Meet artist-athlete Abigail West. Abigail hails from Athens, Georgia, the place the plush mountains and forests of rhododendrons infuse each her path operating adventures and her paintings. Abigail has collaborated with and designed items for a number of corporations, together with UltrAspire, Terignota, and the Path Working Movie Competition. She additionally designed a collaboration between Janji and Aravaipa Working that simply debuted, and you can even try her different work.
Abigail West operating on the 2025 Canyons 100k. Picture: Kristen Nelson
In 2024, Abigail joined Tara Dower throughout her historic fastest-known-time run on the Appalachian Path and designed a print with Tara to boost cash for Hurricane Helene restoration efforts. When not making artwork, Abigail loves lengthy days out on the paths and is at the moment prepping for her largest journey but: changing into a mother. Right here is Abigail West in her personal phrases:
Who’s Abigail West?
I name myself an artist-athlete, as a result of each are actually vital in how I reside my life, although I do put “artist” first in that configuration on function! I’ve been an artist for so long as I can bear in mind, whereas athletics got here somewhat later, and artwork is a bit more dependable within the sense that even once I’m injured, I can give attention to my paintings.
I acquired into operating after being a extremely aggressive rower in highschool. I solely acquired into that sport as a result of I wanted a bodily schooling credit score and came upon I may very well be a great coxswain — the tiny particular person in cost. I fell in love with aggressive sports activities, like discovering a lacking puzzle piece, and came upon I made a fairly first rate rower, too. We gained the nationwide championships my senior 12 months, however I didn’t need to pursue school sports activities. I wished to journey in school. I additionally appreciated operating, and it’s an effective way (maybe even the easiest way) to see new locations. I began operating extra right here in Athens once I got here right here for school, and later discovered path operating by way of the area people, and haven’t appeared again.
My husband, Michael Rosscan also be an artist and runner, and he’s a giant a part of how I acquired into path operating and ultrarunning. I like getting out within the woods with him and our canine, Cider. I’m doing much less of that proper now, although, as I’m at the moment 37.5 weeks pregnant with our first baby! I’m additionally a passionate consultant of the U.S. Southeast. I like it right here.
What’s the connection for you between path operating and making artwork?
I like the steadiness between operating and the type of artwork I’m making now. A ton of my inspiration and imagery comes from what I see once I’m out operating, particularly from lengthy adventures. These lengthy days outdoors open your coronary heart up, and I attempt to seize that feeling as a lot because the landscapes we fall in love with. It’s additionally a pleasant steadiness from a day-to-day perspective: coaching a part of the day after which being within the studio for the remainder of the day.
Abigail West displaying a few of her model collaborations. Picture courtesy of Abigail West.
What’s your “why” for every of them?
Why I make artwork is perhaps the extra simple of the 2. I’ve been doing it my complete life. I see issues a sure means and really feel a have to seize and categorical them. The medium is only a format. I haven’t all the time been a printmaker. In actual fact, earlier than this, I used to be constructing steel furnishings out of reclaimed supplies. Certainly one of life’s largest challenges, in my expertise, is which you could’t do all the pieces, so narrowing down to at least one medium permits you to go deeper and be extra articulate in the way you categorical your concepts. Printmaking is what provides me that proper now, and I do know I’m on the appropriate path as a result of I by no means run out of concepts, simply time.
For operating, when individuals ask me why I’m so into it, I typically clarify that it’s a way of life. I like the coaching and the way I construction my life round it. My husband, Michael, is a runner and artist, too. He understands and helps my drive to coach, and whereas figuring out the logistics of life isn’t all the time straightforward, we’re each motivated to be energetic and aggressive in our personal methods. And that’s the opposite half. I’m actually aggressive, and having athletics as a long-term pursuit provides me an ideal outlet for that a part of myself.
What drew you to printmaking? Another media you fancy?
I do a whole lot of artwork festivals, and discuss to lots of people at them, and sometimes get requested how I acquired into printmaking. My reply is normally: good highschool artwork academics! I’ve a lot respect and appreciation for artwork academics; they’re so vital for fostering not simply the following technology of artists, but additionally artwork appreciation in most people. It’s good for everybody!
I reconnected with printmaking in school right here on the College of Georgia, extra as an method to creating than because the medium itself. It’s truly so much like operating. It’s very rooted in course of, and there are numerous repetitive components. I’m at the moment targeted on reduction printmaking, partially as a result of it’s been the best kind to arrange a house studio round. I additionally love how printmaking is a democratic medium. I could make authentic artworks which might be reasonably priced to extra individuals as a result of I’m making originals in multiples. It means I’ve to succeed in a wider viewers/have the next quantity of gross sales, nevertheless it’s tremendous particular to me how many individuals I can join with by way of my work, particularly on condition that we’re connecting over our shared love of those landscapes.
I attempt to attract and paint watercolors when touring. I used to do much more of that, so I’m all the time aspiring to be extra diligent about it! We’re all works in progress.
Abigail West with certainly one of her prints. Picture courtesy of Abigail West.
You appear drawn to landscapes and botanical prints. Are there any explicit locations which might be your favourite?
I take into account myself fortunate to reside on the sting of Southern Appalachia, and these mountains really feel just like the definition of dwelling to me. I get to do most of my huge coaching within the mountains of North Georgia and Western North Carolina, and I preserve making prints of those scenes, with no plans of stopping! My favourite wildflower might be the flame azalea, and I’m unhappy that my final discount print of 1 is offered out — time to do one other one!
