Alchemy

Alchemy, a solo exhibition, encompassed a series of mixed-media works inspired by the novel The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. Each painting embodies the process of alchemy, the transmutation of metal into gold—while also symbolizing various references from the epic story of a hero’s journey. The Alchemist has sold over 150 million copies worldwide, has been translated into more than 80 languages, and has spent hundreds of weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. After taking the leap of faith to pursue her dream to become a full-time artist, AVM dedicated this art series to honoring the book that placed her on the path to pursuing her ‘Personal Legend.’

Alchemy is the process of transforming metal into gold. An alchemist is a person who has the ability to perform this transformation. Symbolically, alchemy represents the process of manifestation—transforming thoughts and dreams into reality. Each painting undergoes multiple sessions and layers of mixed media and paint to transform the canvas into gold, representing the metamorphosis of a modern, unassuming material, such as canvas or wood, into something beautiful and extremely valuable.

Alchemy is the featured painting from AVM’s solo exhibition, Alchemy. It is the largest piece in the series and contains the most transformation of metal into gold. The blue represents royalty, wealth, and the discovery of one’s treasure. The central message within the work—hidden beneath the layers and revealed on the canvas—are the words “the pursuit.” The treasure lies within the pursuit, not in the treasure itself.

Alchemy Process Photos

Alchemy began as a large, unrolled canvas tacked onto AVM’s studio wall. She painted directly on the canvas with acrylic paint, using a spray bottle to create drips as the first primary layer. AVM then added several layers of texture, creating her own version of papier-mâché by tearing recycled paper, saturating it in water, and applying glue. After each layer dried and hardened, she applied a layer of paint—either more acrylic or spray-painted gold leaf. In certain areas, AVM added additional layers of texture to capture the alchemistic process in real time. The bluish sections reveal the original canvas, showcasing the full metamorphosis of the work from canvas into gold.

Words Within the Painting

Hidden messages

When incorporating verbiage into the work, the words are not premeditated but emerge spontaneously, as if AVM is writing in a diary. Regardless of whether the words remain visible, their energy permeates the piece, often becoming its central essence. These hidden messages, over time, are forgotten and then rediscovered when the moment is right, conveying their meaning to the intended recipient.

Journey stands out from the other works exhibited in Alchemy. It is the largest painting in the series, featuring a dominant use of metallic silver with several exposed areas of the natural canvas.  AVM painted directly on the canvas, layering textures to create her own version of papier-mâché by tearing recycled paper, saturating it in water, and applying glue. In certain areas, she added additional layers of texture to capture the alchemistic transformation of the raw canvas into silver. Oil pastel markings reveal the original canvas, showcasing various stages of the painting’s metamorphic process.  Journey also incorporates a variety of vibrant colors, evoking a sense of fun, joy, and celebration—reflecting the enthusiasm one experiences when pursuing lifelong dreams.

Journey, It Belongs to You

In Journey, two words—Journey and Venture— are written with oil pastels directly onto the canvas, reinforcing the painting’s theme of exploration and transformation.

The word Venture represents both adventure and the pursuit of a business, project or endeavor. The journey is often filled with obstacles, successes, challenges, failures, heartache, triumphs, setbacks and rewards. However, when one embraces the journey as an adventure, they come to realize the ups and downs are what make the expedition exciting and worthwhile.

The word Journey was accidentally misspelled when AVM first wrote on the painting, highlighting the spontaneous and unpremeditated nature of her process—one that embraces imperfection.  It wasn’t until after AVM taking a break from the session that she noticed the mistake.  Without hesitation, AVM grabbed a red oil pastel and boldly wrote the letter “U” over the missing section. A setback became a fortuitous gift, paving way for the central meaning of the piece: “The journey belongs to you.”

Alchemy

Since early 2019, AVM has envisioned creating an exceptional series of works inspired by the transformative and highly inspirational book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Alchemy is the process of transforming metal into gold and, symbolically, transforming dreams into reality. This series incorporates multiple layers of mixed media, paint, metallic silver, copper, rose gold, and gold leaf spray paint to transform the canvas into metal and gold. Each piece represents the metamorphosis of a modern, unassuming material—such as canvas or wood—into something far greater.

Alchemy, a solo exhibition, paid homage to the book that helped set AVM on the path of pursuing her Personal Legend: becoming an artist. Now, over a decade after reading the book, AVM is living her dream.  "Artists, as human beings, have the unique and magical ability to transform nothing into something. We have the power to turn raw materials into a work of art. Art transcends language, speaking to another’s soul energetically and telepathically. It is my intention to create an incredibly beautiful and inspiring series of works that cannot be seen or found anywhere else in the world."

works In private collections

AVM Hawkins (b. 1985, New Orleans) is an American contemporary fine artist of Creole descent, based in Houston, Texas. An abstract expressionist, she intuitively uses color, contrast, and movement to evoke emotion while incorporating mixed materials, layered paint, and spontaneous verbiage to draw the viewer deeper into her work. AVM seamlessly blends freehand patterns with fluid, gestural improvisations, bridging the worlds of form and abstraction to create space for exploration and fortuity.

Portfolio of Available Works, available upon request.