Artist who “projectile vomits” paint or throws steaks at canvases is rejected by exhibitions but gets 50 million plus TikTok views of her videos

An artist who creates “strange and horrifying” visions by projectile vomiting paint or throwing steaks at canvases went from being rejected by exhibitions to massing more than 50 million views when she posted videos of herself at work on TikTok.

Frightened her artistic career would not take off, after finishing her fine arts degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University in June 2020, Alana Lindsay, 23, was increasingly frustrated that Covid meant fewer exhibitions were being mounted and that her work could not find a home.

But after the Bristol artist, who “terrifies” her neighbours by spinning around uncontrollably in her garden for up to 12 hours a day wearing a 4ft long “mask” made from cotton and bedsheets which she uses as a paintbrush, started her TikTok account @moonlump in June 2020, she soon amassed 300k followers.

Celebrating her first viral video at Christmas 2020, showing her “making her favourite oil painting,” which had 900k views and enabled her to quit her job at a fast food restaurant the following month to become a full-time artist, she said:  “I woke up the next morning, and it was crazy.

“Over the next couple of days, I gained 20k followers and it was a constant stream of comments and likes and follows.

“I also made my very first sale – a contemporary, abstract and grotesque painting of eyes for £150.”

She added: “It felt surreal that people were talking about my art. It seemed odd seeing people say they liked my work, because I always thought it was weird.”

Earning £30k in her first year as a full-time artist, she could see her dream of becoming the next Tracey Emin gathering pace.

She said: “Lots of people who have seen me in person find the way I create art really funny, or even terrifying.”

She added: “It’s actually meant to be serious and it’s a real technique, but most people wonder what the hell is going on.

“I try to explain it’s about regression and making something purely from impulse, which allows me to act in a somewhat childlike way.”

She has come a long way since the days after leaving university when all attempts to show her art to the world were thwarted, as none of the few exhibitions being mounted, because of Covid, seemed interested in her work.

She said: “I was being rejected by all the exhibitions and I took it really hard, which I think really reflected in my work.

“I took out a lot of anger on my paintings.”

Alana’s unique artistic process involves using “soft sculptures” – which she makes by hand using cloth, foam rubber, plastic, paper, fibres and similar soft  material – in the same way as paintbrushes to daub anything from oil and acrylic paint to spray paint and crayons on to canvas.

Inspired by fantasy and horror, her paintings feature bulging red-shot eyes and lingering hands and often have words penned either under or over the paint.

She was delighted when her meagre TikTok following of around 100 received an impressive boost after her first viral video, leading to her vocation also providing her with a living.

She said: “I felt like this was what I needed to do and I had to commit to it full-time.”

In the first six months, she made around £500-£1,000 a month by selling original paintings, commissions and prints, but still feared she would have to supplement this with an office job.

Then, in August 2021, a video of her creating an art piece was seen by 6.9 million people and everything changed.

She said: “I can’t believe I am where I am today. I thought I’d probably manage for four or five months and eventually look for a day job.”

She added: “It would have been a nightmare.

“I spent Monday to Friday on my own every week. So the piece was about the isolation I felt towards the paintings and how I resented the fact I couldn’t be happy being in an office.

“The irony is that the video got over 6 million views and helped me stay away from the office.”

Raking in more than £10,000 that month in sales, she was constantly in the Post Office sending prints and canvases to art enthusiasts as far away as Bermuda, Australia and the USA.

With a portfolio of more than 80 paintings to her name, she now sells her work on her website and showcases it on TikTok.

Reflecting on the past two years, she said: “It’s incredible to be able to do this as my job, it’s a dream come true.”

She added: “I never thought anyone would like my art, as it’s strange and it’s a bit scary, but to see so many people connect with it is amazing.

“There are people all over the world who enjoy my art and that fills me with so much joy.”

You can find Alana’s art on https://moonlumps.com/store-2 and see her crazy videos on TikTok and Instagram on @moonlumps.