We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Marie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

There’s not really one project, but my collective portfolio from 2020-present. My style has vastly changed over the years after going through grief. I felt that I could no longer paint in the style I previously had. I wanted to create work that held meaning and significance- not just for aesthetic & expression. In my experience of loss, I asked God & my late sister to send me a sign that she was still there and ok. I held a sort of skepticism only because I needed to be 100% sure. So, I got specific and asked her to send me a purple flower. After a few weeks had passed, I noticed a purple pansy growing out of brick that aligned the steps on my front porch. I was in utter awe and couldn’t simply pass this as coincidence because pansies are an annual flower and don’t grow wildly.. not to mention, it was growing out of brick! No weeds or anything had ever grown there and never grew there since. This confirmed to me that there is something greater (spiritually) than what we can perceive and understand. I took the significance of this sign and put it into my work. I started using nature as a bridge to show this world- and painted human figures transparently to reflect the next world/spiritual. My goal is to have my audience consider their own thoughts on spirituality and provide visual confirmations of our existence beyond this life or in something greater than ourselves; God.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a figurative artist based in the Metro Detroit area. I took one semester at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and have been self taught since. I work full time in my studio and I teach a class at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. I’ve exhibited in galleries across the US. I’m currently working on a solo show that will open spring 2024.

I love working with oils because it gives me the versatility I need to portray the figure transparently with nature to convey physical and spiritual worlds.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are so many rewarding aspects. Whether it’s seeing your skill growth, your style evolve, your vision physically in front of you- instead of in your imagination, I could go on.. But, I think maybe the most rewarding aspect, for me, is hearing stories from my audience of how they connect and resonate with the work. I have a drive to create the work for it to simply just exist- and not with the drive to make money (which is nice because this is my living..) But, I’ve found it’s a different art making process when I can create from an inspired place, rather than a place of ‘monetary need’. Being able to create from an inspired place that holds deep personal meaning and be able to have that resonate with an audience and have an impact is the greatest reward.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’m fascinated by the work of Carl Jung, Leonard Shlain, Anthony Peake, Neville Goddard, Dr. David R. Hawkins, and Dr. Joe Dispenza. I’ve listened to countless books by them over the years and it has not only significantly changed my inner landscape, but how I approach my work as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashleymarieart.com
• Instagram: @ashleymarieart
• Facebook: facebook.com/ashleymariewilliamsart
• Other: tiktok: @ashleymarieart

Image Credits
(Image credit to CJ Benninger for my personal photo)