Dora “'Every good painter paints what he is.' Jackson Pollock”

Female
Age: 45
Hometown: Naxxar/ Malta
Accepts Commissions: Yes
Logged in: No

Number of Visits: 6600
Public Messages My Dads Gallery - Albert Caruana J u n e - G a l l e r y Gallery G 2008 - NEW FACES V i b r a n t C o l o u r s Photography G r a p h i c s L i v i n g in G e r m a n y P h o t o g r a p h y 2 P a n o r a m a s May Paintings D i g i t a l W o r k s M y 1990s G a l l e r y postcards, calendars and other My House on the Island of Gozo My Home in Malta J u l y - G a l l e r y Pencil and Charcoal August/September January '08 Exhibition works Jennys Gallery Still Life in 3 stages Gallery G - 2008 - Gallery Room Working towards September Add to your friends Send private message
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My mum and I

Background and Lifestyle

Marital Status Married
Smoker No
Drinker No
Education Grad / professional school
Children Proud parent

Interests and Personality

BiographyAs a professional graphic designer and artist, Doranne Alden's preferred painting medium is watercolour. She enjoys working on various subjects and is mostly inspired by the colour of the composition rather than the subject matter itself. She was born in 1963 on the island of Malta and moved to Germany in 1996 and lived there for almost 7 years. She studied Art for a number of years at the Polytechnic School in Malta and also took various short courses in Graphic Design and Interior Design. Her work experience spans several years with various advertising agencies and eventually, before moving overseas, she ran her own advertising company. During the years spent in Germany, she held drawing and watercolour classes for adults. In 2006 Dora, won first prize in the Watercolour Section in a competition organised by the Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce, in Malta. As a graphic designer Dora has published photographic calendars, posters and postcards on Malta.
InterestsTravel, Art and Culture, Gardening,Travel,Cooking..... living. My other sites... http://http://doranne-alden.biz.ly/index.html http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Doranne+Alden/12427.html http://darlingdor.spaces.live.com/PersonalSpace.aspx?owner=1
MusicNick Harper, Adrian Legg, Phil Colins and Genesis, Eagles, James Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel anything that I can paint along to and inspires my soul.
FilmsPan's Labyrinth is one of my latest favourites. The script was especially well written even though I read it in subtitles as the film is in Spanish.
TelevisionNot much unless there's something interesting about design etc.
BooksArt, Art History, Architecture, you name it.
HeroesAnyone who can be true to God, and to their commitments in Life. My inspiration comes from the Impressionists, especially Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida

