Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Robin Franklin.
Ashley Robin, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Like most of the artists I know, I’ve been creating art and making things for as long as I can remember. My dad is a high school art teacher, so he really fostered an appreciation for art and creativity in me at an early age and my mom is just really supportive and encouraged all my artistic endeavors.
As a preteen I got really into anime and manga, which influenced me to make my own comics. That influence is still pretty apparent in my work, I think. For a while I shied away from embracing that seminal early influence, because a lot of art educators and other people in my life were really critical of it and I didn’t want to seem too dorky or derrivative. But thankfully, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to embrace that and all the other influences I have. If you love something and if it’s been important to you, it has to show up in your art for your work to be authentic.
Anyway, I continued making comics and drawing and painting throughout high school. Then in college, I took a few art classes, but decided to major in English literature. My plan was to be a teacher. I made very little art at the time, and even less when I started graduate school. After a semester of that I was so unhappy that I dropped out. I started discovering comics again, specifically indie/ small press comics, and began making my own work and painting again, which was such a game changer. Creating is just what I have to do to be a happy and healthy person. That being said, even though I don’t use my degree, I think it was still an important part in my path.
Over the past few years I’ve made a good number of comics, mostly self-published, have traveled to do comic festivals, and have been a part of several art shows. The type of work I’m doing has changed drastically over the last few years!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
The two main types of work I create are paintings and comics.
Comics are just such an exciting and diverse medium! And as someone who loves both art and literature, it’s the ideal medium for blending the two. Most of my comics are short standalone stories. I’ve done a lot of fictional pieces; most of them feature lots of female and queer characters. I work traditionally, in pen and ink, and sometimes watercolor. I’ve also been working on a lot of short autobiographical comics lately. I have a collection of auto bio comics coming out at TCAF in Toronto this May. It just feels like such a boundless medium; some really great things are being made right now in the small press/indie community!
The other type I work I make are paintings- I mostly work in watercolor and gouache. My paintings are heavily influenced by my love for cartooning; they usually feature bold stylized characters and have a sense of narrative to them. I like my paintings to be bright, and strange, and playful. I like painting strong, beautiful, weird girls in unusual settings, interacting with the strange worlds around them. Some of my biggest influences are: manga, Japanese artists like Junko Mizuno, stories, mythology and folklore, children’s book illustrations, tattoo art, folk art, religious iconography, and the cool and interesting people I surround myself with in real life.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I don’t think there is any one role for artists, and that there are so many different ways that individuals can contribute to helping make the world a little less dark and ugly, but I do love seeing a lot of amazing artists using their work and their social platforms to bring up issues and to challenge dangerous and hateful ideas.
I also really believe in the healing power of art, so sometimes just making work that is really emotionally honest and kind can feel really vital to people, especially when a lot of the media that we have to take in is really harsh and toxic.
I also think being part of a community is vital, especially during troubling times. I’ve been really trying to cultivate one lately– not just for my own emotional wellbeing but to feel like I’m a part of something. There’s strength in community, and in trying to lift others up.
As for me personally, I just try to be as supportive to others as I can; try to educate myself and be aware of what kind of messages my art and words might be sending, and make sure that it’s aligned with my values. I want my art to feel accessible and safe for people and I actively avoid looking at work by, or supporting or communicating with, artists who make work that feels malicious, narrow minded or bigoted. For me, that means supporting artists from marginalized communities, queer artists, pock artists, etc. Representation is also so vital, which is why, as a queer woman, a lot of my comics feature queer female characters. It’s key to consume and celebrate work by diverse groups of people, not just those in the main stream/in power.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can visit my website at www.arfranklinstein.com, there you can find my online shop where you can support me by buying my comics, prints, and original art, or by sharing my work with people who might appreciate it.
You can also find me on Instagram and twitter at @arfranklinstein. Please drop by and say hi! I’m also always open for illustration work (book covers, gig posters, editorial, etc.), commissions, and to be a part of more art shows- so if you’re someone who hires artists or knows someone who might, any support would be greatly appreciated. I like being really involved in the art community and meeting new people, so reach out to me through social media or via email if you want to share anything with me or have any questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.arfranklinstein.com
- Email: arfranklinstein@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @arfranklinstein
- Twitter: @arfranklinstein
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
