Meet Ally Woods | Artist (Mixed Media Painter)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ally Woods and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ally, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I believe many people view art at a surface level. They only see what is in front of them instead of thinking deeper into the piece. What I think people are unaware of is, there is a strategy behind every color, movement, material, and emotion used to create that work of art. I often find people being surprised behind the true meaning of my work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This is always a tough for me.. My art depends on my mood, the day, what materials I have, and what has recently inspired me. I have been painting for 10 years but have developed under multiple different styles. My pieces could look entirely different depending on what materials I used that day. For example, some paintings I use brushes, sometimes I use popsicle sticks, sometimes I just use my hands, and sometimes I use fire. Using a different method to painting each time can make every piece look entirely different. I think that’s one of the harder parts of being an artist, you’re torn between finding your style and sticking with it or not giving yourself any limits but sometimes that feels like your art has no identity.

To overcome this feeling, I tend to make series that look similar for shows/galleries. Depending on the show, I will mix in the different styles I do to show potential buyers my skill variety.

Getting to where I am today has been a challenge but it has been worth it. My biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s all about who you know!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite places in the city to take my friends are Ponce City Market and The Beltline. I also love The Battery/Truist Park. A Braves baseball game is always a great time with such a fun atmosphere. Some of my favorite restaurants are Punch Bowl Social, Friti, Falling Rabbit, and The Garden Room. I also love a relaxing spa day at Divine Recovery Wellness Studio.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I love the opportunity to talk about the people who inspire me and motivate me to continue to create. My art journey has been everything from photography, drawing, painting, creative directing, and graphic and web design. My inspiration with all art forms came from my teachers throughout the years; Mrs. Zander (Shelly), Mrs. Devroy, Mr. Cvammen (Daniel), and Mrs. Ward (Beth). These teachers have always given me the freedom I needed as a creator as well as some of the best advice I’ve ever had to stay inspired.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to my parents for always encouraging me to do what I love. They have their home filled with my artwork and I love that they have supported me through every step of my journey. My boyfriend, Noah, and his family also play a huge part in my art career as they give me a space to create which has helped me soar in this industry. My boyfriend has flown across the country with me, sets up every show, critics every piece, and I owe a lot to him and his mom, Pam, for the growth I’ve had in the last five years.

I would say overall I have a great support system from my friends and family and I am so appreciative of that! I wouldn’t be where I am without them!

Instagram: @aawoods

Facebook: Ally Woods Artwork