Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashvin Harrison.
Ashvin, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a low socio-economic working-class suburb in Southern Australia. I never had a close relationship with my immediate family, unfortunately. After some housing issues, I dropped out of school, jumped from job to job trying to make ends meet. I eventually worked hard enough to gain access to complete a diploma in my 20s. I continued working in various fields; cooking, hairdressing, cleaning, gardening, building and various odd jobs. Whilst working 2-3 jobs at the same time, I furthered my study with a bachelor’s of education, though didn’t work in the education field as I was offered a job with Google.
It was after a few years working for Google that I lost my closest family member (grandad) and started to take up drawing to cope. I also started work as a teacher and enjoyed this for a while. Only two years ago, I decided to quit my job to take on creating art full-time. I now create daily and have sold over 300 artworks worldwide since 2017. I don’t know what’s next, but this is my favorite job yet.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create with charcoal. I start with a realistic charcoal drawing/painting as I express through an existentialism focus. I represent life as just a split second of existence with no start, end or great sense of time or place (white backgrounds and solitary focuses). This absurdism type feel allows me to become bold in my use of acrylic and resin paint splatters. I splash acrylics around the charcoal work as an expression of movement, beauty and emotion. I aim to create a lust for life right now with my charcoal and acrylic works. My nude charcoal works are an expression of acceptance for the natural beautiful human form- to appreciate who we are without labels, systems, time or space.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I still remember having no money for food and sleeping on friend’s couches to get by from place to place. I must admit though, I only struggled financially before becoming an artist. There was no way I could afford canvas, pens, brushes or paint to become an artist originally. I did like drawing and painting, but it all was way out of my budget. I had starting painting with house paint first- left over in a friend’s shed.
I had no idea acrylic paints even existed. I had a deep desire to create throughout my life in art, music, building and so on, but finding a safe place to live, food and regular income was more important. Art is very important, especially when it’s what makes you want to wake up the next day. However, I believe it is more important to ensure enough finances for regular food and shelter first.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I sell online only- mainly within the US, though would love to hold an exhibition of my works someday. My Instagram and website houses all my artworks sold and for sale. I also sell prints of my works, which can be found at hundreds of stores throughout the US. I aim to create works for diverse buyers with various budgets. I support my art as prints to allow everyone a chance to have a little vibrancy on their walls, to hopefully lighten up their day with a little smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashvinharrison.com
- Email: art@ashvinharrison.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashvinharrisonart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashvinharrison
Image Credit:
Ashvin Harrison
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