Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Irizarry.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’m an artist. I’ve always created art. As a kid, I created because it was fun, but as I grew older, making art became a way to soothe myself when I felt overwhelmed or anxious. Art has always been a calming activity for me, something meditative I used to deal with anxiety or express heavy emotions I couldn’t articulate.
But I never took my art seriously. It was always an interest, a passion of mine, but even when I worked at an art museum and started making more of my work, I still didn’t consider myself a professional. I think a lot of that had to do with my perception of my talent and my limited art education—I didn’t set out to be an artist or even to be in the art world. I wanted to work in a historical museum or archives center doing curatorial work, but years passed without that dream coming true, and I turned more and more to making art as something to do while I waited for the “real” jobs I wanted to come.
But during the Pandemic, I started taking my work seriously, submitting my art to contests and exhibitions. I was featured in a local art show, ‘Coping Behind the Mask’ in 2021, and that external validation of my work gave me the confidence I needed to call myself a professional artist.
Now, I work with three different galleries (Teravarna in LA, MONAT Gallery in Madrid, Spain, and Artio Gallery in Toronto, Canada) and sell my work through different platforms (Redbubble, Pixels/Fine Art America, Artsper, Artsy.net) and run my website where I sell my original paintings and prints of my photographs. It’s been a tough journey, and my art business is still in the early stages, but I’m grateful to have come this far, and I’m daily working on ways to improve and grow.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think anyone can say their road has been smooth. Being a professional artist is never easy—and like many artists, my biggest struggle is earning enough money and being strategic with my time, energy, and other resources.
There are many ways to earn a living as an artist, but it takes time, effort, and support to make it all work. You constantly have to sell yourself and prove the value of your work. It’s very hard. I struggle with having enough energy to juggle things that will grow my business. And the stress of needing to make it work adds to the pressure. I get overwhelmed.
I’m working this year on growing my business, and I have a lot of plans for how to do it, but I consistently find myself too tired to do it all, so I need to find ways to take small steps and be consistent with my projects instead of overwhelming myself with trying to do it all.
Another struggle has been managing expectations.
When I started doing art professionally, I listened to many other business professionals and professional artists who made big promises about quick success if you followed a certain formula. And so I got discouraged when I didn’t get the big successes the gurus promised.
Over time, though, I realized that everyone’s journey is different, and I can’t compare my situation to others or get discouraged when I don’t have instant success. It’s a journey; we’re all working at different levels and have varying forms of support. I try to temper my expectations about achieving massive success as an artist so I don’t feel discouraged and give up.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a professional artist; I sell my work (original paintings, photography prints, and products) through my website and on platforms like Redbubble and Pixels/Fine Art America. I also work with several galleries to sell my paintings and connect with art lovers and collectors; my work was recently shown in Milan, Italy, at the (Un)fair Show of Contemporary Art.
As an artist, I specialize in creating abstract paintings in acrylic, oil, and mixed media. I’m inspired by color and nature, and my paintings are always vibrant, dramatic color schemes.
In my photography, I’m mainly inspired by nature and landscapes. My photography is introspective and melancholic; I like creating images that inspire nostalgia and serenity. In particular, I love photographing sunsets—I live in a place where I’m lucky enough to experience really brilliant sunsets.
I’m more known for my colorful paintings; one of my favorites is called ‘When the Sky Fell On Me’ in shades of blue and green acrylic paint and features seed beads. I never start a painting with an end in mind. I start with a color and let the painting emerge as it will. ‘When the Sky Fell On Me’ ended up looking something like a cross between the Northern Lights and a picture of a galaxy—it was a beautiful surprise, and I love that about creating.
What sets me apart as an artist is my story and my work style; mental health is a big part of my journey. I know I’m not unique in using my art as a way to process and express my emotions, but creating art has always been a major factor in dealing with my mental health struggles. Although I experience anxiety and depression, vibrant color remains a key feature of my work, which seems contradictory when I think about how my art is an outlet for these heavy emotions.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I keep making art because I love the process of creating, not because I’m trying to “make it big” as an artist or earn loads of money.
Create for the sake of creating, not because you want a particular result–creating becomes a burden if your only purpose is to make money or get famous. Lose the expectations and free yourself from the need to make everything mean something. Just enjoy the process of creation.
Pricing:
- Small paintings start at $45.00
- Medium and large paintings begin at $200.00
- Photography prints start at $15.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleyirizarry.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sleepycritic
- Other: www.artsy.net/artist/ashley-irizarry/works-for-sale
Image Credits
Ashley Irizarry Photography, Iryo & Milan Show, MONAT Gallery, and Ashley Irizarry
