Aleksa Zeljijc, Artist
Aleksa is a painter and mixed media artist living in Calgary, AB. He is a self taught artist and earned a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Calgary. He has been creating art from a young age, constantly sketching drawings in his spare time. In 2019, Aleksa started buying larger canvases and began experimenting with acrylic paint as a medium. Much of his inspiration comes from natural environments, interesting faces , and ancient art. He is passionate about creating beautiful pieces, and bringing beauty into peoples lives.
Godiva
This painting reimagines the Lady of Godiva historical figure, a woman who would ride horseback nude through Coventry. The Imagery of this legend has inspired me to interpret Godiva in a new environment, where she is riding a zebra in the South African town Paarl. The process involved thin layers of white acrylic paint to create a statuesque quality. This painting has a matte finish.
This painting reimagines the Lady of Godiva historical figure, a woman who would ride horseback nude through Coventry. The Imagery of this legend has inspired me to interpret Godiva in a new environment, where she is riding a zebra in the South African town Paarl. The process involved thin layers of white acrylic paint to create a statuesque quality. This painting has a matte finish.
Godiva (2021) - 24" x 26", acrylic on stretched canvas
Embrace (2020) - 48" x 72", acrylic on stretched canvas
Embrace
This painting reinterprets ancient Chinese art with a modern perspective. The style and colours are inspired by Song Dynasty tapestries, with colour-blocked human figures. A couple reaches out to each other as two peacocks interact in a Yin and yang motion. The human couple and birds mimic each others emotions, where their interactions can be viewed as either hostile or loving. The process involved sketching linework onto stretched canvas, then filling the spaces with different colours in a paint-by-numbers method. The painting is glazed with a shiny finish.
This painting reinterprets ancient Chinese art with a modern perspective. The style and colours are inspired by Song Dynasty tapestries, with colour-blocked human figures. A couple reaches out to each other as two peacocks interact in a Yin and yang motion. The human couple and birds mimic each others emotions, where their interactions can be viewed as either hostile or loving. The process involved sketching linework onto stretched canvas, then filling the spaces with different colours in a paint-by-numbers method. The painting is glazed with a shiny finish.
Mother
This painting is mixed-media on canvas created primarily with acrylic paint, coloured-pencil, and oil pastel. This piece shows flowers and natural elements interwoven with human features, all flowing into abstract shapes. The central mother figure holds her baby and stares aimlessly, surrounded by a background that overlaps to the foreground. This collage piece is inspired by the messiness and beauty of birth, and how we are brought into a life that is complicated and stimulating. There is a shiny glaze finish.
This painting is mixed-media on canvas created primarily with acrylic paint, coloured-pencil, and oil pastel. This piece shows flowers and natural elements interwoven with human features, all flowing into abstract shapes. The central mother figure holds her baby and stares aimlessly, surrounded by a background that overlaps to the foreground. This collage piece is inspired by the messiness and beauty of birth, and how we are brought into a life that is complicated and stimulating. There is a shiny glaze finish.
Mother (2022) - 36" x 48", mixed-media on canvas
Cold Water (2022) - 36" x 48", acrylic on stretched canvas
Cold Water
This painting is a portrait inspired by the tale of “The Little Mermaid,” with a pale face wrapped with white hair and koi fish. The colours are intended the evoke the feeling of cold water, with brightly coloured fish contrasting a bluish – white figure. The process involved layering acrylic paint on stretched canvas. This painting has a matte finish.
This painting is a portrait inspired by the tale of “The Little Mermaid,” with a pale face wrapped with white hair and koi fish. The colours are intended the evoke the feeling of cold water, with brightly coloured fish contrasting a bluish – white figure. The process involved layering acrylic paint on stretched canvas. This painting has a matte finish.
Swedish Summer
This painting is mixed-media on canvas. This piece is a collage of different materials combined onto a stretched canvas, including; ink, acrylic paint, and oil pastel. Different sketches and paintings were combined to create a whimsical image of a May Queen surrounded by mayhem. Inspired by the 2019 film “Midsommar,” this collage chaotically portrays portraits of people, animals, and florals in a bright yellow tone. This piece has a shiny glaze finish.
This painting is mixed-media on canvas. This piece is a collage of different materials combined onto a stretched canvas, including; ink, acrylic paint, and oil pastel. Different sketches and paintings were combined to create a whimsical image of a May Queen surrounded by mayhem. Inspired by the 2019 film “Midsommar,” this collage chaotically portrays portraits of people, animals, and florals in a bright yellow tone. This piece has a shiny glaze finish.
Swedish Summer (2022) - 12" x 36", mixed-media on canvas
Ocean View (2022) - 36" x 48", acrylic on stretched canvas
Ocean View
This painting is acrylic on stretched canvas. The featured woman stares intensely with her face shadowed by her large textured hair, with a white cloth covering her shoulders. I contrasted her deep features against a bright blue sky and ocean view. This painting is glazed with a shiny finish, to imitate light hitting dewy skin and water.
This painting is acrylic on stretched canvas. The featured woman stares intensely with her face shadowed by her large textured hair, with a white cloth covering her shoulders. I contrasted her deep features against a bright blue sky and ocean view. This painting is glazed with a shiny finish, to imitate light hitting dewy skin and water.
Dry Air
This painting is inspired by the intense feeling of dry summer air. To represent heat, I painted the desolate Deadvlei region of Namibia. Vast dunes and ancient trees mark the desert landscape, with an empty blue sky. Using composited images taken by Google Maps for reference, I interpreted this landscape onto stretched canvas with acrylic paint. This painting has a matte finish.
This painting is inspired by the intense feeling of dry summer air. To represent heat, I painted the desolate Deadvlei region of Namibia. Vast dunes and ancient trees mark the desert landscape, with an empty blue sky. Using composited images taken by Google Maps for reference, I interpreted this landscape onto stretched canvas with acrylic paint. This painting has a matte finish.
Dry Air (2020) - 12" x 24", acrylic on stretched canvas