Bio
Blythe Ann made her entrance into the art world and the Asheville art scene in 2018, less than a year into embarking on her painting endeavors. Initially working with oil pastels and alcohol inks, she quickly dedicated herself to mastering the techniques of oil painting while fearlessly exploring new mediums. Her artistic growth knows no bounds, and she eagerly embraces a wide range of subjects in her creations.” Setting herself apart from many contemporaries, Blythe Ann is primarily self-taught and brings a fresh perspective to the art world. She possesses a unique approach to painting and an innate talent for creative expression. Believing that true understanding of style comes through experimentation and venturing into the unknown, she sees her art as therapeutic and ever-evolving. Her work reflects a vibrant palette, captivating subjects, and an engaging style that is both colorful and captivating. Currently residing in her native Florida, Blythe Ann has returned to the beaches and marshes that shaped her upbringing. With a painter’s eyes and newfound perspective, she indulges in surfing, hiking, foraging, and fishing during her free time. Should you wish to delve deeper into her artistic philosophy and personal journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Artist Statement
Have you ever wondered what the world looks like through the filter of children’s eyes?
Do you stop to wonder what if might be like to hold onto that deep fascination and curiosity?I I have spent my life fighting the urge to just pass by things that interest me without stopping to take them in through the senses. I’m always willing to make the space for smelling flowers and watching shapes form in the clouds above. To see things with inert, childlike inquisitiveness, is to expand the present moment, allowing everything to become captivating and worthy of exploration. In order to be truly present I must move back through time to that place of innocence. This in turn propels me forward on the path I was always meant to follow, the path of a painter.
Sobriety lead me back to a paintbrush three years ago at the age of 37. I hadn’t done much creating since adolescence. It was both a way to pass the new, free time as much as a return to my childhood dreams. The world I was searching for through substances, is instead created through oil and alchemy. I create my work through repetitive, studious application of mixed and applied vibrant color, often rooted in nostalgia. I draw inspiration from the graffiti on the train that passes in front of me all the way back to the old masters I first glimpsed in books.
Painting the natural world brings me to a deeper understanding of the universe of which I am such a small, curious part. Sharing with the world my struggles with alcoholism, I intend to shift the narrative of addiction stereotypes and what can be accomplished through sobriety and recovery. The stigma must be broken.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.