Exhibitions

Translated article which appeared in the Weilheim Tablett - Bavaria, by well known art critic Thomas Wellens. MALTESE ARTIST EXHIBITS WATERCOLOURS IN BAVARIA. Maltese artist Doranne Alden, currently residing in Bavaria, recently held a solo exhibition of her works in the Bavarian town of Wessobrunn. Critic Thomas Wellens had this to say: ` The artist, Doranne Alden, a graphic designer living in Germany for some time now, delights in painting still-life pictures which are rich in vibrant colours. She was born in Malta and certainly her native island, so flooded with light and glowing sunshine, has influenced the intense hues and style of her watercolours. The variety of fruit and flowers enhances their attractive man-made containers of different shapes and textures (vases, baskets, bowls, etc.) and results in a well-balanced, beautiful composition. .... Although she works mainly with watercolour Mrs. Alden usually avoids the soft flowing lines of the wet-in-wet technique and applies the medium on a white, dry background. The artist avoids too much detail by allowing the free-flowing colours to shape the vessel, flower or fruit and attain the intended result. Contrasts are ultimately the secret to these paintings which seem to be so full of life and light: red tulips in a blue vessel, all these entice the eye. Natural without being too realistic, this exhibition reveals the grandiose richness of a lush, ever sumptuous world. ` The Ammersee Kurier referred to the pictures as `little jewels of art`. This translated article also appeared in the `The Times of Malta` in 1997. The following article was translated into English and taken from the Starnberger Merkur, 4thMarch, 1998. Joint Exhibition with Heike Hornsmann BRIGHT COLOURS SET AGAINST CLEAR FORMS Two artists - Doranne Alden and Heike Hornsmann exhibit at the Town hall in Tutzing. A wealth of colours for the Tutzing Town hall - Colourful, shimmering landscapes expand next to earthy-orange, quiet fields, gentle house corners and effective still lives. ......Doranne Alden sets down calculated plains and drawings.... and the mixture of colour and form are the very strength of Doranne Alden. The Maltese Artist, who lives in Tutzing, shows her background as a graphic artist. Still lives that appear unexciting at first deserve a second glance and convince through their balanced composition, clear plains, compact volume as well as their highlights. Especially striking is the system of light effects achieved by leaving blank spaces when painting flowers in the painting entitled `detail of flower stall`, a structured sparkle of colour. Whereas Heike Hornsmann is taken by grand landscapes, Doranne Alden is fascinated by details, also as a photographer. Quiet corners of Malta drawn in fine lines. Several coastal views and fields are composed of stronger deeper colours - but always in a quiet and smooth structure. Winter scenes of Tutzing, realistic, finely detailed as well as more traditional watercolours establish the connection back to Heike Hornsmann’s works and the passion for our close surroundings.` E X H I B I T I O N S 1990 Malta International Trade Fair Exhibition 1991 Women`s Collective Art Exhibition - Malta Chamber of Commerce 1991 Photographic Exhibiton (collective) held at Ta`Cenc Hotel Gozo 1994 Art Exhibition in Victoria, Gozo 1994 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa)- Malta 1995 Cathedral Museum Art Exhibition - Mdina - Malta 1995 Local Council Exhibition - Swieqi - Malta 1996 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa) - Malta 1996 Collective Society of Art and Manufacture Annual Art Exhibition - Malta 1996 Collective Exhibition at Murnau Townhall - Germany 1997 First Solo Exhibition at `Gasthof Zur Post` in Wessoburn - Germany 1998 Joint Exhibition at Townhall in Tutzing - Germany 1999 Agenda 21 - Collective Exhibition at townhall in Tutzing - Germany 1999 Starnberger Townhall Collective Exhibition - Germany 2000 Society of Art and Manufacture Malta 2001 Starnberger Townhall Collective - Germany 2001 Second Solo - Golden Tulip - Art Hotel, Vienna - Austria 2001 Silver Palette - Malta 2001 International Trade Fair - Malta 2001 Heidelberg Scholosswienstube Collective of Maltese Artists - Germany 2001 Collective Art Exhibition of Maltese Artists, Adelaide - Australia 2002 Salesians Collecitive Exhibition - Marsa - Malta 2005 The Mystery of Easter - Salesian Brothers Sliema - Malta 2005 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition 2005 VeeGeeBee Christmas Exhibition 2006 Silver Palette Competition - Valletta - Malta 2006 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition 2006 34U June Exhibition 2006 International Trade Fair - Collective Exhibition - Malta 2006 34U Exhibition - Sliema Malta 2006 34U Heritage Malta Valletta 2006 Rotta Ta'l-Arti Mdina Malta 2007 6th National Arts Competition and Exhibition - Naxxar Malta 2007 September Art Route Exhibition (Rotta Ta'l-Arti)- Mdina 2008 28th February to mid March - New Faces Collective 2008 - at Gallery G in Lija - Malta UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS: 2008 Joint Exhibition - With my father 5th September at Gallery G 2008 Dec Collective at Gallery G 2009 Winter Solo Exhibition in Passau Germany. 2009 Solo Exhibition at German Circle - Malta

Recently Added Friends

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Recent messages left for this artist

Susie

Posted on: 6th May 2008 7:54

Hi Dora lovely to hear from you my new website is now live www.susielidstone.com great to see your face again love Susie xxx

blazewarrender

Posted on: 27th Apr 2008 10:11

Hi Dora, revisiting you space...your orld looks awesome...as does your painting..quite beautiful to me... you are certainly prolific and why not in such n inspiring environment...wonderful to see...keep creative...xxx...blaze

SallyMae

Posted on: 26th Apr 2008 13:09

great new work, Dora!

