and will be holding a paint and sip class at Pinot and Picasso in Bondi as a part of the official launch event,” said Ms Mason.
Ms Mason’s bold floral artwork has now gained her international acclaim and she said it’s all a dream come true.
“I always dreamed of becoming an artist, I absolutely loved art at high school, but I just never thought I’d ever get the chance to turn it into a career,” said Ms Mason.
After moving to Brisbane and working in radio for several years, a general disillusionment surrounding a lack of career growth, and COVID encouraged Ms Mason to return to her hometown of Inverell. It was while working as a casual youth worker she returned to painting to help manage her own anxiety.
From there her painting career has gone from strength to strength with demand for commissioned pieces skyrocketing.
“I’m working on a few commission pieces for international clients at the moment, it’s keeping me very busy” said Ms Mason.
When asked where she finds inspiration for her work, including the design for the Basics by B palette, the answer is close to home.
“It’s my mum’s garden!” she said.
“She grows all these beautiful natives, and they have this wonderful texture, they’re weird and they’re spikey and I just love them.”
Ms Mason’s mother is also an artist, and Ms Mason has spoken previously about the strong influence that she has had on her work and creativity, particularly her use of thickener in her acrylic to make textured, more sculptural paintings.
Outside of her busy painting work, Ms Mason also offers online art tutorials and runs regular paint and sip workshops out of The Welder’s Dog at Inverell.
She’ll also be celebrating another personal career milestone later this year.
“I’ll be holding my first ever solo exhibition at the Goondiwindi Regional Civic Centre Art Space in September 2024,” said Ms Mason.
“I’d love to see some visitors from the New England region come and support my work!” For more information about Alex Mason’s art or her classes, visit her website. The Basics by B Spring Fling eyeshadow palette will be available online later this month.”
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