Carly says “When I begin to paint, I intend to create something magical. I create a basic outline with a rough idea of the colour palette. Then I start building colours and respond in turn to the way the paint lands on the canvas. Because I work fast, there is a wonderful sense of life, energy and movement. As the paint is applied, I discover which move I should make next – so it feels like a conversation between myself and the emerging painting. My colour choices are unconscious, but there’s an underlying intent to create tranquillity – which is reflected in the calming colour scheme.”
Carly Ashdowns’ paintings are a celebration of life. Imaginative, expressive, dynamic and vibrant. Drawing upon the deeply felt but unnameable experience of being alive, Carly uses paint and other media to create a myriad of emotions which echo the human experience. She aims for her work to invite the viewers to, step into and experience beyond what we are accustomed to in our everyday lives. After completing an Art and Design degree focusing on film and photography, Carly went on to enjoy a flourishing career in television, working for organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4. But eventually Carly’s instinct to draw and paint deposed her previous career path, and she began to hone her skill. She soon because fascinated by what paint is capable and it’s ability to seduce the viewer through illusion.She’s particularly fascinated by the illusory quality paint offers “after all it’s just paint, or ‘matter’, yet working with is opens doorways to a new paradigm. I often find myself in a dialogue with the painting, listening to what’s being asked of me. I know in the first 10 to 20 minutes if I’m creating something with magic in it.”Carly Ashdown from Westover gallery on Vimeo.
Carly’s desire to explore the nature of being human saw her train in psychotherapy at the Tavistock Institute in London, as well as volunteer for the mental health charity, Mind. As she delved deeper into the world of human experience, her art began to incorporate themes of personal transformation and understanding.
She says: “What unifies is is an inner beauty which we all share, and that’s really at the heart of my work.”
One of her greatest artistic influences is Jackson Pollock, who pioneered the unique technique of drip painting. A similarly abstract style can be seen in Carly’s work, integrated with figurative painting.