Tox

Posted on: 26th Apr 2008 6:03

I think your paintings and graphics is stronger than your photos, but then again I am a very urban photographer so landscapes are beyound me. L john

Tox

Posted on: 26th Apr 2008 6:01

Love the history of the Knights Templers. Ah Malta, they finally defeated Suleiman the Magnificent. His first defeat

Jasna

Posted on: 25th Apr 2008 19:47

I have recently put on new gallery- Icons .If you could please have a look and leave a comment .Regards from Jasna

Jasna

Posted on: 24th Apr 2008 15:51

I love your work, the light in your paintings, Mediterranean pallet of colors.Congratulations, and regards from Jasna.

michelangelo71

Posted on: 24th Apr 2008 7:28

Thank you,Dora!:)

YSRios

Posted on: 17th Apr 2008 2:59

You must be in the zone, as Ted would say lol!With "learning to ride" painted a couple of days ago and the portrait of your father, very touching and so beautiful!.. Also,I like the picture of Cafe Cordina, looks like my kind of place to dine.. you're surrounded by beauty, lucky lady! yu

YSRios

Posted on: 16th Apr 2008 1:53

Hello Dora, Better? ;) Pretty profile pic of you..You've been busy! vacation, shopping, and the Eagles, bet they were good huh? Did they do Desperado? love that song...still working away in the garden, always lost lol! take care, yulonda

Evelyn

Posted on: 13th Apr 2008 12:10

Thank you :)

Dora

Posted on: 12th Apr 2008 21:35

Hi Sally back from a great trip. Stayed at Claridges in Mayfair and enjoyed every second. Especially seeing my little 2 year old nephew. The Eagles show was great and so was Spamalot the Westend show. Now its back to reality but with a new wave of energy. Hope to get painting as soon as pos.

SallyMae

Posted on: 3rd Apr 2008 23:46

have a great trip, Dora!

Dora

Posted on: 3rd Apr 2008 5:58

Off to London this weekend to see "the Eagles" and also to visit a few art shops and stock up on some lovely art supplies...:-) - Have a good weekend y all - Dora

AllaVissotskaya

Posted on: 15th Mar 2008 6:47

Thanks for visiting of my gallery and good impressions.I often look yuor works and after I have seen Alexandra`s quiet read, I have tried write a portrait of my husband Georg though did not draw portraits of 18 years. Alla

jh

Posted on: 14th Mar 2008 15:06

Hi Dora, superb artwork, enjoyed your profile, thank you for the add.

artbycassiday

Posted on: 11th Mar 2008 14:35

Every so often I have to drop by and see your lovely work! Regards, Bud C

herve

Posted on: 3rd Mar 2008 14:11

hola. Thank you for your comment. I se you have a great work Felicitations

SallyMae

Posted on: 13th Feb 2008 11:17

Hello Dora, you're new still lifes are lovely, more beautiful pears! I bet you are starting to vibrate with your new show! I guess all you can do now is breathe and smile large! I have been busy with contractors tearing up my house and house guests here, gone, and more hovering for a landing. Been only painting with the dry brush of thought and I am anxious to get back to wet brushes. It may be a while yet, but have been pouring over art books and feeding my brain. Great and good luck with your show, very exciting!

Dora

Posted on: 5th Feb 2008 21:34

So sad to hear this Ted. Have always visited your page for inspiration and your positive outlook on life. I understand that we should all find our way through life to find what makes us most happy but I will miss you and your encouraging comments and your wonderful, colourful paintings and photos. Your cats and your banter too. What a great lose to the site.
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