We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Chafin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
In regards to my artwork, I would say Amy Sedaris (whom I adore) reposting a painting I did of her as Jerri Blank. She absolutely did not need to do that, and it gained me a lot of followers.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I describe myself as a weird artist!
I was born and bred in Virginia, with both Hatfield and McCoy blood running through my veins. I grew up watching obligatory television staples such as The Brady Bunch and The Facts of Life, along with teenage cautionary tales such as Desperate Lives and Sarah T. Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic.
My paintings are an exploration of the rituals young girls go through while navigating insecurities and teenage theatrics. Marcia Brady, the iconic American Beauty, didn’t always feel that way. In my world, Marcia already has one foot in the gutter, and Blair has a 3 pack a day habit.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Acknowledge the value of creatives and the Arts in general by paying creatives. It’s that simple! Stop the invasion of AI.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I absolutely loved The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
It is a bit dated, but it brought me back to art after years of neglect. You begin every morning by writing 3 pages of streams of consciousness, and there are activities and “assignments” that help bring out your creativity.
Another good one to check out is How To Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleychafin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebriteeths/