Things have been busy over here with things starting to reopen. Jaime is recovering more and more everyday (here’s an update). And I just finished painting my trout! I think my friend Dennis would be really happy with it.
I can’t believe this is finally done. It took over 92 hours to paint it over a period of 3 months. I tried to work in as many quilt patterns as I could.
I didn’t plan any of it ahead of time just started in the middle and worked my way outward picking colors as I went. For the majority of the fish I used a high quality liquid acrylic paint by Decoart called Media Fluid Acrylics. It will be sprayed with some kind of auto body finish to keep it UV protected for years. It will eventually be displayed somewhere down by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
I’m really excited to get it out of my store now…it’s been taking up a lot of room. And now I can move onto new projects. I’ve got a few I’m working on but one is this series “Animals of the Smoky Mountains” that I hope to make into some notecards or something.
I hope you are all doing well considering how crazy the world is right now. I’m not sure when I’m going to open my store back up but I’m still painting and creating and posting daily at @lilblueboo on Instagram.
You inspire me. 🙏🏼
Hi Ashley,
I am not sure if you remember me..this is Debbie Green from Palm Desert. I am a friend of Barry and Gayle and I started Turning Heads photo shoots for Cancer patients. At lot has happened in the last few years, including marrying the most wonderful man a couple of years after my husband passed away. When I saw this post I was blown away by the beautiful sculpture. My new husband’s passion (other than me) is trout fishing. I would absolutely love to surprise him with a sculpture like the one you just created. Maybe I could commission you to create a smaller one??
All the best,
Debbie
It’s. Beautiful !!, l’ll just have to travel to Bryson City to see it! Hours and hours of driving…
I love the trout and your newsletter.
Wow. Thank you for these inspiring stories, and your artistic soul. ❤️
Oh my goodness, Ashley! That is beautiful! I live in Wisconsin and of course we are known as the Dairy State. A few years ago, the state held a contest where people or groups could sponsor someone to paint a life sized fiberglass cow. After the contest ended, groups or communities could bid on a cow to put somewhere in their community. I don’t remember who won or purchased “our” cow, but the artist had painted Georgia O”Keefe designs and flowers on it. Like her famous poppy, cow skull, & desert scenes. It’s beautiful and stands in our Cannery Square. Georgia was born on a farm outside our fair city of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. A few years later, the City of Madison, WI, state capital, held another contest, same type of thing, except a large statue of our Univ of Wisconsin mascot, Bucky Badger, was the item painted. We have one of those, too, painted and decorated with decoupaged squares of maps and places, around the state. It stands in front of our city hall..Do I sound like I’m kinda proud of my town? Guess I am.
You’re amazing! I’ve watched you for many years and love how you have evolved your creativity ability. The trout is stunning!
I can’t wait for things to calm down some so we can make a trip up from Lexington to see your store. We have been up to visit your town before after hearing about it from you and really enjoyed it. Spent the night and took in most of the town. Can’t wait to do it again. It’s a pretty drive.
Amazing! So beautiful!! Great job Ashley!