We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Marie Richiez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve been painting and drawing for years; as long as I can remember. But I never truly considered pursuing my art professionally until 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before this, I had created pieces for myself, my family, and my friends. However, it was during this time that prompted me to take a significant leap into my art. It was essentially a period of reflection and I came to realize that it was when I was painting and creating abstract works that I could truly let go, be in the moment, and simply enjoy. I found a deep love and appreciation for creating abstract works as these became a form of self-expression, especially during this time. Though I had this realization in more recent years, looking back, I’ve always known that I wanted to continue creating, even if I didn’t choose it as my career path. In high school, I feel lucky to have had some supportive and encouraging art teachers who challenged and inspired me. And in college, even though I didn’t pursue a degree in the arts, I did take art classes. And I remember at the end of the semester of my drawing class, my professor asked if they could persuade me to switch to a fine arts major (I majored in nutrition and am currently a dietitian). If it wasn’t the end of my junior year, I would have probably considered this option more seriously!

Ashley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a self-taught abstract artist originally from New England. I moved to Austin, Texas in 2016 to escape the cold winters with my husband and now we have a beautiful home in South Austin with our two pups.

I absolutely love being outside and find nature to be so powerful and captivating. So much so, that it is a constant source of inspiration for my artwork, no matter if I’m working on a collection or a commission. I use acrylic paint in my work, treating it like watercolor on canvas to bring forth a beautiful and organic narrative that hadn’t existed before. I aspire to translate the very essence of my surroundings onto canvas, capturing their rhythm, movement, and core in an abstract and expressive form.

I’ve discovered that I naturally take in and hold onto certain moments and try to visualize them as I’m painting. These are moments that I embrace being in my local surroundings as well as moments I’ve experienced during travel. Each moment holds a special place and meaning; my goal is to evoke the emotions and connections from these experiences in my artwork, serving as reminders and memories in the form of paint on canvas.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think that the most significant idea I’ve had to unlearn, and am still practicing unlearning today, is perfectionism. Overcoming the fear of failure and rejection is definitely an ongoing process, very much rooted in imposter syndrome. It’s so easy, especially with social media, to compare yourself to another artist and have that sense of inadequacy. But truly every artist is different. Every artist is at a different stage in their career. And we don’t always see the whole picture of what the artist has gone through or is going through to get to where they are.

This mindset shift is crucial for me because the pursuit of ‘perfection’ leads me to a loss of motivation and creativity. Facing this challenge head-on, I’ve been prioritizing self-judgment less and putting myself first. I try to remind myself to respect the journey, respect the process; and don’t take myself too seriously. And I’ve realized the importance of finding that sweet balance between the seriousness of the business aspect of my art and the joy of creating.

When I arrive in my studio now, whether I’m painting, working on my website, or taking photos of my work, I try to set the tone of the time I spend there with some mindful practices. I’ve sort of established a routine in my studio to help quiet the noise and any clutter running through my mind. I light a candle or palo santo, play some calming music, and spend some time journaling. This ritual helps me relax, let go of the day’s distractions or any future worries, and really focus on my myself and my artwork.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is being a part of the artist community. I’ve connected with artists near and far, forming a supportive network that has been so invaluable. Meeting local artists by attending coffee dates, happy hours, and networking groups has been such an important, fulfilling, and enjoyable aspect of my artistic journey.

Being a part of this community has been such a wonderful way to connect, share, and build meaningful relationships. When I began leaning into my art more professionally, I learned a lot on the go, relying on Google and YouTube for tips and tricks on how to build my website, how to maintain it, how to stretch a canvas, how to varnish paintings, and how to safely package and ship a painting. But with an artist support network, asking these questions or looking for advice is as simple as reaching out via text or Instagram message.

Moving from my home studio to leasing a studio in Good Dad Studios was one of the best decisions I made last year. I now share a roof with over 70 talented local artists; we have a safe and supportive community, and it’s just so fun to be a part of this new studio space. There’s really a unique energy in being surrounded by other artists that help to foster an environment where creativity flows so seamlessly.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashleymarierichiez.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ashleymarierichiez
• Other: email: [email protected]