Kendall Warson

Building Cohart ✨

There's something magical about the way California's coastline can shift your entire emotional landscape in a single glance. Artist [Ali Hall](https://www.cohart.com/alihall/profile) has built her practice around capturing these transformative moments—not through precise photorealistic detail, but by translating the feeling of standing at the water's edge into paintings that invite viewers to pause, breathe, and reconnect with their own inner stillness.


Working primarily in acrylics, Hall creates what she describes as "abstract realism"—atmospheric coastal scenes that feel like glimpsed memories, softened by time and emotion. Her painterly style captures what you might see when you squint at a landscape and take it all in at once, where the boundaries between sky and water blur into something more profound than geography.


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#### What drives your artistic practice?
My paintings combine abstract realism and conventional landscape, guided by my deep connection to California's coast and my personal experiences. I create to explore the emotional resonance of place and the way environments shape our inner worlds. Rather than capturing precise detail, I aim to translate the emotional impression of a place, as seen in a fleeting glance that is soft, immersive, and atmospheric. I want my art to invite viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their own memories, stories, and sense of stillness.
Each piece is meant to evoke a feeling of looking through a window, both literally and metaphorically, a glimpse into nature's beauty and an opening into one's own internal landscape. Creating these works is a deeply personal process of healing and reflection, reconnecting with cherished memories and the rhythms of the coast.


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#### How do you approach creating these coastal scenes?

I travel throughout California's coast to paint from direct experience. Often you'll find me in the Central Coast capturing my happy place, Avila Beach, or down in Southern California near Newport Beach, or closer to home in the Bay Area near San Francisco. I spend time in each location to absorb its atmosphere and energy, then capture photos on my phone that serve as memory triggers when I return to the studio.
For me, it's the ocean that inspires me most. I grew up in Florida for part of my childhood and when I moved to California one of the first places we went were the Northern California beaches and exploring San Francisco. Often late at night, barefoot in the studio, I light a candle or burn palo santo, put on music that matches my mood, and sometimes dance as I paint. Sometimes I complete a piece all in one go, always starting with the background and working my way toward the foreground. Other times, I let the painting sit and "bake," then return with fresh eyes to add details and highlights. I know a piece is finished when it gives me that "wow" factor, a spark that tells me the energy and emotion of the place has come through.


#### Tell us about your materials and technique.


I work primarily in acrylic, blending fluid brushstrokes, seamless color transitions, and intuitive mark-making to capture both the energy and the calm of California's coastline. My painterly style is often described as what one might see when one squints and takes in a scene all at once, evoking a softened memory shaped by light, movement, and mood.
I love acrylic because it was one of the first mediums I learned to use. It feels tactile in the way it builds layers, it is forgiving and playful, and it allows me to enter a state of flow where the paint itself seems to move in harmony with my creative energy. I first learned acrylic paint at the age of 9 from a local art teacher named Mrs. G. Since art was not well funded in my public school, my mom found her to support my creativity, and I worked with her until I was 18. My parents and grandparents, who are from the Tahoe area, were also a major source of inspiration. I would go to art fairs with my grandparents every summer, and their whole house was filled with local art, mainly of the ocean and blue tones.


#### What piece will you be showing at RTIA?


One of the pieces I will be showing at RTIA is my Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco painting from my Coastal California series. This work captures a clear, sunlit day at Crissy Field, where the tides were moving in and the iconic bridge stood against the open sky. Instead of focusing on intricate detail, I emphasized the atmosphere, the soft movement of the water, the shifting light, and the expansive calm of the scene.
I chose this subject because of my personal connection to it. As a child, I grew up biking along Crissy Field with my family, and those rides were always bright, joyful moments. On that particular day, the air was crisp, the colors were vibrant, and there was a sense of clarity that has stayed with me ever since. Crissy Field has always felt like a place where you can find instant peace, no matter what the world is throwing at you. The way the tides roll in and shift endlessly is a reminder that we can flow with change too.
I hope that when people experience this painting, they feel that same sense of grounding and renewal, as if they are pausing in the middle of their own busy lives to take in the fresh air and light.







#### Where is your work heading next?


I am currently exploring my newest series, Bloomscape, which is inspired by the lush flora of California. These works reimagine flowers as vibrant abstractions, each painting focusing on the interplay of shape, color, and energy while capturing the vitality and fragility of blooms. The energy of California's flora is not just visual but also tactile and aromatic. Memories of windswept petals and the scent of wildflowers infuse each piece. Through this series I am exploring cycles of growth, decay, and renewal, inviting viewers to see the natural world as a metaphor for their own transformations.

Looking ahead, I see my work continuing to expand in both scale and theme. I want to explore larger formats that feel immersive, as well as intimate works that invite quiet reflection. Ultimately, I want my paintings to serve as a bridge between memory, healing, and nature, offering viewers moments of calm, mindfulness, and renewal in their everyday lives.


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#### How do you see digital platforms changing the art world?

I am excited about how digital platforms like Cohart are opening new pathways for artists to connect with collectors and audiences. These tools expand visibility beyond traditional galleries and art fairs, allowing contemporary artists to share their stories, processes, and paintings with people around the world. I see technology as a way to build more personal and authentic connections, where collectors can discover not just the finished artwork but also the inspiration and meaning behind it. As the art market evolves, I believe digital platforms will continue to democratize access, making it easier for emerging and independent artists to grow their reach and foster long-term relationships with the communities who resonate with their work.


Ali Hall's work reminds us that the most powerful landscapes aren't always about what we see, but about how a place makes us feel. In an age of constant motion and digital overwhelm, her coastal abstractions offer something increasingly rare: an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the healing rhythms of the natural world. Whether capturing the morning light at Crissy Field or exploring the vibrant abstractions of her new Bloomscape series, Hall creates art that functions as both window and mirror - a glimpse into California's coastal beauty and a reflection of our own capacity for renewal and peace.

You can experience Ali Hall's coastal paintings in person this week at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show. Visit [rtiashow.com](https://www.rtiashow.com/) for show details.



Ali Hall: Painting California's Coastal Soul

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