What a wonderful reporter to work with. And my heart is filled that I can be so "close" with my hometown community while abroad. A huge thanks to Don Thrasher and the Dayton Daily News for sharing my story and artwork. Much love to you Dayton, always and forever!

High-fives all-around. The news is apparently out... so exciting! Hopefully this draws more people to find the beauty just outside their doorstep.

Peeling myself away from my studio is necessary for both self-care and inspiration. But sometimes difficult, especially as a launch nears and the to-do list lingers. Nearly everyday, either with the dog or the entire family, I walk through the forest that surrounds our village. It is an easy place to wander and let the dog off-lead while the kids can run aimlessly. But recently I learned that this act has a name and science behind it. It is called Forest Bathing.

Our nearby forest is dense, green, and  lush. Sounds of birdsong and moving river water intertwine. Horses whinny, children cheer, paddle-boarders glide, roots trip, snails cross (or hang on to an impossibly thin stem), steam trains chug, and vast land suddenly appears through small openings (see Nene Park Trail painting).

​By taking the time to experience these aspects of the forest, I have been unknowingly (at least in my brain, my body is always more clever about these things) partaking in this relaxation method. It's a wonder I'm so attracted to this point in the day as it offers more than I thought! 

JOIN ME
Instagram Live Q&A Session
​Monday, September 7th, 2020
6:00pm London / 1:00pm EST
@AshleyStuartArt

Creating this space was incredibly easy. After hatching the idea to digitally showcase my work in more than just a scrolling gallery page, a simple Google search and follow-on research led me to ArtSteps. This site is an incredible interface that offers templated spaces or a building and design option to customize your space.

The shop is closed as I focus all of my energies into preparing the Just Beyond collection. The shop will re-open on September 4th for The Collectors community only and September 6th for the public. If you would like to be added to the invitation-only private viewing of the latest collection, join The Collector community.

The Collector is my newsletter connecting a community of people that all have one thing in common: an appreciation of art. You'll be part of exciting conversations, see glimpses of works in progress, hear first-hand of new products and studio news, and ultimately, a chance to really connect with me and my artwork. As a token of my appreciation for your subscription, I'm also offering 10% off the first order to those who join. So will you join?

Recently I joined We Are Radikl, a group that fiercely supports female founders and it has been awesome. I've received guidance (already!) for some business practices and it is really lovely to hear of other women's achievements, struggles, and practices. And one of the best bits, I've met another artist who has graciously offered her advice which is worth more than anything. A huge thank you.

I'm so excited to see where this takes me and my art. Support in anything you try to conquer is required so if you're trying to start something new, dig your heels in and find some help. No shame, only growth.

I have always had an interest what lies behind windows: who lives there? why do they put certain belongings on display? what does this say about them? what do they hope it says? why do some people leave curtains open all night and others leave them closed all day?

My fascination started as a photography project in Charleston, SC. The primary focus was nighttime as the homes façade looked so different with various rooms lit. The project never took off as I really didn't want to walk the fine line between artist and creeper. But my fascination has remained. I've moved to sketches and, more recently, paintings. This sketch is from a trip to Honolulu, Hawai'i. A huge sky-rise hotel was situated across from our balcony and each morning and each evening I would study the life that was on display or wonder about the life that was hidden.

My latest IGTV Monday featured the first painted window – check it out. This was a window from a Georgian home in Bath, UK. It had the loveliest front garden, full of color and life. And my children's shoes on the seat matched the palette.

Yesterday I took my children to Nene Park visitor centre where we each bought a drink: two apple juices and a coffee. As the girls played, I sketched the juice and coffee and maybe found my representational shapes: Rectangle and circle.

This morning at the coffee shop, following a call with a dear friend, I explored these shapes briefly. How does a female's body change throughout pregnancy? What shapes is she comprised of? What does it mean when one shape is forced into another shape, only to birth yet another shape? Sketches below.

I first learned of Louise Bourgeois in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens in Washington, DC. This was in our pre-kids era and we used to go for jazz and sangria on hot summer nights, dipping our toes in the pond. Wandering through the gardens, my intense fear of spiders kept me from one of the most fascinating interpretations of the "mother". It wasn't until I visited the Bilbao Guggenheim that I really felt a connection with these sculptures (still couldn't touch them though) and the artist Louise Bourgeois.

​Quietly exploring her exhibition space along, my husbands rocking our sleeping one year-old, I realized some of my negative feelings and experiences toward "Hollywood" motherhood were being validated in an unexpected and pleasing way. Even now, thinking back, I'm not sure I can put the experience into words; I just remember the experience being quiet and loud, and eerie and comforting, simultaneously. To say the very least, it was unforgettable.