Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ash Jon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ash, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve known for so long that I wanted to pursue art. I’ve been drawing and crafting since childhood, but I remember being adamantly against having an art career in grade school. I was lying of course- I wanted to go to art school and have an arts related career- but I suppose I was trying to be “different” from my art kid reputation. I claimed that I want to study “zoology” to all my friends and peers.

Of course, I realized that I didn’t need to force myself into a path I didn’t actually want to take, and proceeded on to where I am now.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an Asian American illustrator, designer, and hand letterer from the Maryland Institute College of Art. I’m heavily inspired by wood engravings, antiques, fairy tales, medieval, and historical settings. Outside the 2D, I often work with ceramics, creating sculptures and throwing pottery. Beyond the visual arts, I like to focus on writing stories, both novel length and short. I provide illustrative freelance services with a flexible ability to adapt to the intended audience (ex: adults, teens, children). Besides illustration and design, I sell products such as prints, comics, and ceramic objects.

Currently, I am working on a big thesis project: a fantasy novel, featuring full page drawings and spots! I hope to pitch it out when complete.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I was born into the Digital Age, growing up in the 2010s where the rise of phone apps began it’s iron grip on the public, moving forwards into the future. Social media was tempting, and everyone wanted to take part. Online socializing was beyond just strange chatrooms or forums. I was no different, and as a tween, I began posting artwork for fun. That was when you had the blessings to post dim lit sketches and grainy photos, and still gain a modest following as an artist. I began drawing people’s pets for fun, accepting requests in the comments; my audience ranged from fellow tweens to middle aged “fur moms”. I was known for that, I was getting more followers, but I got sick of it. I wanted to make original content, so I did, still drawing animals as I enjoy doing. As more people knew me for my original content, mostly featuring dogs and cats, I realized I had to pivot again. I drew people this time, and my previous audience dwindled.
Once I drew fanart, my stagnant growth began to skyrocket a bit, and I finally gained a new audience of people who didn’t just remember me for dog illustrations. Of course, I quickly grew sick of fanart, and began heavily pushing original content rather than purely derivative, inspired by my own personal interests in fantasy, medieval, and mythical beasts. Luckily I managed to gain an audience who enjoyed that genre, and so I continued advocating for my content.

While I’m still learning inside the changing landscape of social media, which quickly shifted onto a strong, obsessive emphasis for short form videos and audio, I do think it’s very important to have consistency, timing, adaptability, and a knowledge of who you’re audience is/what you want your audience to be. And while it is good and beneficial to cater to the trends and draw trendy works, I don’t think you need it all the time. You should still stand up for what you want your art to be. It sucks making work you’re not happy with, but you’re stuck doing it because of online demand. If you grow your audience organically, they’re less likely to flake.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would love to publish my own stories! Writing my own stories, whether comic or prose, is an important goal I have in mind. A secondary goal would be illustrating for someone else’s narrative, or collaborating together. Being a published writer illustrator is really the dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://airitree.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airitree
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AiriTree