Meet Aaron Welch of Astral Artistry in Arlington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Welch.

Aaron, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Art has been a constant in my life. It’s always been there to fall into, be it for stress relief or creative expression. I started in high school covering the basics of art but it wasn’t until college that I started to take it seriously. I was enrolled in drawing 1 and 2, painting 1 and 2, ceramics, art metals, and sculpture. Every single day was enjoyable and motivated me to push my skills, while learning how to let go. My art professor Paul Benero was tough on me and pushed me behind my comfort zone and I owe him a great deal for stoking the fire in me to pursue creation. I started with oil paints and moved to acrylic and then spray paint, eventually combining them all with mixed media. Resin has been the most recent discovery for me which has so much potential. The most creative moments I have are in those times where I’m able to let go and bring my true self forward, often with no goal in mind. My mindset with art has always involved a flow state. I might not know what I am even creating until I’m half way into it. In this way I find things come into form organically and there isn’t an overactive mind trying to control the process. It comes from somewhere else. This is therapy for me. With multiple shows at the Arts goggle and the basement gallery in Fort Worth my confidence in showing my work has grown. I am an introvert through and through, but I am learning how to push the limits of myself while still being true to who I am. Art is the avenue for me to explore the transcendent, break the rules, and forge a path for myself. The goal is to make other people tap into what I feel when I’m creating just by the mere viewing of it. I make art to share it. I want it to be transactional and spread good vibes. If I can maintain this trajectory than I can’t see myself ever needing anything else.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has always been a struggle keeping up with my passion while not having a classroom setting or environment to promote expression. I went from painting outside on a small table to a tiny shed, to a garage, and then back to a coffee table. Supplies, tools, and space has limited me for years. I want to work big but I have been confined to small intimate projects without the use of power tools or large Canvases. Making art when you aren’t well known yet can get expensive. But the silver lining is that I have close to 100 paintings to show for it, as well as a few resin sculptures.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company is strictly Instagram based at the moment. I only post originals and I do not sell prints. Each piece is one of a kind and it might be my style for the moment, but it will change, making each one unique. It also isn’t only artwork. My page is me, my life, and my art. I feel like my Instagram is an art piece itself. The viewer doesn’t just see the work, they see the process, they see the inspiration, the environment, and most importantly they see me and what makes me tick. I’m not hiding behind my work.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up introverted to the max. I was a shy student with a few very close friends, but I was always positive. The glass could only ever have been half full. I mean, I am alive aren’t I? Outside of hobbies like skateboarding, playing guitar and piano, I was a thinker. Always lost in my head. I questioned everything, I dissected my thoughts constantly and tried to understand the people I would watch from a far. I’ve always been into the human condition and experience. Psychology, leading into psychedelics and philosophy started to sharpen my intellect, while also learning when to leave it behind and fall back into the moment.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1001 Glynn Oaks Dr
  Arlington TX, 76010
• Phone: 8176149653
• Email: Portblue000@aol.com
• Instagram: Astral_Artistry

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