I additionally love that I can seize the inspiration I really feel in different places I journey to, which has led to enjoyable race and model collaborations. Whereas I can’t totally take in the main points of the panorama whereas I’m within the midst of operating a race, I like to return out the next day, if I’ve time. Then I can stroll (hobble) round, make a number of sketches, and take reference pictures. I can then mix that with the remembered feeling of traversing many miles on foot.
Artwork, like operating, ebbs and flows. How do you keep motivated?
Simply preserve shifting. It’s the identical in each. Like in an extremely, whenever you need to cease or stop, you simply need to preserve going ahead, and realize it’ll ultimately get higher. In artwork, if I really feel a lull in inventive concepts, I’ll undergo previous notes or pictures and bear in mind an thought I had, and simply get began on it, ideally with out overthinking issues.
I’ve this sequence of state flower prints, partly for this very purpose. If I’m undecided what to work on subsequent, I can do one other state. It is probably not essentially the most enjoyable of all of the issues I work on to undergo all of the steps of organising a brand new state — I print these over previous maps, so there’s a whole lot of formatting that goes into planning them — nevertheless it’s rewarding, after which I can attain new individuals!
Abigail West setting a brand new ladies’s supported quickest recognized time on the Georgia Loop in 2025. Picture: Pete Schreiner
When you might give any recommendation to your youthful self, what wouldn’t it be?
You already know, I actually wouldn’t change a lot in regards to the path that I’ve taken to get the place I’m now — a path I really feel I’m very a lot nonetheless actively on, by the best way. I don’t really feel as if I’ve arrived at any explicit vacation spot, however slightly that I’ve opened one door after one other that has led me to what I’m doing now. And I positive do really feel like I’m nonetheless knocking on doorways.
So preserve knocking on numerous doorways. If I performed out a simulation of my life, I think about totally different doorways might need opened, and I’d’ve gone by way of these and performed one thing else that was additionally actually thrilling. However I wouldn’t change the place I’m now. I’m fairly excited for no matter is coming subsequent.
Do you may have any prints, artwork initiatives, or life targets that you’re enthusiastic about?
That is essentially the most thrilling half! I’m about to have a child! It appears like the largest inventive endeavor of our lives.
I even have a giant inventive collab challenge between Janji and Aravaipa Working launching proper now. We first began speaking about this challenge in 2024, virtually two years in the past! Attire has a very lengthy lead time. I made this paintings in direct collaboration with Janji, and its composition is deliberately structured to function a sample for attire. That was a enjoyable, inventive problem I’d by no means labored with earlier than. The colours of the attire are pulled from a classic geological map of Arizona that I discovered in the USA Geological Survey digital archives.
For a lot of my work, I’m doing it on their own in my studio, so seeing this come to life by way of a inventive collaboration is extremely thrilling to me! I used to be initially going to be on the full in-person launch on the Black Canyon Ultrashowever that occurs to fall virtually precisely on my due date. I’m excited to witness it from afar whereas I work on my subsequent huge inventive challenge right here at dwelling. Of us can view and buy the attire on-line from Janji, and the authentic block print (which is a restricted run of simply 80 prints) instantly from my web site.
Most of my mind cells are devoted to the child proper now, as you possibly can think about, however I’m excited in regards to the 12 months we’ve mapped out forward. I will probably be doing a few spring artwork festivals right here within the Southeast, after which this summer time, Michael will probably be educating artwork in Italy, so we’ll be in Europe for 2 months with the child. Hopefully, I’ll be getting again into coaching by then. I’ve been actually lucky to maintain operating a good bit all through this being pregnant, with out too many main points. I’ve this sense in my bones that, so long as I’m sensible in how I get well postpartum, I can come again stronger than ever earlier than. That’s actually thrilling to me.
Abigail West and associate Michael Ross out on a run. Picture courtesy of Abigail West.
Who’re your inspirations in artwork and operating?
In operating, proper now, I’m tremendously impressed by ladies who’re stronger than ever after having children. To be clear, I don’t know the way it’s going to look balancing our artwork careers with my aggressive operating and having a toddler, however I do know that my life is fairly unconventional already, and I’m actually excited to construct one thing that works for us, as a result of that’s how we’ve performed all the pieces up till this level. I take a whole lot of inspiration from different ultrarunning ladies who’re crushing it with children, and I like that there are too many to even title all of them!
In artwork, I’m typically impressed by different “working artists.” I journey round on the artwork pageant circuit a good bit, and I like assembly different artists who’ve additionally constructed one thing from scratch that works for them. It’s a fairly small pool of people that all have a excessive danger tolerance, as exhibits can go very well and likewise generally be actually disappointing, and we simply need to preserve shifting ahead and making an attempt. I additionally suppose one of the best — and most healthful — use of Fb as a platform is a few of the artist teams I’m in, the place I can see what different printmakers are doing and study from them.
Abigail West working at an artwork present. Picture courtesy of Abigail West.
When you may very well be a tree, what sort of tree would you be?
Rhododendrons may not be thought of bushes. I acknowledge this. However I’m additionally a little bit of a bend-the-rules sort, and the rhododendrons are one characteristic that makes our Southern mountains iconic and beloved. I can’t get by way of an entire interview with out waxing on, at the very least somewhat bit, about how underrated and superb our trails and mountains are right here. You need to come run them, and inform me a rhododendron tunnel isn’t one of the enchanting issues! A number of the first artwork I bear in mind making about this panorama was impressed by a blanket of fallen rhododendron blooms on a path within the Nice Smoky Mountains — essentially the most magical place on earth.
Abigail West on the Georgia Loop. Picture: Pete Schreiner
Name for Feedback
- Have you ever encountered a few of Abigail West’s artwork within the path operating world?
- Are there landscapes that encourage you to make artwork?
