HOPE ASHWORTH

Hope Ashworth began painting in her early 20’s.  After studying dance and working as a professional jazz dancer for a few years, she decided she needed a break from performing.  She enrolled in art classes in Los Angeles and there it all began for her as an artist.  Figure drawing and painting was her primary focus which made sense as she had just come from a life as a dancer.  The beautiful shapes the body can create in dance she was able to connect with on the canvas.  As a dancer, she was very inspired by Bob Fosse, so it wasn’t a big jump for one of her art inspirations to be Egon Shiele. 

After a few years of studying with Martin Mondrus, master artist, in Los Angeles she fulfilled her dream of attending The Art Center of Design in Pasadena, CA…. but in a roundabout way, as she could not afford such a school, she was able to attend the Art Center as an artist’s model.  This allowed her to study under the finest figure teachers in the country; Vern Wilson, Steve Huston, Burn Hogarth to name a few.  Looking back, she believes it was a fabulous way to learn.  Being a model gave her valuable perspectives on posing, weight placement, lines and creating moods in drawings and paintings.

She grew up in Southern California but spent much of her adult life in Nevada and Norther California.  In the late 1990’she had her first solo exhibition in Reno Nevada.  She opened an art gallery in Quincy, CA which branched into a boutique hotel and wine bar.  She has been an entrepreneur most of her life; always mixing art with other collaborating ideas. 

She took a break from painting for a few years, but her artistic endeavors never ceased.  She physically renovated the oldest house in Dupage county as well a Victorian house in Aurora.  As lovely and challenging as they both were, she wanted to get back into the art scene.  She is thrilled to be back at the easel; but she couldn’t resist opening another art gallery, French 75, where she can share her work and have the fabulous opportunity to show many other fine artists.  She has created an intimate art gallery and cocktail lounge where one can have time in a relaxing space to get to know the paintings.  Creating the space was an art project in itself and she is thrilled to be back in the arena of art and artists in downtown Aurora, IL.

AVAILABLE WORKS

Past Sold Works