If I can bring a sense of stillness, or a feeling of gentleness, remove the viewer from
all distraction, if only for a moment, than I feel I’ve succeeded as not just an artist,
but as a person.
The most important influence in my life, as a young artist, came from my time under
the tutelage of geometric abstractionist William Martin Jean. His belief that art is an
expression of one’s experiences and personal reflections–a spiritual journey that
only I can uniquely describe–became the foundation of my work and my life.
With his and my family’s support I gained acceptance into the prestigious Cleveland
Institute of Art. As life’s priorities shifted, I ended up shelving my artistic ambitions,
my ideals, and–in some ways–my soul for many years. I traded my opportunity of an
education in the arts for a successful career. And while art remained a quieted
passion in my life, it’s only recently that I decided to pursue it full time, to follow my
heart and feed my soul again, becoming the artist I was meant to be.
Inspiration for much of my work comes from a lifelong love of the outdoors–of our
wild and natural world. I derive an equal sense of calm in the wilderness as I do
violent storms and turbulent seas. Always seeking adventure-be it taking to a trail,
the mountains, or water-I discovered there’s no greater artist than Mother Nature;
her palette exquisitely inspiring. Drawing from that, I enjoy combining subtle colors
and intricate textures through the mediums of ink, watercolor, graphite, and colored
pencil, to create the impression of realism without denying the viewer their own
experience.
I look forward to this creative journey that I started so many years ago. More than
anything, I’m excited to have you with me, and sincerely hope that my work brings
you the same stillness and enjoyment that I experienced in creating it for you, and
that you then pass this experience on to loved ones for many years to come.
Thank you so much for viewing,
Michael Ashley
Forest Edge Arts
Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Arts
