When Quiet Moments Spark Big Ideas in Photography and Painting| Irina Jomir, Alexandra Telgmann, and Alicia Tubbs
In this article, we meet Irina Jomir, Alexandra Telgmann, and Alicia Tubbs—three artists who each found their way into a creative life through very different doors. Whether it was through the quiet pull of the sea, the emotional weight of photography, or the unexpected joy of discovering painting later in life, these women demonstrate that art often begins with curiosity and continues through intention, emotion, and everyday moments.
Through their interviews, we’ve learned how past experiences, faith, and family have shaped their work. They’ve shared what it means to follow inspiration, how they navigate creative blocks, and why they continue to show up and create. Most of all, their journeys remind us that art isn’t always about big statements—it can also be about noticing, feeling, and offering something honest in return.
Irina Jomir: Capturing the In-Between Moments of Being Human
For Irina Jomir, photography is more than a captured image. It’s a window into the unseen moments that words can’t always hold. Based in Norway and born in Moldova, Irina’s work touches on the complexities of being human, primarily through the lens of femininity and transformation.
Her photography journey was inspired in part by her brother, a talented painter. Over time, Irina found her way of storytelling through the lens of the camera. She’s been internationally recognized for her thought-provoking portraits, including awards from the Budapest International Foto Awards and the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards. Her series Destiny – The Shaping of Fate was recently added to the permanent collection at the Chianciano Terme Art Museum in Italy.
Irina draws inspiration from mythology, art history, and everyday life. Her process begins with a feeling or idea, which she slowly develops into a concept. Then comes the creation—the details, styling, and emotional tone all coming together through careful planning and spontaneous decisions. For Irina, the camera is a tool to peel back the layers of life, not to impose meaning but to uncover what’s already there.
As she puts it, “Rather than projecting my own opinions, I aim to unveil and validate the diverse range of our feelings.” Her photographs make space for introspection, connection, and the messy, honest parts of being human.
The foundation of my work lies in authentic stories and messages. While I may not explicitly reveal them to the viewer, I intentionally leave room for self-reflection, imagination and a subtle reminder of the power of human emotions, and their ability to shape our perceptions and interactions with the world.
To learn more about Irina, click on the links below.
Alexandra Telgmann: Painting the Ocean’s Rhythm and Light
Something is calming about Alexandra Telgmann’s work. Her canvases, filled with oceans, marine life, and figures half-submerged in water, invite the viewer to pause and reflect. To breathe. To look.
Based in Germany, Alexandra didn’t always know she would become a painter. She originally studied goldsmithing, a craft that taught her the importance of precision and patience. But it was the ocean that truly captured her attention and led her to paint full-time. Today, she creates large-scale works that explore the way light moves across water and the quiet strength that can be found in nature.
Her current series, Ocean Reflection, is a love letter to the sea. It’s also a way of encouraging awareness about marine conservation and our relationship with nature. Alexandra believes in the importance of slowing down and seeing the world, noticing how water shimmers, how it moves, and how it mirrors us.
“I am captivated by the fluidity of water,” she says. “A dynamic element that can both carry a ship across vast distances and slip effortlessly through our fingers.” That sense of balance—between movement and stillness—is what makes her work feel alive, almost like it’s breathing with you.
Her paintings have been featured in American Art Collector and Fine Art Connoisseur and displayed in venues across Europe and the U.S., including the Mall Galleries in London and the Salmagundi Art Club in New York.
Painting water is akin to capturing a moment in motion, a fleeting glimpse frozen in time.
To learn more about Alexandra, visit the links below.
Alicia Tubbs: Finding a Creative Calling Later in Life
Some people discover their creative side early in life. Others stumble into it when they least expect it. For Alicia Tubbs, it was her 51st birthday and a simple watercolour set that changed everything.
Raised in a loving home, Alicia never really saw herself as an artist—until she put brush to paper and something inside clicked. That spark turned into a full-time career just a few years later, and since 2021, she’s been creating richly textured, colourful pieces infused with her Christian faith.
“I never thought I’d be an artist,” Alicia says. “But when I picked up a brush at 51, everything changed. Now, I paint to bring beauty, faith, and joy into the world.”
Her work often tells visual stories, but she doesn’t stop there—Alicia also writes short symbolic tales to go along with her paintings. These layered narratives invite people into her creative world, offering both visual and emotional connections.
She’s passionate about continuing to learn—not just in her craft but in how she shares her art. From marketing to storytelling, Alicia is building a life where her work reaches those who need it. And with four married children and seven grandchildren, her journey is proof that it’s never too late to start something meaningful.
My faith is at the heart of my art, and I hope that when people experience my work, it ignites something deeper within them—a spark of faith, hope, and divine connection.
To learn more about Alicia, click on the links below.
Hearing from Irina, Alexandra, and Alicia has been a poignant reminder that creativity can manifest in many forms and at various moments in life. They’ve discussed where their ideas originate, how they bring them to life, and what motivates them when things become quiet or uncertain. Each of their stories is rooted in something real—family, nature, faith, or simply the urge to create.
What stands out most is how they utilise their work to connect with themselves, their past, and others. Whether it’s the emotion captured in a single photo, the calm stirred by a painted seascape, or the courage to start something new later in life, their journeys show us that art often grows out of paying attention to what matters most.
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