We recently connected with Ashley Fox and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I love to be able to not only create my art but see the enjoyment and excitement it gives to those who get to experience it as well. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face with something you designed and made yourself is an amazing feeling.

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 started my first craft of headdress making back in 2019 when Covid shut down happened. I used to do professional modeling and decided to start making my own pieces to wear and model but originally just for the photos. Once people saw my photo shoot with the pieces I was making they would ask me, “oh wow where did you buy that headdress from?” I would tell them I made it. Next thing they would say is you need to sell them, so I did! I opened my Etsy store Ashley Fox Boutique in 2019 and now I am working on opening my very own brick and mortar store! About 4 months ago I was requested by one of my headdress clients to do an oddity art piece for her. I was unsure at first since I had never done that type of art before but I was up for the challenge. I did a humanely sourced animal skull in a glass cloche with real butterflies and dried floral and it was so much fun and turned out better than I could have expected. I attribute that to the years of perfecting my headdress art. I now do headdress all of types, bone and bug oddity Art, resin and work and even costume accessories.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel as an artist it can be hard sometimes when pricing your work because so many do not understand the time, effort, and cost that can go into handmade art. Handmade original art is not something that is mass produced and needs to be respected as such. I feel many artist get discouraged to continue their art because of the negative push-back they can experience when dealing with customers that do not understand what they are looking at and complain about the price. Now I’m not saying some artists don’t get a bit crazy with their prices but either way, when it is made by them they get to set the price.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I honestly do not really understand what this even is but I hear it makes great money lol. Even when I have looked it up or have been approached to make some myself of my art I don’t get it or even know how to go about making one. My art is real and tangible and that is how it will stay.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.Etsy.com/shop/Ashleyfoxboutique
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyfoxboutique?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083118372863&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Headdress and feather bone shawl made by me Ashley Fox Boutique