Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Lazarz
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?
Doodling got me through most of school growing up. Drawing faces, eyes, little characters. Once I was in high school and could choose elective courses, art, painting, and photography was what got me excited. Creating became my passion. It allowed me to block out the world and zone in to the movement of the brushes, pencils, really whatever medium I was using. It became meditative. When I entered into college, I majored in Finance and lost touch of my creative outlet for a bit. Finance was the ‘safe route’ to go in to. To get that creative spark back, I began seeking out art classes, studied abroad focusing in art, and gained a minor in Studio Arts.
I went to college in Arizona and lived there for 5 years after I graduated. My life became bleak and my passion for painting started to dwindle. That’s what motivated me to make a change and move to Austin in 2023. I completely changed my career, my lifestyle, and my surroundings. Now, the art and inspiration I see daily motivates me to keep painting and immerse myself in the art community. Painting really was just a hobby until 2024. My paintings are vulnerable and tell a story and until recently, I was afraid to share those stories. My parents were my biggest fans, but of course they had to be. Once strangers and friends of friends started appreciating and purchasing my art, I stopped doubting my skills, released the imposter syndrome I was living in, and acknowledged the artist that I am.
Today, I am making strides everyday to share my paintings with others. To inspire them to create, to relate with me on a painting and its meaning. To learn from each other. I have recently started to get comments on how others don’t like my paintings or don’t even see my pieces as ‘art’. And that’s okay too. That’s what I love most about art. It can be whatever one wants it to be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth, but also I’m grateful for that because I can transcribe it into my art. My art has such great healing components for me and I’ve used pain, struggle, and happiness and love to paint. I think the biggest struggle for me, though, has been how I compare myself to other artists. Comparing myself to their work, their drive, the amount of followers they have on social media. All of it. Getting over that idea that I have to be so different or that I have to fit in. I can just be. I can just create, fully enjoy the process, and accept imperfections of a piece.
But the fact that I am painting huge canvases in my living room is crazy. I have not yet rented a studio or had an extra room to paint in. But artists have to work with what they have!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in abstract paintings on small and large scale. I mainly work with acrylic paint, but do many mixed media pieces which include paper, charcoal, oil pastels, and spray paint. Most of my pieces are very vibrant in color, have texture, and work with composition. However, some pieces are very minimal, dark, or considered ‘unfinished’. Because my paintings are a direct reflection of my emotions and how I mentally and physically feel, this polarity can be understood. Faces, eyes, and expressions are represented in my art often.
I am most proud of having my artwork chosen to be displayed inside of a local coffee shop here in Austin. A curator wanted me? I felt as if I have ‘made it’. But this was just the beginning.
What sets me apart from other artists is the range of emotions one gets when viewing my pieces. The way they make you think and create your own story and interpretation regarding meaning. My pieces are not literal and hearing others’ takes on what a piece ‘means’ is one of the most enjoyable parts of sharing my work. Also, what sets me apart is me. I get inspiration from others; people motivate me and I motivate them. I am a very ‘go-with-the-flow’ type of person and that can be seen through my art.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
What a question. There are many lessons I’ve learned so far and all have been valuable for that period of my life and my art career. But the most important lesson I have learned for not only my art career, but for my existence, has been to be authentically me. To not be afraid to put my art, my voice, and myself out there. To say the words “I am an artist” out loud, and believe it, took me a very long time to be able to do. Once I became comfortable in my own skin and who I am, I had the confidence to show my artwork to the world. To show my vulnerable side and my emotions. Another important lesson I have learned, now that people see my art and form opinions, is to not let negative opinions stop me from creating and practicing my passion. Instead, to let it fuel me and accept that my art may not be for everyone. And that is okay!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleylazarz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyashleylazarz/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleylazarz
