Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Welch also known by her art name, Angel 42.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I can’t remember a time when the natural pull towards creativity did not exist for me. As a kid, I loved turning my imagination into reality by crafting with recycled items or sculpting with mud outside. My maternal grandfather, who was an ice sculptor and calligrapher, created early memories by teaching me to sculpt with Play-Doh and sketch simple designs. Similarly, my paternal grandmother sparked my fascination for sewing by sharing her interest in garment construction and machine sewing.
As a teenager, I got my first job at an art studio where I had the opportunity to teach my own classes and manage projects within the space. Throughout high school, my peers began noticing my love for art and began commissioning me for projects such as custom-painted shoes, skateboard decks, or die tables. During my senior year, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I found myself spending most of the quarantine painting and exploring various mediums such as mixed media collage and wood-burning. Sometimes, I would lose track of time, spending several hours at a time absorbed in my projects.
While earning my B.A. in Psychology at San Diego State University, I made time to develop my skills and find a community. In 2023, I began seeking exhibition opportunities, and in 2024, I was offered a spot to sell my art at the Manic Pixie Dream Market in San Diego. There, I met small business owners with similar identities and goals to mine; passionate and ambitious individuals who were not afraid to share themselves and their work with others. Since then, I have felt more empowered to maintain art as one of the most important aspects of my life, not only as a means of expression but as a potential career.
I have a love for connecting with and teaching others, and am currently on my way to earning my M.A. in Education (Counseling) while exploring the other ways I can develop a life as a working artist. I am incredibly passionate about all of the work I do, whether it be creative, academic, personal, or occupational.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am privileged to have people in my life who have encouraged me to continue pursuing art over the years. If it weren’t for them, art as a career might have been something I would have given up on.
As difficult as it is to admit, my biggest setback with art has been self-doubt and a fear of rejection. In a way, I was conditioned to believe that art would always just be a side-hustle or hobby, and because of this, there are times that I lack the self-respect and self-efficacy to put myself out there and trust my own intuition. As an artist, it is important to me that I am vulnerable, authentic, and open to new perspectives. Sometimes, sharing myself and my art with others feels like an attempt at intimacy and connection that is not always mutual, and this can be a difficult thing to accept. Art as business feels like capitalizing on something that deserves way more intention and nourishment than a quick transaction. In my ideal world, I make a living off my art while also building meaningful relationships with those who connect to it. At this point in my life, I am grateful to have the time, space, and opportunity to prioritize it at all. I plan to keep putting myself out there over and over, finding those who align with my passion.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I enjoy several creative mediums, including drawing, painting, printmaking, digital art, press-on nail art, and garment construction. I also play guitar and enjoy singing, occasionally sharing covers and original music on SoundCloud. It is an amazing feeling to lean into creativity in different ways. By accumulating interest and skill in several places, I can express myself more freely.
Something I am proud of is how I have used my art to fundraise and advocate for issues I feel strongly about. Through Bonfire and with the support of my incredible community, I designed and sold clothing and accessories, fundraising over $500 in net proceeds for the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Program, NAMI San Diego, and The Trevor Project. It is important to me that I utilize my creativity to initiate change by directing funds towards non-profits whose work I align with. I plan to continue doing this long-term as a way for me to raise awareness towards issues that require consistent attention and effort.
It sounds ironic, but I believe something that sets me apart from others is that I do not confine myself to one medium. For a while, as I considered converting my love for art into a business, I racked my brain trying to determine which mediums I would have to give up to be more digestible, marketable, or predictable. I am beginning to realize that my versatility as an artist is my niche. Having a diverse portfolio allows me to take on new projects with less fear and more curiosity. Building an adaptable skillset helps me explore my personal style and access flow state with less inhibition.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those with a creative itch, I encourage you to explore where it will lead you. I am far from being an expert and consider myself to be a work-in-progress, which is a mentality that continues to keep me open to learning and growing. One of the most important things I am continuing to learn as I go is to trust the process and meet tension with acceptance and peace.
When you are new at anything, self-doubt can feel inevitable. Something that has worked for me when I start anything new is to allow myself to create things that I think are “bad” without succumbing to the self-criticism enough to give up. I consider my attention to detail and particularity to be a tool for improvement rather than allowing it to prevent me from making anything at all. At times when all I feel I can do is make “bad art”, I remind myself that it’s a necessary step to get it out of my system before the “good art” finds its way out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://madebyangel42.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebyangel42/#
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/AVu5wFgH9V4NYRM21y
Image Credits
Leah Michelle Dance Photography
