Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlynn Vazquez.
Hi Ashlynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Born and raised in the heart of San Antonio! Growing up near the Alamodome and the Tower of Americas seeing the growth of those surrounding areas has been so incredible! I’ve loved drawing and coloring for as long as I can remember, but high school was really the big turning point in my art becoming more than a hobby. During my Freshman year, I wasn’t in any art classes but I was still actively doing art shows and competitions in my free time.
Throughout the years after that my art teacher (more like my art mom) continued picking up more competitions as I spent more and more time in the art room. This was also around the same time I started taking commissions- it all started with some family members and eventually the staff at the school! After I graduated, I did a little exploring in college. I was hit with the harsh reality that I couldn’t do much with a creative degree, so I got my foot in the door with other business majors and even some computer science courses.
I ultimately decided I wasn’t happy with getting a degree in something else so, coincidentally, the semester I chose to take a break from college, I ran into an art gallery. I went in to get something for a birthday party and left with a job! This art gallery gave me incredible experiences and connected me with a lot of people who were doing what I wanted to do – Selling their art. After many events and conventions, the art gallery and I agreed it was pretty evident that I have a independent work ethic and now I do my own thing!
Selling my art online and attending events as an independent artist has been a blast! I am very grateful for all the experiences that have gotten me to where I’m at now!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can’t say spending time in college trying to pick a lucrative degree to live off of was helpful in regards to my art career.
It’s pretty disheartening to learn the fact that there are no set paths to take as an artist in general. (Haha, I stuck out like a sore thumb in different majors). Additionally, the commentary I would get in the business major classes when I brought up the fact that I wanted to “marry my art with upcoming industries” was disheartening to say the least.
This same commentary is important to use as motivation for future projects. However, the love and support I’ve received always drowns out negative doubts. At the end of the day, it’s about the art I pour my heart and soul into that matters!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a traditional artist gone rogue! After doing traditional competitions for so long, I saw the upcoming and transformative digital media on the rise. I went from doing competition-level pencil work to following YouTube tutorials on how to make a clipping mask in Photoshop- this learning curve was so surreal!
I now specialize in Prismacolor pencils, Acrylic paintings, and digital fanart. I’m also fairly well known for being a shikishi board artist- shikishi boards are a special Japanese illustration board used for calligraphy- and I do personalized sketch commissions on them! I feel my vast portfolio usually sets me apart from other artists and I hope inspires others to step outside their comfort zone.
I’ve done plenty of projects out of my usual mediums (designing tattoo designs, painting car parts, welding masks, and even shoes, etc.) that has helped me think outside the box when approaching a new medium. I also cosplay in my free time and I truly see that as another art form because of the love you need with costume and prop making, wig styling, and makeup design!
As for what I’m most proud of is these couple of awards and accomplishments:
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San Antonio Current featured my cosplay in 2021 San Japan’s best cosplay.
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3 Time VASE State Art Competition Award Winner.
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Top 10 Austin Stock Show and Rodeo Art Competition.
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Top 50 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Art Competition.
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State-Level Council Winner for PTSA Art Competition in both Digital and Traditional.
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4 years of Comal Arts and Technology showcase.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risks terrify me! However, I feel they are a necessary evil.
As someone that finds comfort in schedules, I get bored very quickly and love changing stuff up. Nothing changes without risking a bad outcome so when it comes to a big decision, I generally take everything into account and calculate the best choice.
Deciding to go on my own and sell my art online was a huge decision with a lot of pros and cons which I ultimately ended up being happier with. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t take the leap in the first place.
Pricing:
- 8″X10″ Prismacolor pencil portrait: $100
- 16″x20″ Acrylic painting commission: $250
- Hand drawn 5″ Small shikishi board: $45
- Hand drawn 10″ Big shikishi board: $80
- 11″x 14″ Digital Painting Print: $18
Contact Info:
- Email: seishin.hoshi@gmail.com
- Website: https://avhlynn.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/avhlynn
- Other: https://linktr.ee/avhlynn
Dennis
February 16, 2022 at 11:05 pm
Loved the article and the insight.