Ashley Stanger (Class of 2020)
Blogger Role: Art Therapy
Major: Art Therapy
Minors: Psychology, Painting
When did you first consider yourself an artist?
When I was younger I was always drawing and coloring. But what 6 year old doesn’t scribble on a napkin? When I went to middle school I enjoyed art classes but it was evident that I was an artist. When I hit high school my work was getting good so teachers started paying attention and hyping me up. I began taking advanced classes and I realized I lost sleep to paint so that’s when I came to the conclusion that I was meant to be an artist.
Why did you choose Marywood?
The views from the painting studios—are you kidding me?! It is beautiful! Also the teachers seemed receptive to the students and the campus was so cute.
Why did you choose your major?
I wanted to be a professional painter until I realized that was not even rational if I want to be able to afford 27 dogs in my house. So I looked into Art Therapy. I love art and helping people so I am fulfilling both my interests.
What is your favorite medium to work in and why?
OIL PAINT!!! Anyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with oil paint. I adore how it blends so easy and I can do either super detailed art or super abstract with it. Also I change my mind A LOT, so the fact that it takes a billion years to dry helps me rework a section of my piece rather having to paint over it cause it is too dry to re-blend.
What kinds of things inspire you to make art?
My emotions for sure. I used to be a very technical artist, but I have been moved by my college experiences to dabble in abstract work. Since then, my emotions has influenced all of my work.
What artists excites you and why?
I like a lot of people, but if I had to choose some I would say Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, Rauschenberg and Saliot. They all have gestured ideas of what they want to convey and I really enjoy their color palettes and compositions. They all have a different style and I think that variation really helps me dabble more in different styles.
What about the creative process excites you the most?
You never know how it is going to turn out. There this beginning stage and there’s an ugly stage and there’s a finished stage. In the beginning you have to find the motivation to keep it going and really dive into your thoughts to understand what you want it to convey. When it is in the ugly stage you have to learn patience and restraint. Patience in the process and know that IT WILL get better and restraint to not totally start over. The finished stage is when you have to know you want to be done or when you feel it s complete.