I pull inspiration for my work from my life. Most of my subjects tend to be self portraits but some are visitors representing an emotion, feeling, vice or real people. I use my art to navigate my life and often find putting the pen to the wood is like talking to an old friend to work out a problem. I start with an idea and create a very loose sketch on wood. It’s not until I start inking the drawing in until I know if it will work out or not. I find it very soothing to create pattern and repetition as it allows me time to work out the feelings in my head. I use watercolor to stain the wood and colored pencil to bring out the drawing. I finish with a Dremel tool, carving into the wood to create more pattern and texture.
Ash D. Pierce is a self-taught mixed-media artist known for her works on wood panel. Her style is both whimsical and melancholy and her subject deeply personal yet widely relatable. As a child who struggled with reading, Pierce looked for clues in book illustrations and fell in love with communicating stories and feelings through pictures. This is evident today in her unique narrative style and encourages the viewer to look for clues in the work while creating their own story within each piece.
Pierce was born in Columbus, Ohio where she first debuted at Lindsey Gallery with a solo exhibition in 2014. Pierce’s work has since been shown in exhibitions nationally including Chicago and New York. She was a featured artist in the exhibition “New Horizons- Self Taught Art of the 20th Century” at the Hickory Museum of Art in North Carolina. She has served as artist-in-residence to several state and national parks and has juried several exhibitions. She volunteers with a variety of organizations and is passionate about mentoring young artists. In 2022 Pierce moved to southern Ohio where she enjoys a life closer to the forest where she finds adventure and inspiration for her work.