Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Rader.
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Wildlife has always captured my attention. As a child, I would entertain myself by painting or drawing horses, dinosaurs, and wolves. I’ve always been an artist but I took it as a serious business soon after 2020 Covid-19 quarantine started. It was a hard time for a lot of people and businesses were shutting down, I got furloughed and took advantage of the extra time by revisiting my old art supplies. They were limited to a few small brushes and some black and white paint. I had always had the desire to do fine detailed work so I decided to run with this motivation by painting one of my favorite animals, the lion. The combination of using my favorite mediums and subject matter helped to rekindle my passion for art. Ever since I haven’t been able to put the brush down. I wanted to capture the beauty and detail of the wildlife that I have loved my entire life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is never a smooth road, I have struggled a lot and still do in certain situations today. It is difficult to find your niche, there are many talented artists out there so becoming a unique artist can be an overwhelming process. Every successful artist or business establishes a brand and creating your signature takes time to polish. I’ve tried different mediums and subject matter, I didn’t know what kind of artist I wanted to be so I walked away from traditional art altogether. I gave up painting and started a career in creative marketing/graphic design. I didn’t paint for almost 4-5 years then found motivation when quarantine started, it took a lot of time and patience to get to this point.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a visual artist specializing in wildlife artworks, my paintings are layered with acrylic and oil paint. I am recognized for my hyper-realistic animals paintings and my color palette is typically black, white, and greyscale. I want to create a sense of vitality in my art, I strive to create a level of realism that can be appreciated not only from a distance but also up close. I love to see my audience react to the realistic textures and I’m proud that I am capable of evoking emotion through the eyes of each animal I paint.
What makes you happy?
Being able to create a living by focusing on what you enjoy. Nothing brings me more happiness than waking up and getting excited to do my job. I’ve never thought that being a full-time artist could bring so much value to my life. I feel healthier, I have more time for family and myself, the list goes on. It’s still hard work but I’m working hard toward my future so it’s motivating!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.araderart.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/araderart/
Image Credits
Peter Ho Xander B.
