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

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

From the earliest days I can remember, curiosity has been a central driving force in my life. I have a tendency to test limits and try things out. To answer how I’ve learned to be a working artist, for me boils down to an amount of natural ability and a deep dedication to being curious.

In my mind, the leaning process is just that – a process. The speed at which I learn things is largely out of my control. The best contribution I can make is to ensure I keep moving forward each day, set new challenges, stay curious and absorb lessons around me. One of the most essential skills I have fostered is knowing how to ask myself questions. It gives me the ability to think critically and allows opportunity to think creatively.

I am a hands-on learner. Often I begin work on a new project with only a trajectory in mind. There is much exploration and discovery that happens through doing. Skill and understand compounds and before you know it, you’re proficient in your field. This is the way I learn how to do what I do.

Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an installation artist making commissioned works & public art. I consider myself a multi-disciplinary artist with accomplishments in art, filmmaking & music. Being able to draw from a variety of art practices brings a profound depth of skill to create my art.

To date, I am most proud of 2 works in no particular order. First is a large hanging installation in a 25’ ceiling of a high-end restaurant on the beach. Second is a feature length documentary film. In my work, I hope to create an experience that has the power to stop a person and make them look and think deeper about whatever springs to mind when seeing my work.

To effect a feeling or memory is a triumph. I endeavor with precision and imbue sparks of whimsy.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

It would give me great pleasure to move away from thinking of people who work in an artistic field as “creatives”. While I absolutely employ creativity as a part of my work, my job involves just as many non-creative tasks as any other job. To understand this better, it’s helpful to understand what creativity actually is.

Simply put, I like to think of creativity as solving a problem in a unique way.

The dictionary defines creativity in much the same manor – transcending traditional ideas, rules, patterns or like and creating new meaningful ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.

I am often told, “oh, you’re so creative” which is typically followed by a sentiment of I could never do what you do. Honestly, this drives me nuts because I could probably never do what you do either. I am no more creative than a mom who figured out a new way to stop her kid from crying or an accountant who figured out a new way to categorize numbers to save their client money.

My insight for so called “non-creatives” is to not confuse artistic skills for creativity. All human beings have creativity inside them. Our skills (any type of skill) allow you to be good at what you do. Creativity is that spark of uniqueness in your approach and it brings magic to what you do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As part of my efforts to grow as an artist, I have brought on 2 new challenges in the last year. I am pursuing entering my documentary film, Jojo’s Circus, into film festivals, and I am dedicated to applying for public art opportunities.

Prior to taking on this challenge, most my work has been commissioned. Commissioned work by nature implies that the consumer has a desire for and validates my art. I am not afforded that same validation as I pursue festivals and public art – in fact, at the moment, it’s been entirely rejection. But rejection does not equal failure. If I never tried in the first place, that would have equaled failure.

I have been resolved to receiving rejections as a necessary part of my growth as an artist. Today I am in the deep middle of experiencing rejection. Though, as I said in the beginning, skills and understanding compound if I choose to keep trying and learn along the way. And with time, I will break through and I will have success.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashleynardone.com
• Instagram: @ashleynardone
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynardone/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AshleyNardone
• Other: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/AshleyTheMaker/

Image Credits
All photos of me – Amber Renee Photography All other photos – Ashley Nardone