Artist Biography
Ashley Wittling (b. 1986) is a watercolor and mixed media artist/illustrator from Wisconsin.
From an early age she discovered that creating art was quite therapeutic and the perfect way to express herself as a shy and quiet child. She had many opportunities in high school to explore a variety of art mediums; painting, drawing, traditional photography, art metals, ceramics and sculpture. After graduation Ashley studied game art and design as well as illustration at the Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumberg, IL. Later she returned to college to study fine art with a focus in painting at McPherson College in Kansas. It was at this school that she found her love for watercolors thanks to her professor and internationally known artist Wayne Conyers. While his surreal subject matter was quite different from her own interests, his meticulous way of handing the watercolor paints was deeply inspiring. Years later she would return to watercolor herself and fall in love.
She is deeply inspired old master works, fairy tales, and mythology. Her work strikes a balance between vibrancy and subtle glazing techniques to draw her viewers in. Her work focuses on dreamscape figures and fanciful creature design inspired by the lush flora and fauna she knew as a child. Her hope is to create whimsical watercolor worlds that transport the viewer to quiet intimate moments that often go unseen.
Today, Ashley Wittling resides in west central Wisconsin with her son, partner, and a plethora of plants and animals that continue to inspire her work.