John Ashcraft

Artist Statement

In my work, navel gazing through the lens of story telling is where I begin my journey. I use fractured narratives in a dark, existential and sardonic nature. Myths often intertwine with autobiographical elements, burying the truth underneath the soil of fantasy. Using cropped images and unnatural angles, the paintings invoke psychological elements such as anxiety. The dreadful and forlorn aspects bubble up to the surface, leaving bright colors tinged with an sense of uneasiness. I use harsh brush work to emphasize these forms, elucidating the bright colors in dramatic conditions. I use landscapes, self-portraiture and narratives to accentuate these features, bringing them to life. At times, I use made up fantasies and myths, falsehoods that happen to take my truths into unknown areas. It is through the repetition of fiction and truth, authenticity and allegory, that I get lost in the delicate dance between the two. The stories that I have woven together have been made anew. I shape my identity through these new mythos that I have created in the making of my art. The use of paint has opened a gateway to various realms that otherwise would be closed off. I am made whole through my narratives, I am made fresh once again through paint. I am. ​