Ashley Hendrix
I'm Ashley Hendrix — a painter, paint carver, and longtime art teacher who genuinely just loves making things. I'm happiest and most at peace when I'm creating in some capacity, whether that's layering paint for a carving, sketching with pastels, or dreaming up another floral oil painting series. I received both my BFA in Painting and Master of Arts in Teaching from the Maryland Institute College of Art and have spent the last 11 years teaching art in public schools while continuing to grow my own studio practice.
I work across paint carving, oil painting, and soft pastel, but no matter the material, color and process are always at the center of my work. My paint carvings are created through the slow buildup of dozens of paint layers that are later hand-carved to reveal the hidden colors beneath. The process is tactile, meditative, and deeply rooted in curiosity, intuition, and play. Similarly, my pastel and oil paintings of garden roses and other blooms are built up through layers and layers of pigment.
At the heart of everything I create is a desire to bring comfort, color, and a sense of joy into people's homes. I want my artwork to feel warm and vibrant and full of life. My work is how I process the world, connect with others, and find peace, and I hope that feeling carries through in the work itself.
When I'm not in the studio or classroom, I'm probably attempting to improve my gardening skills (with mixed success), hiking or visiting wineries with my boyfriend and doggo, or celebrating being alive with friends and family.
Artist Statement
My paint carving practice exists somewhere between painting and low-relief sculpture, and it starts in a very physical, hands-on way. Each piece begins with creating the panel itself using 40 to 80 layers of acrylic-based house paint on wood. The color palette is planned in advance, so every paint choice is thoughtful and intentional. It's a straightforward but time-consuming process. Layer after layer — with lots of drying time in between — the panels slowly build over weeks, often months. The color doesn't just sit on the surface; it becomes the structure of the piece itself, with every layer adding to the history and depth of the final panel.
Once the surface has been built up, I use lino-cutting tools to carve back down through those layers of paint, revealing the hidden colors underneath. This is the part of the process I love most. The image slowly emerges as I work, and small shifts in depth or direction can completely change what color comes forward. The carving process feels intuitive and meditative, and often the lines begin to take on a winding movement of their own.
What interests me most is how connected the process and final artwork are. The layering and carving aren't separate stages. They rely on one another completely. The first layers I paint eventually become the deepest cuts I carve, so the order of the colors plays a huge role in how the final image reveals itself.
For me, paint carving is about slowing down, meditative movement, and letting color quite literally shape the artwork from the inside out.
www.ashleyhendrixart.com
