Ashton Hill is the creator of visionary artworks she affectionately calls "fairytale surrealism" under her pseudonym Kettle Head Art, as well as the co-founder of the Pigment Sanctuary Art collective. As an artist, director, and event coordinator, she has made her mark on the East Coast creative scene for a decade. Chasing knowledge from university education to master mentorship, from individual studies to collaborative practices, Ashton has followed her artistic passion into all the spaces that the muses have led. Influencing social change and community improvement have also been part of her purpose, and has exhibited itself in her involvement with outreach and gallery coordination. As director of the Pigment Sanctuary at events such as Mountain Music Festival in the New River Gorge, West Virginia, she has bolstered a community of artists that spans the East Coast. Ashton is currently studying under the tutelage of Master painter Philip Rubinov-Jacobson in the long lineage of mischtechnik, aiming towards apprenticeship. She majored in fine art, psychology and education in her college years and has expounded on her educational pursuits through a variety of self motivated experiences over the last decade.
Education: With my basic artistic education starting early through my mother, most of my higher creative education has been self taught and hungrily sought.
As a student at both Liberty University and Blue Ridge Community College for a total of 6 years, I have acquired nearly 130 credited hours of higher education, ranging from phycology to education, though most focused in the Fine Arts.
Since then, I've pursued experiences that grow my creative knowledge, such as studying technique under the guidance of esteemed painting masters, and collaborating generously with other fine artists. In the spring of 2019 and the Summer of 2021, I had the honor of studying with Professor Philip Rubinov Jacobson for an intensive mischtechnik program. As Founder of the Pigment Sanctuary, furthering my own and communities artistic knowledge continues!
Art Director/Gallery Coordinator
The Pigment Sanctuary - Princeton WV - 2021-current
The Pigment Sanctuary ART PARTY - 2022 Mountain Music Festival - 2015-2022
Fahrenheit Flow Arts Festival - 2017-2019
Flashepoint -FAI- 2017
Flame Flow Arts Festival - 2018, 2022
Pasturepalooza - 2015-16, 2018-19
Yonderville - 2018-19
Exhibitions and Live Events
Big Something Live Stream Halloween Special - https://youtu.be/p0sSi5QMjik Ovation Sound - Winston Salem, NC - acting, filming, costume, make up and Live Painting - Oct 21 and 30th
Big Something "Escape the Living Room" 5-9 Live Stream Series - ( Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/-fgwMZwvgHw ) Live Painting and Musical online event - Ovation Sound - Winston Salem, NC - Sept 20- Oct 9
Kettle Head Exhibition - Featured Gallery - Kreggers at Hand - RVA - January 2020
The Highland Maple Festival - Vendor - March 2015-2020
Collective District Gallery - Live Event - Baltimore, MD - April 2019
The Camel - Featured Gallery - Richmond, VA - March 2018
Ashton's Appalachian Art Show - Featured Gallery - Monterey, VA - Feb 2018
Decemberween -Live Event - PLF - Richmond, VA - Jan 2015-18 Carnival of 5 Fires - First Friday event - PLF - Richmond, VA - Oct 2015-17
Winner of the Masterpiece of the Year Award at the Crystal Chalice Awards in Cumberland, MD 2017
It's a Fucking Art Show - Gallery Event - Long Island NY - May 2015
2nd Annual Young Adults Art - Gallery Event - Monterey, July 2015
The Camel - Featured Gallery - Richmond, Va - February 2015 Artful Dodger - Featured Gallery - Harrisonburg, VA - June 2014 3 Notch Brewing Company - Featured Gallery - Harrisonburg, VA - May 2014
Guerilla Gallery Coordinator - Live Event - Harrisonburg, Va - 2012 and 2014
Live Painting - Polish Ambassador 4 day tour - November 2014 Area 51 presents Alex and Allyson Grey: 2 day tour October 17th - 18th 2014
Area 51 Presents Alex and Allyson Grey: 3 Day tour December 12th-14th 2013
Appalachian Jamwich Featured Artist - Magazine Feature - October 2013
Blue Nile - Featured Gallery - Harrisonburg, VA - March 2013
Mission Trip, Art Teacher, Myanmar Oct 2012
Highland Public Library featured exhibit, Monterey, VA 2009
Governors School of Studio Arts Installation exhibit, Richmond, VA, July 2007
Event Gallery/Live Painting Experience
2021
Mountain Music Festival - Ace Resort, WV - June
Floyd Fest - Blue Ridge Parkway, VA - July
2019
Mountain Music Festival - Ace Resort, WV - June
Yonderville - Marvin's Mountain Top, WV - July
Fahrenheit Fire and Flow Arts Festival - Elkins, WV - August
The Big What!? - Shakori Hills, NC - August
Pasturepalooza - Berryville, VA - September
Into the Woods - Charleston, SC - October
2018
Flame Festival, La Fayette, GA - April
Kinnection Campout - Spirit Crossing, TN - May
Mountain Music Festival - Ace Resort, WV - June
Fahrenheit Fire and Flow Arts Festival - Schullykill, PA - June
Yonderville - Rixeyville, VA - July
Pasturepalooza - Berryville, VA - July
The Big What!? - Shakori Hills, NC - August
Valley Fusion Festival - Capon Bridge, WV - September
2017
Rooster Walk - Martinsville, VA - May
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig - Berkley Springs, WV - May
Mountain Music Festival - Ace Resort, WV - June
Fahrenheit Fire and Flow Arts Festival - Schullykill, PA - June
The Mad Tea Party Jam - Artemas, PA - June
Yonderville - Rixeyville, VA - June
Pasturepalooza - Berryville, VA - June
Oregon Solar Eclipse - Big Summit Prairie, Oregon - August
Mind Field Music and Arts Festival - Bunker Hill, WV - September
Mountain Run Jam - Sedalia, VA - September
Flashepoint 2017 - Stuart, VA - October
2016
Flame Fest - Georgia - April
Tipper and Friends - Full Moon Gathering - Suwannee Music Park, Fl - April
Fahrenheit Fire and Flow Arts Festival, Schullykill Farm - PA - June
Mountain Music Festival - Ace Resort, WV - June
The Mad Tea Party Jam - Artemas, PA - June
Artscape - Baltimore, MD - July
The Big What!? - Mebane, NC - July
PEX Summer Festival - Camp Ramblewood - July
Rootwire Transformational Arts Festival - July
Go Outside Festival - Roanoke VA - October
2015
Hoopla in the Hills, Pataskala, OH - April
Big Poppa's Spring Ball, Low Bridge Campground, VA -April
Kinnection Campout, The Deerfields, NC - May
Ignite - Spirithaven Farm, Stuart, Va - May
Mountain Music Festival, Ace Resort, Minden Wv - June
The Mad Tea Party Jam 4, Hedgesville Wv - June
The Big What!? Mebane, NC - June
PEX Summer Fest - Camp Ramblewood, MD - July
FarmFest -New Jersey - July
PasturePalooza - Virginia - July
The Werk Out - Ohio - August
Camp Barefoot - West Virginia - August
Mantrabash - North Carolina - September
Creatures of the Night - Kentucky - October
2014
Big Poppa's Spring Ball, Low Bridge Campground, VA - April
Blossoms Blooming Music Festival, Sharpsburg, MD - May
Rooster Walk 6, Martinsville, VA - May
Blackstock Music Festival, Blackstock, SC - May
Freeform Arts Festival, Pottsville, PA - June
Mad Tea Party Jam, Hedgesville, WV - June
The Big What!??? Mebane, NC - June
Pasturepalooza 5, Berryville, VA - July
Rootwire Transformational Arts Festival, Terra Alta, WV - July
F.A.R.M. Fest, Vernon, NJ, -July
2nd Annual Blue Grass Valley Music Festival, Blue Grass, VA - August
Camp Barefoot, Bartow WV, August
Mantrabash Music and Arts Festival, Ferguson, NC - August
Pink Moon Festival 6, Rock Camp, WV - September
Watermelon Park Festival, Berryville, Va - September
2013
The Big What? Festival, Possum Holler, NC.
Gratifly Music and Art’s Festival, Lake Hartwell, SC.
Front Porch Festival, Stuart, VA.
Mantrabash Festival, Ferguson, NC.
Camp Barefoot 7, Bartow, WV.
Pink Moon Festival, Rock Camp, WV.
Hulaween 2013, Suwannee Music Park, FL.
I was born in the spring, among the rolling mountains and gentle streams. I was raised in ancient valleys with the forest of trees as my friends. If I fell, their leaves caught me and if I climbed, their branches would lift me. My home was one of creative energy and strong moral standing. In this world, I grew headstrong and certain of myself, though naive to the crudeness of humanity. Homeschooled far away from the bustle of our social system, my mind flourished with fairytale imaginings and unrealistic expectations, as did my artwork. The years passed and I journeyed into the darkness of the world. My rose glasses finally shattered. Today I find myself carving the beauty of death and decomposition into every painting while still clinging to my faith and hope, still dreaming of pure air and sweet grasses.
