Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayla Erdener.
Ayla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been making art my whole life, and eventually went on to study Studio Art at UT Austin, where I earned my B.F.A. I experimented with a wide range of mediums and disciplines, including short experimental films, black and white photography, serigraphy, sculpture, and painting. Eventually, I found my way to painting full time and have worked on everything from tiny 5 by 5 inch illustrations to large, eight foot long paintings, and pretty much everything in between!
I do most of my artwork at night while working a corporate job during the day. Having an income independent of my art has allowed me a certain freedom. It takes away the pressure of having to make a living solely from creative work and allows me to experiment more with my art. The trade off of course, is that it often means very long days and nights.
I’m also fortunate to have an art studio in East Austin, one of the few remaining affordable studio spaces in the area. Having a dedicated place to create has become increasingly difficult in Austin as development and rising costs continue to push artists out of the spaces they’ve called home. I feel incredibly lucky to still have a place where I can make work and be part of a creative community in a city that has become increasingly cost prohibitive for so many artists and creatives.
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with new mediums and having a lot of fun with gouache. It’s lightweight, dries quickly, and allows me to work more spontaneously and intuitively. I’ve been creating small scenic landscapes, but I’m excited to keep experimenting and see where it takes me!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have learned a lot in my art career, and so much was trial by fire. I don’t regret it, but I know there are smarter and more efficient ways to grow your art business. One of the things I’ve found helpful is having a community of art friends who are willing to share their processes, business ideas and tips. We can grow together and create a stronger, more connected community of artists in our city this way. It strengthens not only your individual practice but supports the artists around you.
My advice would be to get involved in art communities, communal art shows like Austin Studio Tour or create a group of your own. We learn from each other, from critique groups to sharing how or why we price our paintings, or the best way to set up a booth at an art pop up.
They didn’t teach how to run an art business as an undergrad at U.T. so it was up to us to learn by doing. But I think we can make that path a little easier by learning from each other and sharing what we’ve figured out along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has taken many forms over the years, from 10 ft outdoor murals in Texas and 4 ft oil portraits to small narrative watercolors and, most recently, gouache landscapes. I recently completed a series of small watercolor illustrations for a new memoir chronicling Hanna Griff-Sleven’s life in Japan in the 1990s. The pieces are intimate, detailed, and narrative. I’m especially proud of this work because I created them slowly over several years, working late at night to get them done.
My last solo show was a series of oil portraits titled Q&A: Questions and Answers, Queers of Austin. Each painting featured someone I’ve gotten to know and love over the years. All of the subjects are members of my queer community in Austin, a community I’ve been part of for more than a decade. Together, the portraits reflect the support, generosity, and sense of safety I’ve found within that community. Through the work, I explored the vibrancy, vulnerability, power, and light and shadow of queer identity—sometimes fading into the background and other times unapologetically taking up space. As a whole the collection was colorful vibrant and truly moving.
Looking ahead, I’m interested in making art more accessible and approachable, including a new collection of framed gouache paintings starting at $100. I want art to feel attainable for everyone, not something reserved for a small few. I’m also beginning a series of exploratory works centered on personal narrative and botany, inspired in part by a class I took with Chris Mrozik. I’m excited to see where that journey takes me.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My dog. Seriously. She’s been with me through it all and it has been a wild ride too. These past several years have shifted everything and she has been with me through it all, and happy and excited for each day. She is my grounding force, my little sidekick while doing art and a true source of joy.
Pricing:
- Paintings (depending on size + medium) range from $100-$1800
- Commissions prices are upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aylart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayla.artist/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayla-erdener/
- Other: ayladesigner@gmail.com
