ABOUT ME
Ainsley Lauren Guzman Jason, a figurative painter and muralist from Victoria, BC, has swiftly emerged as a prominent force in the local art scene. Her work has garnered attention, appearing in the Commox Valley Record, and is entering the spaces of businesses and organizations around Victoria as she continues to grow her reputation.
Since completing her BFA at the Alberta University of the Arts in 2017, she has found success selling commissions and painting murals for businesses across Canada. Notably, she painted “Espíritu Guardian”, an outdoor mural in downtown Courtney, which celebrates Hispanic culture and female ancestry.
Ainsley's latest oil paintings, on display at the Gage Gallery in downtown Victoria, are a reflection into her soul, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the powerful emotions she captures. Through her intuitive brushstrokes and inventive layering, she paints her subjects within a spiritual landscape of vibrating colors, guiding them through a journey of personal transformation.
As she continues to expand her artistic horizons, Ainsley Guzman Jason is on track to having an integral career in the art community.
"What inspires me most is the human capacity to endure pain, adapt by reframing reality, and ultimately transform into a better self."
I have always been aware of a heightened reality, one that extends beyond our physical senses. Being an emotionally sensitive person has led me through periods of intense depression as well as moments of awakening.
These experiences have endowed me with a deep understanding of the natural and essential cycle of transformation and rebirth that unfolds over the course of one's lifetime. What inspires me most is the human capacity to endure pain, adapt by reframing reality, and ultimately transform into a better self.
My paintings capture various stages of transformation. They reflect emotions ranging from confusion and despair, to realization and bliss. Each painting represents a stage in the process of existential growth.
My artistic process involves laying down a neon acrylic base and then applying fragmented brush strokes of oil on top, occasionally scraping away layers of oil to reveal an underlying gradient that mirrors the spiritual dimension. The combination of neon acrylics with oil paint serves as a metaphor of the fusion of old and new ideals that transcend into a greater understanding.
The end results are portraits that simultaneously disintegrate into and build upon a concealed nature they are intrinsically linked to. Through my art, I aim to resonate deeply with the viewers' souls, serving as a reminder that they are not alone in experiencing loneliness, feeling lost and estranged, or being overwhelmed. I want to remind them that brighter days can emerge from challenging moments.
Because of these deeply existential themes, I see my work as a rejection of postmodernism, and as part of a new movement to bring beauty and meaning back into our culture. I believe that this transformation of sacred tradition into a contemporary framework is the key ingredient to breaking the spell of our nihilistic society that has alienated our souls today.