Ashley Wolfe, a third-year student at Samford University’s Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing and a self-taught artist, was thrilled to learn she had been selected to create the Christmas card for university President Beck A. Taylor.
Wolfe, who has been creating art for 17 years, regularly shares her work on social media. One of her posts, featuring a Samford illustration, caught the attention of Sarah Waller, director of creative services at Samford, who recognized Wolfe’s potential for the project.
“I first noticed her art back in the spring when one of her illustrations was shared on Samford’s Instagram account,” Waller said. “I immediately thought she would be perfect for the president’s Christmas card.”
Waller contacted Wolfe this fall to request artwork for the 2024 Christmas card.
“When I was called to do a Christmas card for President Taylor, it was such an honor,” Wolfe said. “I’ve been hoping and praying for a way to show my love of artwork.”
Wolfe, who has been drawing since age 4 despite being almost legally blind at birth, shares that she first saw the world through her hands.
“I couldn’t see what I was drawing, but I always loved doing something with my hands and trying to visualize the world around me,” Wolfe said. “Once I got glasses, it helped me see on the canvas what I had already been drawing with my hands.”
Over the years, as she taught herself art and discovered her style, Wolfe developed a deep love for acrylics. She was drawn to their texture and freedom for expressive, messy work. For the Christmas card scene in Reid Chapel, she chose acrylics for their ability to capture the details and warmth of the setting.
“She took our prompt—to create a painting that showcases the beauty of Samford’s Hanging of the Green—and created something magnificent,” Waller said.
The artwork, featuring a choir member, an organ, a bow and a tree with Christian elements, aims to convey warmth and encourage closer observation.
“I go to Reid Chapel all the time to study, and it’s one of my favorite places to draw,” Wolfe explained. “I think it definitely evokes a sense of warmth.”
Creating the scene for the Christmas card required many revisions. Wolfe repainted several elements, always refining the focal point. “I had to decide which areas to lighten, dim, or add more detail,” she said. “I even used coffee in certain areas to create a ghostly effect, as if an audience were present, but the focus is on one person.”
In the end, the scene comes down to four key elements: the tree, the person, the organ, or the bow—depending on the viewer’s focus.
“That’s what I love about art invites you to look closer,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe hopes the Christmas card inspires viewers to look beyond the surface and reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas. She believes that even the simple act of worship in the artwork points to the larger story: that Jesus is the reason we celebrate the holiday.
