ASHTON HOWARD surfing artist.

Ashton Howard

Surf Artist

As America diversifies and sprawls, looking for new corners to place its expanding industries and communities, its natural beauty becomes more and more of a commodity, a treasure that is becoming harder to enjoy and in need of advocacy and artistic interpretation.

Just as Remington transposed the beauty of the Western frontier to an eager mythically starved audience, and Wyeth conveyed the simplicity and grandeur of the American spirit etched in an endless landscape, Ashton Howard brings us striking impressions of the peace and tranquility that America's tropics still offer us in an increasingly untranquil world.

Ashton is a son of Florida's gulf coast. He was inspired early on by the light and colors of its lushness, its wide white beaches and its gem like waters. As one of the world's foremost Tropical Artists, he shares with us the overwhelming beauty that the mixture of flora, sand, water and nature will eternally lend the human spirit. For it is still at the tropics edge that man will still find answers.

Ashton's work captures moments in time that we all share. His use of light, his understanding of nature's force, the power of the sea, are all powerfully displayed in his work. When looking at an Ashton Howard we acutely hear the green water finding its shore, smell the life around it, and feel the visceral fantasy that the tropics eternally offer. Ashton has traveled the world seeking artistic inspiration from its most exotic locales. Who better to teach us the secrets that the waters currents carry from land to land than an expert surfer. Surfing is what brought him to San Clemente, California. in 2002…

"I was a struggling artist for many years, teaching surf lessons, painting surfboards, and occasionally selling originals. My favorite memory of starting out as an artist is of Laguna Beach. I would drive up the coast everyday and sit in the park and sell my mini "Rock" originals. I would gather these beautiful sea stones and paint landscapes and waves on each one."

This is how it started, but Ashton's rapid growth, his innate and practiced ability to interpret nature's power and beauty and his unique style have blessed the art world with a very young and successful artist of our time.

Ashton's art has been represented and viewed in some of the world's most leading galleries. He is represented by the Wyland Galleries of Hawaii, California, and Las Vegas and many other speciality studios of the US, Hawaii, Canada and Japan. He continues to expand his art in many different areas through, art shows and festivals, murals, art licensing, and product development.

Ashton Howard now lives in Pensacola, Florida and continues to surf, fish, and enjoy the easy going lifestyle of the Gulf Coast. Being home has given him a fresh and exciting perspective; a new feeling of freedom that inspires him to continue to explore, build and create. His art is now even more focused, confident, and inspiring thanks to the love and dedication of his beautiful wife, Emilie whose unique perspective of the man, his spirit, and is art has helped brand his art to a worldwide fan base.

Expedition Florida 500

A project by Ashton Howard: A year long journey of Florida’s coastline and waters. Keep an eye on Ashton’s Facebook Page for further details and more art.

"This is a cool project for our diverse state of Florida. I will be completing over 20 original paintings in the next year depicting the unique landscapes of Florida; marshes to bays and rivers to the ocean, it will be a great opportunity to paint some exciting new images. The first painting was completed this week; a scene of the winding river marsh dumping into the Gulf of Mexico (below). The kick start of the project will be January 2013 beginning in my hometown of Pensacola, Florida and I will be donating a large mural to our city and ending in Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital where another mural will be completed."

www.ashtonhoward.com