Meet Ashley McLaughlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley McLaughlin.

Ashley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been a creator for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was more involved in drawing than painting and was more drawn to using graphite pencils and working without color. Over the past 5 years, I got into painting and developed a love for color.

When I was studying at Missouri State University in my pursuit of my bachelor’s in art history, I played with the different art styles and movements that I was learning about, in my own art practice. I have experimented in a variety of ways from mixed media and collage, to what I do now with my landscape paintings.

My current body of work really started when we went into lockdown in 2020. Like many of us, I was temporarily laid off from my job and saw it as an opportunity to dive deeper into my art practice. During that time, I felt very stir-crazy and wanderlust and longed for the time I could go out and explore the world again.

I would look through old vacation photos and felt drawn to recreating those memories with a paintbrush. I have continued painting landscapes inspired by my own travel experiences and developed my business around that journey.

I have been so lucky with the opportunities I’ve been given. While in college, I interned for the Springfield Regional Arts Council. This experience and the connections I made, and continue to make, though that organization has opened so many doors for my art.

This has involved gallery showings, live painting events, teaching opportunities, chances to advocate for other artists, and even having my painting “Caves on Lake Superior” featured on the cover of Springfield Business Journal’s Book of Lists in 2021. I am so excited about where my art will take me in the future.

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?
Pursuing my art as a career has been hard in many respects. In our society, being an artist is often seen as a non-viable career option. People will question you and you will question yourself, but having the confidence and the drive is so important to success.

I have to tell myself to not compare myself to others as everyone has their own path in building a business out of their art. It also has been important to allow me to be adaptive and take constructive criticism along the way.

Luckily, my friends and family serve as a strong and encouraging support system. I also love what I do and having the ability to share my artwork with people makes it all worth it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating American landscape paintings.

A lot of my artwork is inspired by my own experiences from traveling, hiking, or even just exploring beautiful places in nature that are right in my backyard. I like to utilize the photos I take from these adventures and use them as painting references.

It feels very personal when I go through the process of choosing a photo from one of these experiences and reliving it with each brushstroke. This is an experience I offer to my clients as well because I know what it feels like to have a favorite destination to visit. When I get the opportunity to paint for someone else, it feels like I get to live those moments with them too as they share their stories with me that are tied to that special destination.

I have become known for capturing desert landscapes as I have painted those the most. The times I have visited desert regions like New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah, I have been in awe at how beautiful the scenery is.

I also am in love with the vibrant shades of red that emanate from the rocks in those places. It’s unlike anything else I have ever seen. Another element that can be seen in much of my work, is abstract and choppy clouds. It’s fun to not take myself too seriously and add a bit of whimsy into my artwork.

My art is realistic enough for the specific landscapes I paint to be recognizable but abstract enough that I have created a very unique and fun style for myself. I love being able to utilize the colors we see in nature and play them up to be more bold and playful than what you would truly see.

People recognize that in my artwork and it allows my paintings to stand out from the crowd. That’s something I am really proud of. Creating something original out of what the world has already given us is a really beautiful experience.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I really have had so many supporters and individuals from who I have learned while developing my art and building my business. I would love to thank my mom and my fiancé for being my biggest supporters along this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashleylaren.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ashleylarenart
• Facebook: facebook.com/ashleylarenart