Tom Ashman
June 26-28, 2009
Bio
Thomas Gerry Ashman is a mixed media artist who lives and works in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His eclectic visions are often inspired by the works of literature, film, and music that drift through his conscienceness on a daily basis.
Having no formal training in art, Thomas is unfettered by conventions, and very much enjoys when his work causes a viewer to wrinkle thier nose, and puzzle about where his ideas might originate.
No materials are 'off-limits' in his work, but he almost always uses glass and metal in some form, since he likes to put things together that are dramatically opposite.
In his unique art journals, the fragility of glass alongside the durability of metal offers Thomas an interesting juxtaposition of materials that reflects the polar extremes in life, and the inherent duality of human beings. He follows this philosophy in his doll creations as well, attempting to blend extremes like beauty with ugliness, scary with sentimental, and old with new.
Thomas has appeared twice on DIY network's Craft Lab TV show (season 2), and has had work published in Somerset Studio Magazine, as well as in their Gallery collection.
Thomas has shown artwork at the 18th Street Gallery in Bakersield, CA, and is teaching at a growing number of national art retreats. His future plans include a book of techniques and projects.
Thomas enjoys all types of music, especially heavy metal from the 1980's, and he has played in several local bands as drummer/singer. He also enjoys being outside, hiking, & fishing, and hitting the "greatest snow on earth" on the world famous ski slopes of Utah.