Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Villers.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been interested in art. My grandfather, who was a watercolorist, instilled a love of painting. My parents were always very supportive of my hobby and enrolled me in a lot of local art classes. It’s always something I wanted to do and get better at. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to create, but I wasn’t always clear on a career path.
I received my Bachelors of Arts from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a degree in Arts Education with a focus in Studio Art and Art History. I have spent countless hours learning and teaching art in and outside of the classroom. In the spring of 2015 Scholastic Arts & Writing awarded me the Outstanding Teacher Award. My students have exhibited and been awarded for their work locally and nationally.
I love art and sharing my passion. For over a decade I’ve enjoyed helping artists improve their technical skills, but most importantly, I love helping people find their creativity and artistic voice.
When I moved to Texas in late 2015, I spent a lot of time substitute teaching—but I knew I no longer wanted to be part of a full-time, traditional classroom.
It was during this time I found a lot of success and joy working on my own art and photography—live from my home studio on a streaming platform called Twitch. In June 2016, I became a Partnered Twitch Broadcaster where I have streamed for over 250k viewers. I’ve spent a lot of time setting up at conventions and art markets around the DFW metroplex.
I left public education completely in 2019 and found myself working in marketing and content creation, this gives me more time to work on freelance projects, my own artwork, and offering private art lessons.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not! There have been many ups and downs. The internet is a fickle place and relying heavily on social media and web-based platforms for success comes with its fair share of challenges. I think one of my biggest struggles is navigating the emotional toll of putting yourself out there for strangers. It can be very exhausting!
Also, I’m in a constant battle with myself over my goals and available time. I feel like I have all these ideas but not a whole lot of time to see them through. I have to be very mindful of when I’m pushing too hard as I have a tendency to burn out. In the last few years, I’ve had to take on the role of a student and learn how to take care of myself and my mind!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always been interested in popular culture. A lot of the time my subjects are inspired by film, television, games, or music, but I try to put them together in an original or creative way. Even my original creations, pieces that don’t have ties to franchises, usually find inspiration from art history or literature. I enjoy celebrating the creative works of others that have become such a large part of my life.
This led me to different companies, like Topps and Upper Deck where I have worked on licensed artwork for Star Wars, AMC’s The Walking Dead, Netflix’s Stranger Things, Marvel Premiere, Marvel’s Black Panther, and Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp.
(Sketch cards are a product in some licensed trading card sets. They are the same size as a trading card: 2.5 x 3.5 inches, though, occasionally trading card companies may use unique die-cut shapes or slightly wider stock. The difference between a sketch card and a trading card, is that the artwork that appears on the card must be an original work that has been drawn or painted by hand and they are not reproduced or printed onto other cards, they are the only ones of their kind (1/1).)
In 2017, I published my first coloring book Color Your Kingdom. I’m currently working on a second volume that I hope to put out in 2022.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think a lot of people are under the impression that I live some super creative, art-filled life where I am always inspired and always have the time and motivation to work on art—but that’s absolutely not the case. I struggle. Sometimes it’s to find the time, other times the motivation, and sometimes it’s the inspiration or technical skill. It’s not always easy.
But despite all these obstacles, I show up time and again, maybe not every day, but enough that I can fulfill this need to create. On top of that, I try my best to give myself some grace, I don’t ALWAYS have to feel creative or artistic, that doesn’t make the times I am creating any less authentic or worthy.
If it’s been a minute since you’ve practiced your craft, I hope you can take these as words of encouragement to dive back in and live creatively, if even for just ten minutes of your day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleyvillers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyrvillers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyrvillers
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleyrvillers
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDDFIDc-d2298defdp4Azgg
- Other: https://www.twitch.tv/ashleyrvillers
