Artist Alysha Sparks paints the country
Moving back to the Mid North has proven to be serendipitous for Jamestown’s Alysha Sparks who has found her calling with paint and brush, creating vibrant interpretations of the rich landscapes her family has been farming for generations.
The dance of a wheat crop in the spring breeze and the migration of scattered clouds across a vast sky at sunset. A country road stretching to the horizon, the cacophony of farmers and their working dogs rounding up sheep into pens, and the smell of the land quenched by a winter rain.
The allure of the Mid North gets under the skin of those who live here and holds a special place in the hearts of the many South Australians who have been enchanted by its landscapes. When Jamestown artist Alysha Sparks picks up her brush to paint, it’s only natural that her special corner of South Australia is the first thing that comes to mind.
“I see a lot of promise in a blank canvas,” says Alysha. “Living here means I’m able to see the full gamut of the skies; the beautiful big clouds that roll in, and that time of the day when long shadows and the warm light transform the landscape. People feel connected to this place, and I want to capture what I can see, for others to enjoy.”
When SALIFE visits Alysha’s light-filled home studio in Jamestown, it’s brimming with floral art ready to be launched for her newest collection, titled Homegrown. Alysha grows her own flowers which she photographs while they’re fresh, ready to be painted later: “from seed to canvas”.
While her range of subject matter regularly oscillates from flowers to sheep and cattle, most often her studio is full of her vibrant interpretations of the bucolic Mid North landscapes that are in her blood.
Alysha grew up on her parents’ farm just outside of Jamestown, with farming running deep in her family history. After graduating from Jamestown Community School, Alysha moved to Adelaide to study graphic design, without ever thinking she’d one day move back to the country to start a family.
While working as a designer, Alysha met her partner Tom Allen, a stock agent. With Tom working in the Mid North at the time, the couple decided to move back to Alysha’s hometown.
“I was ready to leave the city and be back in the country again. I was embraced with open arms coming back here and everyone wanted to support me in some way,” says Alysha.
“When the chips are down, everyone just mucks in and helps you out. The community is keen to support local businesses and it’s nice to walk down the street and say ‘g’day’ to everyone you know.”
Art was a hobby at first, and Alysha started a wedding photography business that saw her painting take a back seat. But once she had children, Alysha picked up the paintbrushes again, spending many hours in her studio over the past several years, all the while raising her three children.
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With a prolific desire to create, and a great eye for subject matter, Alysha’s artistic practice has quickly developed and struck a chord with customers and collectors far and wide.
“Raising three children, including a toddler, can make things interesting. Our youngest, Margot, likes to get her hands on brushes and paint when she’s in the studio.” From her studio, Alysha can keep an eye on her two boys Bodhi, seven, and Fletcher, five, playing in the sand pit.
“I love the flexibility of working from my home studio, but you do get distracted by chores and parenting. It’s tricky with a toddler, but I tend to paint during nap time – it’s just this chapter of life right now,” she says.
Alysha’s parents and brothers still run farms in the region, so she is often out on the land with her camera and drone, documenting imagery for Sparks Farming. “I feel connected to the farming lifestyle, that’s where I come from. It’s nice to go out there and find inspiration in the Munduney Hills, near Spalding,” says Alysha.
“The light on the hills in the mornings and afternoons and just being surrounded by our beautiful countryside really inspires me. I have so many photos on my camera roll that one day will hopefully become paintings. When I need inspiration, I can just pick one out and start.”
Rather than painting one-off pieces, Alysha mostly produces collections, which helps her focus on one type of subject matter, but also helps streamline the work involved to photograph and market her work.
“That time takes you away from painting,” she says. As her practice has developed, her artwork has become more layered and richly detailed. She attributes her growth to continually editing her own work, each time learning and improving. After painting a piece, she will hang it in her home for a while.
“By living with it, you can really see if the painting’s resolved or not, because you walk past it every day. So, our house is always a revolving door of my artwork. You cement your style over time.”
Alysha is grateful for her followers and their support of local artists. While her work has been sought by serious collectors, Alysha plans to produce more clothing, tablecloths and calendars so that her artwork is affordable for everyone.
“You want it to spark an emotion for the people who’ve bought it, so it makes them feel happy and welcome when they walk into their home,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to bring joy into people’s lives; making people feel happy through art.”
This article first appeared in the September 2024 issue of SALIFE magazine.
