Ashley Arnold is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans photography, print, and digital media. Her art is centered around the idea of stillness, encouraging viewers to contemplate ordinary objects, fleeting light, and subtle emotional nuances. Drawing from her background in visual and performing arts, Ashley has honed an intuitive process that blends instinct with discipline, often focusing on moments and materials that might go unnoticed by others. Embracing slowness, simplicity, and intentional imperfection, her studio practice reflects a deep connection to her craft.
The creation of Acqua Carta was a natural evolution of Ashley's artistic philosophy. The name, derived from Latin words for "water" and "paper," embodies the core elements that have long defined her work: fluidity and tactility. Water symbolizes change, emotion, and flow, while paper signifies permanence, record-keeping, and form. These contrasting elements are always present in her creations, bridging the ephemeral and the grounded, the abstract and the intimate, the digital and the physical. Acqua Carta serves as both a brand and a repository for evolving collections that celebrate beauty in subtlety and sentiment in simplicity.
Ashley's original photography often features black and white images, bathed in natural light and composed with a meditative restraint. Rather than constructing scenes, she prefers to observe them, capturing moments like a crumpled napkin, an empty chair, or the shadow of a vine on the floor. These still life photos serve as emotional vignettes, fragments of time that demand nothing more than quiet observation. Her color photography exhibits a similar sense of restraint, favoring soft palettes and natural textures that reflect her inner world. As a printmaker and designer, she occasionally incorporates hand-drawn or collage elements to add depth to her minimalist compositions.
Ashley's subject matter ranges from organic textures like lemon rinds and petals to urban abstractions such as rusted metal and cracked pavement. Rather than glorifying decay, she uses these objects and surfaces as symbols of memory and internal landscapes. Her compositions often leave room for the viewer to insert their own associations, inviting contemplation and reflection. With her unique aesthetic and thoughtful approach, Ashley's prints are ideal for adding a touch of simplicity and beauty to home and office decor.