Alexandra Hochreiter
Woodland Walz
"Woodland Waltz" is a deeply personal illustration that explores the universal longing to momentarily escape the weight of adult responsibilities and return to the lightness of childhood. It captures a fleeting sense of freedom, where time slows down and life regains its simple joys—being outdoors, playing without purpose, and connecting with nature in an unstructured, spontaneous way.
For me, this return to innocence is rooted in memories of a small, remote village in rural Romania where I spent time as a child. There, the world felt both vast and safe, and my only task was to be present and joyful.
Through soft textures and gentle movement, this nostalgic piece invites viewers to reconnect with that feeling of ease and simplicity. It serves as a visual reminder of the importance of stepping away from constant pressure, embracing playfulness, and finding peace in the natural world. "Woodland Waltz" speaks to the inner child that quietly endures within us — still seeking brief, joyful escapes and a return to the uncomplicated beauty of simply being.
Materials & Digital Tools: I used gouache, watercolor, and ink on 100% cotton, watercolor paper for the traditional artwork, with minor digital tweaks and enhancements applied afterwards digitally.
About the illustrator
Alexandra Hochreiter, a Romanian-born visual artist and illustrator with a background in architecture, resides near Vienna with her husband and their cat, Strudel. Embracing interdisciplinary design and visual storytelling, she infuses a bit of magic into every illustration that she creates, looking at her subjects through a special lens, that allows fantasy to overcome reality. Whether working with traditional or digital mediums, she is wholly absorbed in the intricacies of mixed media techniques, seeking to craft rich textures that mirror the complexities her subjects. As she delves into the artistic process, she navigates the delicate balance on the thin line she refers to as "controlled accidents," exploring the unexpected and embracing the beauty found in the spontaneous moments of creation. Over time she surrendered to the tiny voices within and conjures people to allow extraordinary into their ordinary lives. Her portfolio spans editorial, children's book illustration, gallery pieces, and commercial projects, serving as a gateway to a fantasy realm.
Contact
Website: https://www.atelieralexandrahochreiter.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandra_hochreiter