A Mother and Daughter Art Collaboration, now on Cottage HIll

We love this special mother-daughter session captured at the Refresh Collective, hosted and styled by Melissa Click, and captured by Lauren Jolly at Spain Ranch. Our favorite part? It features a real mother and daughter with a real story.

From Ashley (the mother): My daughter Nora, 4, and I paint oversized abstract artwork in inspired colorways. An extra measure of charm is ever present, as the younger member of this partnership carries full title responsibilities. The results promise to be laughable.

The process is simple but magical.

Step 1. I toy around with color pallets that inspire me, trying to blend muted tones with saturated, to avoid a juvenile look. This could come from a rug, an outfit, a sunset, or nowhere.

Step 2. I mix our colors, and let her choose her brush.

Step 3. We attack the canvas simultaneously, painting around each other. Sometimes there is a plan, sometimes there is not.

Step 4. We stop when Nora announces that it is finished, and declares some brilliantly ludicrous nonsense that becomes the name, which she immediately forgets.

Step 5. I pick out more colors and we do it again.

As a full time interior stylist and lifelong creative, I have a background in many artistic pursuits. This medium, however, is entirely new to me! Rather, achieving anything on a canvas I would actually share with someone is new to me, as painting one has never ever remotely resembled the grandiose messy masterpiece I envisioned. My movements are too calculated, and the results lifeless, at least in the eyes of this perfectionist. Nora, well, she’s a game-changer. Her approach is so free spirited and joyful, her brush moves so freely and without regret. She is the ying to my yang.

As I learn, and open up to the process, I appreciate my work more, but NEVER would have branched out into this without the ambiance she provides in each piece. Nothing is finished before she’s gotten her hands (and knees, and thighs?!) on it.

This journey began for us just a year and a half ago, starting with a gift we made for my sister. Since, we've been incredibly fortunate to continually be given opportunities to create and share, and every sale goes to Nora's college fund. We're taking it a day at a time, growing and setting new goals...and sharing all the nonsense.

This particular painting in the photos is for sale. The title is 'Colorado, Jeff Bridges, and Jesus' - it is mixed media on canvas, 36" x 48", and can be purchased through her Instagram account here.

You can learn more about Ashley's professional work at Whiteside Art and Interiors. Nora's dress is from Cute Heads and hairbow from Fourth and Pierce. All photos were scanned by Indie Film Lab.