Portrait of a painter

Despite her artistic gifts, Alicia Hobbs had planned to become a doctor. 

“I had this natural, God-given talent, and you know what I did with it? I got a biology degree and was dead set on medical school,” says the Gulfport native. “I ran for the hills at the idea of becoming a starving artist.” 

Even so, Hobbs took art classes while she attended the University of Mississippi “to keep myself sane.” She earned her art degree, too, and ultimately, her true passion won out — culminating in her Los Angeles-based business, Alicia Hobbs Fine Art.

Her creative talent manifested early, and growing up, she was the go-to for anything “aesthetic or artsy,” from making signs to interior decorating. 

Painting has long been Hobbs’s hobby, and she once gave away her pieces to whomever wanted them. In college, however, throngs of sorority sisters clamored to buy her work straight off her dorm room wall. 

“At the time I was just painting for fun,” she says. “But the fact that I couldn’t keep my walls covered before an Alpha Beta Chi snatched up my latest piece was a good indicator that maybe I should do this for real.” 

High demand for her artwork caused Hobbs to move on from her full-time nannying job. Her first series of 30 paintings sold out in less than 24 hours, and she struggled to keep up with commissions. It seemed the more she posted on the Instagram account she created for her art, the more clientele she gained. 

“People wanted to buy my art? It was crazy, and still is!” Hobbs says. “I honestly had no idea what I was doing, but I decided to apply for an LLC, ordered some books on business, taxes, accounting and marketing, and got to work.” 

Her career was taking off, and Hobbs was elated — then COVID hit. Between the pandemic and hurricanes, her art show was postponed four times. With her lease ending last July, Hobbs packed the car and made the 30-hour trek west. She soon found the ideal studio spot in Beverly Hills, which she calls her “happy place.” 

Working in both oils and acrylics, the artist learned to capture reflective light in a college painting class — and she still tries to incorporate it into every piece. Starting with a quick paint sketch, Hobbs then fills in the bigger shapes with a color palette consisting of white and two other colors. She rarely covers up stray marks on the canvas caused by her hand and brush moving quickly, saying they give her still-life paintings dimension and movement.

“My playful style is the distinguishing factor of my art,” Hobbs says. “I use unexpected color combinations, bold brush strokes and intentional texture to give a skewed representation of typically traditional subject matter. 

“I’ve been told my paintings are flirty, which I think is a fun way to describe them.” 

Hobbs assumed her customer base would be mainly young women and “beach bums at heart, like me.” But over time, as she’s branched out into different motifs, her work has resonated with all age groups, as well as men. From pet portraits and her popular “nudies” to coastal scenes and glassware, Hobbs wants her art to be enjoyed by all and to bring something cheerful, colorful, and beautiful into people’s lives and homes. 

“Too often, I see people feeling overwhelmed by art; it can be intimidating feeling like you need to ‘understand’ art, or pick something that is fancy or expensive,” she says. “My philosophy and business aim to be unpretentious, and most of all, welcoming.” 

Hobbs’ fans will delight in the news that her latest project, a new summer picnic series, debuts this month. She also recently signed on with a company called Maine Cottage, which creates handmade furniture and now sells Hobbs’s prints in a variety of beautiful frames. 

With California now open, the artist is looking forward to festivals, art shows and other events, which she hopes will provide connections and take her business to the next level. While she may be based almost 2,000 miles away from home, Hobbs calls the Gulf Coast “a place of comfort and familiarity; a place full of inspiration, and a place that welcomes me every time I return.” 

“The people of the Coast are the foundation of my business — the first people to push me in the direction of art, the first people to convince me to start charging for my art and my first clients,” Hobbs says. “No matter where I live in the future, I will always return here to celebrate the people, new businesses and warm atmosphere.” 

To learn more about Hobbs and her artwork, visit aliciahobbs.com.