Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Ashton Elaine

Hello lovelies, I hope everyone is a happy camper today, if not I've an inspiring artist to share for this weeks TAT that I'm sure will make you so. I loved Ashton's work when I first saw it and having peeked around her blog I think all art journalers/smash bookers especially will feel the same when they see it. Let me know what you think, I'm sure you'll love her too:

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

Well, first I am an artist, and second I am an almost 20-year-old Computer Science student at Georgia State University. I love reading and learning so college has been a lot of fun for me so far. I changed my major from Art History to Art to Computer Science. I love all of these areas and I am still in some internal conflict about what I want to do with my life after school. I am a mixed media artist; sometimes a painter, sometimes I draw and watercolor, and lately I am very interested in art journals, sketchbooks, and book making. My art is usually some sort of personal self-expression. I have a lot of hidden messages and meanings in my art, some of which I expose more than others. I use art as my personal exploration through a feeling, idea, or whatever I am trying to learn about at the time.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

Artist's block is the most challenging and frustrating thing for me. There are times when I am completely out of ideas of just lack motivation. The only thing that helps is to try simple art therapy, which for me means trying to put my feelings on paper visually. It's usually the case that I don't even know what the problem is, but I can draw something abstract and look within the drawing to try to figure out what the cause of my artist's block is. I'll draw something with a bunch of messy, organic shapes and colors overlapping and think, okay, this looks like the work of a very overwhelmed person. Maybe I need to do simplify things in my life. Art is the way that I keep in touch with my goals, ideas, and feelings. That's all I know how to do - just keep drawing!

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?
Yes and no. I feel like I used to have a very concrete style. But as I have explored art journaling more and more, and experimented, I think my style has split into two: my 'traditional' painting and drawing style and my art journal style. I read somewhere once that a gymnast, as he or she grows taller, has to sort of re-learn all of their moves to adjust to their new body. I feel the same way about art - whenever I learn new techniques or find new ideas I have to readjust a little to figure out where these things fit into my style. It's a constant learning process.

What is your heart’s greatest desire for your life as an artist?
My dream is of course to be a famous artist. I would love for some of my work to be in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC or something like that. But I'll be happy just to know that my work has made someone happy or inspired someone. I want to share the joy I've found in art with others.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

I have a website, ashtonelaine.com, where you'll find my artwork and a link to my blog.

Thank you Ashton, I really enjoyed that and your art work, the last piece especially I absolutely love. I'm sure you'll find your right balance between your areas of interest after school, we all do; though it may take us a while to figure it lol 

'All will be okay in the end, and if it's not okay, then it's not the end' (yes I did steal that from the hotel film with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith lol boy do I love watching those amazing actresses together =) )

Do you feel up to sharing & want to be a featured artist on Tell All Tuesday? Click the TAT lady on the right for more details