Blog 1 Book Artist - Will Ashford

Will Ashford is the artist I have chosen to do my research about, because his work is really memorising. I like his because it is very simple yet with a complicated meaning to most of the books he has drawn on. There are many great meanings in his work. He has used some old books for most of his works, which gives it a great vintage feeling. By changing around and making the books he uses to give readers his own image of what the book meaning is. When I was searching for my book artist I had stumbled upon on the artist Will Ashford, his work was mysterious and kinda painted a dark image which interest me to looking for more of his work. He writes/draws pictures on the books to give an idea/message or view of something that they couldn't see or find while reading the book.

 Words revealed through application of translucent coloured vellums. New words built out of the parts of other words. I.E. Art about the word “art” leads to art being just about everywhere.

     Will Ashford is a self-taught artist whose work has covered numerous mediums and venues from water-colours to huge conceptual installations spanning many acres. Will perfected his ability to draw by the time he was out of high school; having become the campus artist, responsible for miscellaneous design or illustration tasks for teachers and administrators. Through his lifelong study of history's great philosophers Will concluded that it is the philosopher who is the artist and as such, the artist's work is a portrait of his self.  Perhaps a consequence of his interest in philosophical syntax; words have played a prominent role in much of his art.

    Will's art and personality has been featured in numerous periodicals including everything from feature stories in Life, Bundt, and Omni in the late 1970's to recent posts on various art blogs including Notcot.com.  Original pieces from his current ongoing movement of altered vintage print literature show in galleries internationally and locally with a regular engagement at Dolby Chadwick Gallery in San Francisco, CA.

Links to where I found the information on Will Ashford : http://willashford.com/about.html