Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Munson.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My career as an artist started when I was very young. I was always interested in creating – whether it was painting, drawing, making jewelry, or taking pottery classes in college. My parents and sisters are all creative in their own way. So, art has been a part of my life ever since I was young.
Art class was my favorite subject for obvious reasons, and I took other art classes outside of school. Although I learned a lot from art instructors, where I thrived the most creatively was when I was in my room painting, listening to the Beatles on repeat, making whatever I wanted. I experimented with many mediums: oil paint, charcoal, graphite, pastel, oil pencil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor.
That continued through middle school and high school. When college came around, I took 2 years of community college art classes like life drawing, oil painting, and ceramics. Eventually, I had to make a decision for my future and get a degree in something, but I wasn’t sure what. I later heard about Laguna College of Art and Design, that was 20 minutes from my parents’ house and seemed like a very low-key, good-vibes kind of place to get an art degree. I was very familiar with Laguna Beach, growing up there and knowing the community a bit. So, I looked into it and saw that they had a major for Graphic Design. The only graphic design knowledge I had was 6th grade photoshop. So, I decided to apply, and I got in with the portfolio of fine art I had.
Fast forward 5 years later and I had a BFA in Graphic Design. I learned so much and felt like I finally had knowledge I could make a career out of. 2 years before I graduated, I started telling people I was a graphic designer. This led to a few small jobs here and there and eventually became word-of-mouth referrals for bigger jobs. I continued early stages of freelancing while I was in school, and it grew into something that sustained me to this day. It took 7 years to get to where I am and build up the portfolio and loyal clients that I have, but I’m so happy I wasn’t shy to tell people about what I do – even though I was just starting out in the beginning with little knowledge!
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?
Freelancing has been a smooth road 90% of the time. My clients are wonderful and respect the work I do, I love the flexibility that I have with my time, and being able to claim this business I have built myself is rewarding in so many ways.
The 10% in summary, is the not-so-glamorous side of business that has been challenging: taxes, slow seasons, potential clients ghosting me. At the end of the day, I remember that comes with the territory of running your own business, and I try to not let it get to me. The truth of freelancing is that it is unpredictable.
Recently I’ve been creating a digital shop at Libracollective.com. I sell digital products of illustration packs and custom fonts I have created. This is one of the ways I’m trying to better the challenging aspect of slow seasons by creating a passive income source. That’s one of my goals this year. Another thing I love about what I do is figuring out new challenges like that one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My Instagram @ashleymunson showcases a lot of illustration work where I have been able to market myself and gain a lot of clients from exposure. My business Libra Collective is my creative studio where I offer branding, packaging design, and custom illustration to clients. Custom t-shirt designs, illustration-forward branding, and layout design are probably the top categories of projects that I work on. Most people know me for my illustration, which I am very passionate about, and I love exploring various illustration styles for different projects.
I’m the most proud of some physical output projects I have worked on over the years. I created packaging for a cannabis brand that I had full creative freedom of and loved how that turned out! Some of my other favorites are: CD album design, Hawaii-based beauty company branding and packaging, and a deck of affirmation cards that I illustrated.
Fusing my graphic design and illustration skills on projects creates so many possibilities. I’m not limited to what fonts or lines, or gradients I can use. I love illustration and how it can make things so unique to each client, telling a story and evoking emotion at the same time. Structured design with a flare of hand-crafted illustration is what sets me apart, the perfect balance of both skill sets.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
What a time to be alive! The most important thing I learned from Covid was what is important in life. I know many other people learned this too, but that really was the core thing that I took away from 2020 until now. I understood how creativity can set you free mentally from chaos around you. I created a lot during covid and luckily grew my business. I was one of the people that was okay with staying inside, and that I am grateful for. Hopefully, we never have to relive those years!
Contact Info:
- Website: libracollective.com
- Instagram: @ashleymunson
