#110 ALAYNE SPAFFORD
In this inspiring interview, Coach Nadine Johnson sits down with Edmonton-based painter Alayne Spafford, whose bold, intuitive work explores the tension between spontaneity and structure. Alayne shares how her background in fine art, textiles, and costume design shaped the way she approaches colour, form, and creative flow. From sketchbook experiments to large-scale canvases, she offers a generous look into her studio practice, her evolving sources of inspiration, and what it takes to build a meaningful, sustainable art career. It’s a thoughtful conversation about creativity, growth, and staying connected to what you love.
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Chapters and timestamps are also listed below for quick reference.
- Artistic Beginnings: 00:00
- Education and Career: 04:10
- Daily Inspiration: 08:02
- Artistic Evolution: 30:24
- Teaching and Career: 42:04
Click here to download the transcript
*Please note that guest presenters are not necessarily Academy members available for commenting.
This was such a fun and inspiring conversation.
I love Alayne’s art especially her striking use of colour, and the formal geometric design combined with the looser and often softer shapes. Also not conforming to having to have a formal narrative with her work.
Nadine I really enjoy your beautiful style of interviewing the artists, you are encouraging, knowledgable and curious.
Thank you ladies.
Wonderful artwork, all the different techniques add up. So interesting to get behind the finish work.
Thank you Alayne and Nadine for a great inteview. I love Alayne’s work , her sense of colour and use of shape. There are so many elements of it that I could relate to, that appear in my own work – your use of shape, (I also have old toy wooden shapes etc) your use of controlled and loose marks and the textural pieces to.
Nadine, every time you interview someone, I get great joy from seeing your beauifutl flower painting that hangs behind you. You’re also a great artist!
Thank you again!
Excellent interview! You’re such a grounded person Nadine, thoughtful questions. Alayne’s confidence and description of not having a huge narrative, being private was very interesting to me. Her work is gorgeous!
What a fun interview! Alayne’s work and “out of the box” thinking is so refreshing and inspiring. Nadine, your questions led to many great revelations and opened up rich conversation between the two of you.
Alayne, I can’t wait to see some of your work in person!! Bravo!
I am thrilled you enjoyed my time with Alayne! Thanks, Barbara!
What a wonderful interview. It’s so lovely to feel like we too are meeting these creatives. Loved the various ways Alayne is expressing herself. Very inspiring thank you Nadine!
I am so glad you enjoyed this, Lynda. And thank you!
Alayne is great! She feels so free to use whatever she loves. I hadn’t really considered doing that since I thought it somehow wouldn’t be appropriate, but I see that it is. What a revelation. Thank you! And Nadine does great interviews with thoughtful questions.
I absolutely love the artist interviews! I’ve learned so much about being an artist from these, and feel freer to do whatever I like because of them. Thank you again!
Thank you, Lilliane! You’re kind words made my day! Alayne is so inspiring! I am now looking for things in nature that really resonate with me as well.
Thank you for this excellent interview Nadine. You have connected me to a new-to-me Canadian artist . I resonated especially with the things that inspire Alayne’s work, childhood art memories, collage as a starting point and fascination with colour.
I am so glad, Cori! I’ve been following Alayne for a few years now, but didn’t realize she lives in my hometown! We will have a coffee next time I’m there!
Thanks for introducing us to this wonderful artist! I’m now one of her 62.7K followers!!
A great interview!
I love that, Angela! I am too!
I really love Alayne’s work! The intuitive response in the process. I also collect so many things on walks and dabble in putting together found objects. Inspiring. Also, I lived in Saskatoon for 20 years and was fun to hear she is from Saskatoon and Nadine from Edmonton! great interview!
Thanks, Connie! It’s always exciting to meet other Canadian artists!