Contemporary artist Alesandro Ljubicic‘s beautiful highly textured abstract oil paintings on linen are inspired by Sean Cook’s floral arrangements from Mr Cook.
Photo credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro Lubjicic sits with two abstract oil paintings (works in progress) that are inspired by floral arrangements from Mr Cook. Photo credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro Ljubicic Hansa Yellow $6,800 Oil on Linen (153 x 167 cm)

Alesandro asked florist Sean Cook of Mr Cook to send him an arrangement of unusual flowers with large blooms in an array of colours and then painted Hansa Yellow (above)

Alesandro Ljubicic in his Sydney studio with some of his works in progress. Photo credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro Ljubicic was born in 1986 in a town called Jajce in Bosnia, which was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Bosnian kingdom during its time. In 1991, following the Croatian War of Independence, the Ljubicic family moved to Sydney, Australia with their only child, Alesandro to start a new life.

From a very young age, Alesandro’s creative passion and inherent discipline to achieve was always present. Throughout his teens, Alesandro was constantly given credit for his art efforts. He was accepted into The National Art School, a leading institution that produced great artists such as Wendy Sharpe and John Olsen, which was to be a definitive moment for Alesandro. He decided to follow his passion in becoming a practising artist.

While studying at the National Art School, Alesandro Ljubicic was involved in a number of exhibitions and art awards. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2007 with a high distinction and he also won the William Fletcher Scholarship. In the same year, he also exhibited a solo show at the Xavier Art Space, which was opened by Sydney radio broadcaster Alan Jones and with proceeds going to the Cancer Foundation. Alesandro’s awards include Finalist in the Paddington Art Prize in 2009 and Finalist in the 2010 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the richest Australian portrait prize, and also the richest portrait prize in the world.

Now, at 28 years of age, Alesandro is making a very big impact on the Australian art scene. He spends his time doing what he passionately loves, creating a large number of paintings for private collections and his exhibitions.  Alesandro also owns and runs The Sydney Art Store, one of the largest fine art supplies in Sydney, which is located in Waterloo. The Sydney Art Store stocks the finest art supplies and premium art materials from the best suppliers in Australia and the globe. These materials include oil paints and acrylics from France, superior handmade paints from New York and the world’s finest pastels and watercolours from Germany & America.

Alesandro Ljubicic’s brushes, oil paints and palette. Photo Credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro Ljubicic in his studio with Scarlet Mauve Oil on linen (122 x 122cm) Photo credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro Ljubicic Scarlet Mauve (Detail) Oil on linen (122 x 122cm) Photo credit: Jacqui Turk

Alesandro photographs the various floral arrangements and then manipulates the image in Photoshop in order to capture an abstracted form of the flowers. It is essentially the colour that is central to Alesandro’s paintings. The titles of the paintings are based on the pigment in the oil paints. Alesandro uses the finest quality oil paints often supplied by the original companies in Europe that have been using the same recipe for over 300 years. Each tube of oil paint costs between $250 and $350 and the Italian linen is over $200 per meter.

Alesandro works in an open plan studio painting four to six paintings at once. He moves from painting to painting, waiting for the layers of to dry. Alesandro believes, that while painting, he needs to discover where the work will take him, as this is the directive to an honest and successful painting.