ASHLEY GRAHAM ARTS
@grahamarts
Artist Statement
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First and foremost, I am an educator and I take pride in practicing what I preach to my students each day. I have been a teacher for 16 years in CMS and I currently teach at South Mecklenburg High School. I teach my students that part of being an artist is taking risks and exposing our art to viewing. As a teacher, I want my students to exhibit their own works and use art as a form of communication and engagement. So, in my personal practice of artmaking I take on critical views of social, political, or cultural issues. I have always been intrigued by art that makes a statement and serves as a purpose in evoking
thought and investigation. Shy in nature, I use my artwork to communicate my thoughts and feelings as I deconstruct the American dream, world views, and societal factors of the time to challenge opinions and audience reflections. The canvas lends itself to say the things visually that I don’t say verbally. My color pallet is bold while the content is usually socio-political and constructed in an urban style. If you look closely at my works, there are always hidden symbolisms or collaged imagery that engage with matters beyond what is immediately visible, quite often consciously and reflexively questioning specific concepts and awareness as something deconstructed, created, and tangible.
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Influences
My influences are first and foremost everything I see, feel and experience, but I've always loved artists that are rule breakers or those that have gone against the grain of the “norm.” Some of these artists include: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, Andrew Salgado, Willy Verginer, Kehinde Wiley, Ben Shahn, Romare Bearden, Salvador Dali, and Shepard Fairey.​
Art Process:
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When I create artwork, I utilize the same methods I teach my students in class, and that's the principles of Design Thinking. This process involves 5 main steps: 1. Empathy (Who am I designing for?), 2. Define (What visual problem am I trying to solve and what is its purpose?), 3. Ideate (Research, Brainstorming, Planning, Concept Mapping, Investigating possibilities), 4. Prototype (Design Planning, Sketching and final drafts, Mock-ups, etc), 5. Test (Does the prototype work? If so, creating it in the intended form)
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Example:
For murals, I meet with clients and take notes on their wants/needs. I take pictures of the space with measurements and then I use that information to brainstorm ideas and potential solutions. These ideas are transformed into mock-ups, sketches, or photoshop plans that I overlay on top of the photographs of the space. This work is then presented to the client for their approval with a list of materials needed and the price quote for that specific project. Having this format gives clients the ability to visually see what the final outcome will look like in their space, as well as clearly identifying the cost involved in the project as a whole. Clarity is always the best practice and being transparent about the process. I want clients to be happy with the product and not have to guess or rely on solely on the faith in my skills to perform what they need.
Site Survey and Pictures
Draft 1 with Mock-Up
Final Draft Plan (revised)
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Final Project
