First: Ally Woods Location: Atlanta, Georgia
So we’re going to start with the difficult question: sum up your creative process in one word/phrase, and explain why!
Controlled Chaos – My work is a mixture between simple line drawings and fluid art. I have to control the chaos of the fluid art in order to allow myself space for the thin line drawings.
Were you always an artist, even as a child? What was your path to becoming an artist?
Yes! As a child I would draw with my older sister, Andrea. Her bedroom was filled with drawings and I used to sit in her room and just stare at the walls. I believe that’s where my fascination with art started. Art class was my favorite class throughout school, especially when it was time to draw or paint. In high school, I took four years of yearbook. Yearbook is where I discovered my love for photography and digital design. I was a designer/photographer by day and a painter by night. I had such a love for design that I moved to Atlanta for college to study Graphic and Web Design. Then, soon realized my heart is truly with fine art.
What is your medium of choice and what drew you to this particular medium?
My medium of choice is acrylic paint along with multiple other products that give me the flow texture and gloss look with fluid art. I was drawn to this medium because it dries fast and I can manipulate the textures giving me certain desired finishes.
Is there any particular experience, person, place or thing that inspires you to create? Tell us about that.
For two years I suffered a harsh depression where I didn’t create anything at all. I picked up a paintbrush again to paint a few animal portraits as gifts throughout the holidays. Then in the summer of 2018, my close friend’s fifteen-year-old sister was murdered by their brother and that tragedy hit me really hard. She and I were roommates in college and both paint, so we decided to throw our first art show together dedicated to her sister and raised donations for the Mental Health Alliance. This is when I decided to tell my story through my paintings.
What is it like showing your work to people and what do you hope people take away from it?
Showing my work to people makes me really excited. All of my paintings have very deep meanings and express an emotion or experience I’ve gone through. The most exciting thing is, everyone sees something different. With fluid art, there are so many different ideas the imagination can create at different perspectives. Some people understand my own personal hidden message with my work, and others see what their subconscious wants them to see. They feel what they need to feel and there is no right or wrong.
What advice do you have for other artists who may be looking to get their work exhibited?
Get out there and network! Talk to any and everybody about your art. Google “Call For Art” and sign up for as many events as you can! Take risks without fear of failure.
Contact information:
Facebook: Ally Woods Artwork
Instagram: @Aawoods
