Ayla's Art

26/03/2026

I started working at NextFab and have learned so many skills there. Here are a few things I’ve been creating there!
•
I’ve been laser cutting, 3D printing, wood turning, creating cutting boards and so much more 💕
•
I’ve been working on a piece for the past several months. Stay tuned for the big reveal coming soon . . .

24/10/2025

Happy October 9th!
Theme: Raven 🐦‍⬛

Here’s to day nine of October! (Fairly late)🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, Raven. I decided to draw this picture I found of a Raven standing on a skull. I drew this with colored pencil on gray paper.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

20/10/2025

Happy October 8th!
Theme: Witch 🧙‍♀️🧙

Here’s to day eight of October! (Fairly late)🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, Witch. There were lots of different photos that came up for this. I thought about the popular witches like Winifred, Mary, and Sarah on Hocus Pocus. I also thought about the typical depiction of witches, which came from the fact that woman accused of be witches were beaten, and starved, making them look decrepit and malevolent when they came out to be burned at the stake. There were about 40,000 - 60,000 people killed because of this idea of witchcraft.

I drew this with charcoal, trying to show the beauty of a witch while giving her face an eerie look, representing the dark history of witches.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

09/10/2025

Happy October 7th!
Theme: Tomb 🪦

Here’s to day seven of October! (a little late)🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, tomb. There were lots of different photos that came up for this. I thought about the popular tombs I know of such as the pyramids, and the Taj Mahal. I decided to go with a photo of the Catacombs since it represented a change in what tombs were used for. High class people were typically buried in these elaborate tombs like the Taj Mahal whereas the Catacombs were created due to overflow in cemeteries, health, and religious reasons. There are about 6-7 million bodies in the Catacombs.

I drew this with colored pencil on black paper.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

09/10/2025

Happy October 6th!
Theme: Moon 🌕

Here’s to day six of October! (a little late)🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, moon. Most of these photos were similar with the moon lighting up clouds around it. I figured I’d give that a try with colored pencil on black paper while adding some spooky bats.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

05/10/2025

Happy October 5th!
Theme: Shadow 🕸️

Here’s to day five of October! 🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, shadow. I found myself analyzing the relationship between the object and its shadow. I noticed that shadows reveal something deeper, and more eerie. I found a photo that perfectly fit the spookiness of October. I decided to recreate it with charcoal.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

04/10/2025

Happy October 4th!
Theme: Nightmare 👹

Here’s to day four of October! 🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration with the keyword, nightmare. I thought the images with doorways and creatures peeking through were very creepy. It reminded me of the nightmares I used to have as a child. I made this with charcoal.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

03/10/2025

Happy October 3rd!
Theme: Cobweb 🕸️

Here’s to day three of October! 🍁 🍂
For this theme, I searched through Pinterest for inspiration. I looked through so many cobwebs, one stood out to me because it looked like the web formed a skull in the middle. I looked closer and that wasn’t the case, so I decided to try and make it myself. It came out very subtle which I find exciting! I made this with colored pencil on black paper.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

02/10/2025

Happy October 2nd!
Theme: lantern 🕯️

Here’s to day two of October! 🍁 🍂
For this theme, I chose an image on Pinterest that inspired me. I drew this with colored pencil on black paper. I love how the light of the lantern pops on the dark background.

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

02/10/2025

I’m challenging myself to one art project a day for the month of October. 31 days of spooky art! 👻 I’ll be exploring materials, trying new ideas, and having fun with the halloween-inspired themes.

I will be posting daily with images that inspired me for each piece. Like this one! I have been crocheting pumpkins in preparation for this month.

My orange kitties, Pete and Pixel, also inspired me for this piece. They are obsessed with these crochet pumpkins and insisted that I let you know they are for sale. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested! 🎃

You’re welcome to follow along and join in on this challenge. Let’s make some art! 🎨 🕸️

Happy October 1st!
Theme: Pumpkin 🎃

13/05/2025

Witness My Process.
•
Grief can be extremely complicated depending on your past experiences, relationships and how you’re loved one passed away. Through my paintings and sculptures, I analyze how styles, subject matter, poses, space, and shapes can allow viewers to understand the nature of human mourning. I draw on both the sentimental and painful aspects of my childhood to create art that speaks to my present-day perspective on my father, his addiction, and the tragic way he passed. I use saturated, somber colors similar to the Chiaroscuro technique which is inspired by Caravaggio. I layer oil paint onto a carefully constructed canvas using a palette knife adding a course texture to the composition in response to the complicated memories I have with loss and addiction. I deliberately leave areas of the red exposed and unfinished representing how deep sorrow often feels unresolved and unfathomable. These areas allow the viewer to witness my process while symbolizing the persistent emotion of anger I experienced growing up with an alcoholic father. Creating art allows me to continue this exploration of my grief in reflection to the complex relationship I had with my alcoholic father who was murdered in 2023.
•
This is my senior thesis that was shown in the Paley Gallery at Moore College of Art and Design. April 24 - May 9, 2025

25/04/2025