The Pensive Look of the Two-Headed Man Bird
An Interview with Ashley Goldberg
The philosophy of Ashley Goldberg is simple: whatever you enjoy doing at age five is what you will be happiest doing your entire life. And, for this Seattle based artist this philosophy has taken shape in the creation of all sorts of loveable creatures. Ashley’s portraits are strikingly emotive with slight looks or gestures, each one conveying a feeling that is both insightful and familiar. Her creations are her friends and after seeing them you’ll want them to be yours too.
TDS: Tell us a little bit about your upbringing and how it has impacted your work.
GOLDBERG: I grew up living with my grandparents in their home with my two sisters and my mom until I was 11 and my grandma passed away. I shared a room with her. She was my best friend—a second mother—and my number two fan (right behind my mom).
I had very few, if any, rules growing up. Also, I was painfully shy around people I didn't know well. So, I always got to do my own thing. For me that meant missing a lot of school, hanging out with my grandma and spending the day drawing, playing make-believe and doing crafts. I thought that was a very fine way to spend my time indeed.
My mom was self-employed from the time I was about 10. Her boyfriend was a self-employed graphic artist. Being self-employed doing a creative job seemed like the adult answer to the childhood life I was leading. Drew, my creative partner and boyfriend, wrote a bio for me once that said, "Ashley's found a way to work a childhood full of drawing into an adult's life." I think that’s an accurate summary.
So, to answer your question, my upbringing has impacted my work by giving me the desire to do what I do.
TDS: What is the biggest influence on your art?
GOLDBERG: Nature and weather. It completely hinders or helps my creativity.
TDS: You have some recurring themes in your pieces: beards, children, houses, people-headed birds. Why are these items important to you?
GOLDBERG: With the exception of bearded men they're just what I've drawn forever. Drawing those things in particular has always been comforting and relaxing for me. The bearded guys appeared in my sketchbooks about five years ago when I met Drew.
TDS: What is your creative process like?
GOLDBERG: How I begin to create a new piece really depends on what it's for. Usually I just draw. I prefer feeling as free as possible. I like to have my sketchbook, some pencils, pens and background visual stimulation and noise. I usually work in a coffee shop or with the TV on and windows open. I am a creature of habit.
After my drawing is complete Drew scans it and we color it together. We do a lot of test printing to test the colors and size and then ... voila! It's complete. Painting is a lot different and there is far more experimentation. But drawing is my first love.
TDS: You mention your creative partner Drew Bell. How has collaboration affected your work?
GOLDBERG: It's allowed me to get my work out into the world. Before that I would draw and then throw things away or put them in a drawer. We decided to collaborate because I knew I liked the look of my work when it was one step removed from me. Digital coloring allows that to happen. He really is brilliant with computers and, perhaps more importantly, troubleshooting. I would have torn all my hair out with some of the printing and computer problems we've faced.
TDS: Is it hard to create just for the sake of creating or do you feel pressure that your work has to also be sellable?
GOLDBERG: When selling slows down I feel the pressure that my work should be sellable. But I try not to focus on that because people are too smart to take it. If you're creating just for the sake of it looking sellable it's usually pretty transparent. Even if people can't articulate it, I think they know.
TDS: When you create do you have an audience in mind? Or is it beauty for beauty's sake?
GOLDBERG: It depends. Sometimes I have an audience in mind but frequently I'm just drawing what I draw ... for better or worse.
TDS: Where does beauty come from?
GOLDBERG: That's a tough one. I know my favorite type of beauty is accidental, when something beautiful is unaware of its beauty.
TDS: If beauty eventually fades in this world, what is lasting?
GOLDBERG: Nothing ... and that's the scariest thing ever.
TDS: You recently had some pieces commissioned by Urban Outfitters. How did that relationship come about? Tell us about the final pieces.
GOLDBERG: Wheels within wheels. They mentioned my work on their blog when they saw it on another blog. I mentioned their mention and they contacted me. It was really easy and a great experience. The final pieces were very typical of what I create: monsters or animal-people hybrids with pensive looks and thought bubbles connecting to each other.
TDS: You started the “HELLO” project where once a month you pick a new charity. You then donate the proceeds from a selected piece to that charity. What was the impetus for this?
GOLDBERG: I just wanted to give back—and I LOVE every time it's the first of a new month. We all have so many associations with each different month and I thought it would be fun to celebrate that.
TDS: How do you choose the charities you support?
GOLDBERG: Some I knew and wanted to give to. The Missouri Humane Society and Best Friends were two of those. Otherwise, I use Charity Navigator which is a fantastic site if you want to give but you don't know where, or you want to know more about a charity before you give. Not all charities are created equal.
TDS: What advice would you have for up and coming artists?
GOLDBERG: Put your work out in the world! Don't wait for it to be “perfect” enough. If you're like me that will never, ever, ever happen.
TDS: What's up next for you and what should we be looking out for?
GOLDBERG: I've been spending a lot of time sketching and perusing some styles of drawing and characters that I have neglected for some time. It's scary to add another dimension to your work but that's what I'm trying to do right now.
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