Finding My Calling at 30

Artwork by Ashley Elizabeth Burke

Hi my name is Ashley I’m 37 years old. I’m a wife, a mother, an artist. Art has always spoke to me, even as a child. I stopped drawing in my teen years because I was distracted with teenage shenanigans. However after a terrible life experience at 30 I picked up some painting supplies at a craft store and off I went at it without stopping, growing and learning. My biggest challenge is mastering color harmony, and sometimes drawing. I want to learn how to approach traditional painting the way the master painters before me has. I want to be able to catch my mistakes faster and be able to understand the value relationships quickly. Most of all I want to master dynamic compositions by using the golden ratio.

My goal is to create some of my own compositions based on fantasy and historical aspects much like the masters before me. I have created a few compositions I have created with the help of photo merging apps as a reference guide. Typically I start with a combined idea and then I add what I feel my composition needs as I go. The majority of my work are based of of photos with a little artistic license setting me free. I have researched old masters academy and I am intrigued, I want to win because college is just too expensive with four children two of whom are almost of college age. Oil painting is the air that I breathe, I am obsessed. When I’m painting I am transformed into another world. Nothing around me exists except my subject and myself. I want to win to further my artistic knowledge, you tube and books only take me so far. There is always room for improvement.

The artwork I am uploading is a painting of my youngest daughter based on a photo that her grandmother shot of her on her fifth birthday this past October. I loved the red umbrella behind her and the way the fall colors contrasted with her dress. I think it would be nice if people could vote for an old mom like me, I think it’s never too late to further your education no matter your age. I just wish I had found my passion much sooner. I feel like Grandma Moses sometimes.