Local artist Joe Ashwell always has a project or two on the go. Although painting is his favourite artform, his mediums range from walls to vehicles to objects.
“I like taking something boring and dreary and making it into something different and visually appealing,” says Ashwell.
Being creative and artistic has always been a part of Ashwell. He has enjoyed drawing and painting even as a child. “The first painting I ever sold was when I was 15 years old, for $250. I brought it to school in the morning on the bus with a $250 price tag on it and all the students were laughing at me saying I was crazy. They said, ‘No one will pay that much for it.’ It sold that day.”
Ashwell, who grew up in Canada, moved to New Zealand when he was 15 years old and helped his dad with his painting company. He took it over when his dad passed away.
After the passing of Ashwell’s friend Drew Cook a couple of years ago, he decided to move permanently back to Canada. Ashwell bought Cook’s 1500 GMC truck and has recently given it an overhaul. Not only did he take care of rust, but he completely repainted it in green, black, and white camouflage, which Cook loved. Now Ashwell drives an embodiment of his artistic skills, can remember his friend, and uses the truck for his own interior painting company, Contract Painting Services.
Painting and drawing were just the beginning for Ashwell. “I do acrylic paintings on canvas, large murals on drywall, black light reflective glow in the dark art pieces, and more recently I’ve started to get into automotive airbrushing and painting.
“I love seeing the transformation from nothing to something… and that’s what art is,” Ashwell adds. “It’s what makes every artist different. No matter what form of art, visual or musical, we start with nothing and create something amazing.”
With three or four art projects on the go at all times, Ashwell keeps quite busy. “My last art piece I have been working on is a large 3D forest and mountain scene with a waterfall, all done out of drywall plaster.”
With no pressure to sell his art, Ashwell is free to create and express his talents in new ways.
