Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Cassaday.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
How I became an artist isn’t all too special. When I was little, drawing was always something I gravitated to. And growing up on Disney Movies, Cartoon Network, and video games always fueled that creativity. I was that kid that hid reams of computer paper in their school desk so I could draw while the teacher lectured at the front of the room. Art somehow was ingrained into my little brain, and I never could stop thinking of what video game character or Disney princess I wanted to draw next.
Becoming a professional artist is a whole other story. When I was in late high school, trying to figure out my career. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but at the time I knew that it would be a path that may not be the most financially lucrative (I’m pretty sure my parents had a mini heart attack). So, I researched fields in the art industry that would allow me to create and feed myself, and that’s when I learned of what a concept artist was. The person on feature films and video game teams that created the look and feel of the characters, environments, and more, early on in the production process. I knew then that’s what I wanted to do.
On top of studying to hone my skills as an artist, I also discovered comic conventions at this time, venues where people would gather to celebrate their love for pop culture and favorite games, shows, and comics. While I went as an attendee at first, I discovered the artist alley, a part of these events where artists could buy a booth and set up shop to sell their work. So, in 2011, I sold at my first show, a small anime convention in downtown Dallas, and the rest is history.
After graduating, I eventually landed into my first job as an illustrator for a toy company, which became short-lived as 9 months later, I was laid off. While figuring out what my next move was, I used the severance to pay for getting a teaching certificate as something to fall back on, and who would have thought I would invest 7 years teaching art.
I love being a teacher, but my creative itch has always been there, and while I taught traditional classes, I broke into working as a freelance artist. Between publishing, gaming, and other clientele, I was able to work on a lot of different projects to hone my skills and discover what my true identity was as an artist. And to this day I have the best of both worlds. Creating on a daily basis and sharing my professional knowledge with my students who hope to pursue the creative industry themselves in the future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. I say this with endearment of course, as if anyone knows anything about being an artist, it’s a rough path to get to the point where you are not just making lucrative amounts of money but being proud overall of the things you create.
When people look at what artists do, they see the surface level. Understanding how to draw, utilizing color theory, understanding anatomy. All of the technical skills that are utilized to create. However, there is another side to creatives that isn’t always seen. The mental grit it takes to actually come up with ideas and face our inner demons.
Imposter syndrome has always been a lingering entity in my journey as an artist. Wondering if I was good enough to meet the standards of higher-end clients, comparing myself to other artists and thinking “They are doing so much better and achieved so much more than me.”
It truly took a good long, hard look at who I was, what I was good at, and accepting that I was who I was a creative. Learning to be as authentic as possible was the most freeing feeling. It helped me to say “If I’m the girl who only paints flowers and fairies all day, then I’m gonna be pretty dang good at it! And no one can stop me.”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a digital fantasy artist and illustrator. In simpler terms, I paint pretty fairies and characters on the computer.
While I always love painting a pretty fairy or knight in shining armor, a lot of my work in recent years has been an exploration between light and dark themes. Particularly, subjects that draw your attention with their ethereal looks and beauty, while also tinging with more ominous undertones that make you question if it’s best to get close to them.
A lot of my inspiration for painting fairies comes from the lore and world of Welsh faerie lore. Creatures that aren’t exactly as nice as Tinkerbell, if you happen to research them. I loved the whimsicality of them and having so many ideas as to how to design and create what they may look like, depending on what they do and where they live. Those themes, in combination with my hopeless romanticism tends to take over the body of my work. I grew up with stories such as Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and more that inspired me to capture more romantic moods in my pieces.
I would say that what I’m most proud of as an artist is what has helped me to find my identity over the last few years. Just leaning into what feels most natural for me, and not caring if I didn’t do the same thing as others.
Giving myself acceptance to do what I wanted as an artist was the thing that helped the rest of my art career click into place. Once I let go of my transgressions and just painted what I was best at, I got amazing job offers, was able to work with some awesome companies, and my work was recognized beyond just being pretty pictures. People loved my work for me, and that became one of the most fulfilling things to ever happen to me in my creative career.
What makes you happy?
Just painting. It seems so simple and obvious as an artist, but sitting down on a rainy morning, coffee in hand, and just zoning out to the piece I am working on is the most calming, rejuvenating feeling, as those moments are actually so rare when you run an art business.
Managing finances, creating products, and responding to emails are a lot of things that just come along with working professionally, so finally getting into those uninterrupted moments to get back to what it’s all based on in the first place, the paintings is so rewarding.
I also make sure to take time away from creating when I can, as all the good inspiration comes from experiences. So, reading, playing video games, going outdoors, it helps to give me the mental break I need to keep that creative flow going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleycassaday.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleycassadayart/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashley_cassaday
