Background
Edmund Ashe was born in New York, and grew up in Staten Island, New New York
Edmund Ashe was born in New York, and grew up in Staten Island, New New York
Ashe studied at the Metropolitan Art School and the Art Students League with John Ward Stimson and Charles Vanderhoof.
He was most known for his varying styles of art, which included faithful representations of factories, posters of World War I bond drives, and watercolors of the Gibson Girl. Ashe began his career as an illustrator for magazines, including Collier"s, Harper"s Magazine, and Scribner"s Magazine.He illustrated the book, In Camp with a Tin Soldier (1892) by John Kendrick Bangs. His illustrations could also be found in Richard Harding Davis" works, like Her First Appearance (1901), Ransom"s Folly (1902), and The Bar Sinister (1903).
From 1896 to 1909, Ashe was the White House artist-correspondent for Leslie"s Weekly, New-York Tribune, and New York World during President William McKinley"s and President Theodore Roosevelt"s years in office.
In fact, he was good friends with President Roosevelt. Other members included Addison Miller, Putnam Brinley, Clifton Meek.
He was also a part of the Society of Independent Artists, and New York Watercolor Club. In 1901, Ashe joined the Society of Illustrators, making him one of the organization"s first members.
In 1905, Ashe moved to Westport, Connecticut, and founded an art colony with George Hand Wright.
During his time as White House artist-correspondent in Washington, District of Columbia, Ashe also taught at the Art Students League and William Merritt Chase"s New York Art School. In 1920, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ashe was hired as an Associate Professor of Painting at the Carnegie Institute of Technology.
Eventually, he became the Head of the Department of Painting and Design.
Ashe was a founding member of the Silvermine Artists Guild in Norwalk, Connecticut.