November Reflections
A month that reminded me why I create and why sharing it matters.
This month has been a special one. I had the chance to connect with people in person and introduce myself as an artist for the first time, sharing work that feels honest and meaningful to me. During the Edmonds Art Walk, I talked about my process and shared pieces that mean a lot to me. I’m so grateful for every friend and family member who came by, and just as grateful for the strangers who stopped to learn about the nerdy details of the Mordançage process. Those moments of connection made me genuinely happy and reminded me why I love creating.
Another exciting moment this month was being featured in an art magazine. It is available digitally and in print, and I’m still looking forward to seeing the physical copy myself. I’m truly grateful to be included alongside so many emerging artists. If you’d like to check it out or purchase a copy, I’ll add the link here. Being part of it feels like a really meaningful milestone.
These past few months have been such a fun, unexpected journey with my art, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow. December will be a slower month for me due to the holidays, but I think that is going to be a good thing. A gives me space to reflect, reset, and think about what I’ve achieved this year, and plan out what I want the next year to look like.
I’ve also been enjoying quiet walks around my neighborhood, taking photos along the way. I’ll add a few of those here:
On a more serious note, as the darker months settle in, something many of us (myself included) feel keenly, it can be easy to lose energy or inspiration. I know the feeling when the days get long and the world seems a little heavier.
Even during quieter, slower moments, there is strength in simply showing up for yourself. Keep creating, keep moving, and keep doing the things that bring you joy, even in small ways. It’s also important to give yourself permission to rest when you need it. We are all human, and being patient and kind with ourselves is just as valuable as staying productive. Every effort counts, and each small step, whether it’s making art, taking a walk, journaling, or simply being present, contributes to your growth and your well-being.
As we move toward the end of the year, I hope you can honor your efforts, embrace your creativity, and remember that even small actions keep momentum alive. Keep going, even when it feels slow. Your journey is worth it.
-Ash (11/30/2025)
A Step Forward
Sharing new work, new experiences, and a deeper connection to the art and process that move me forward.
The past couple of months have been full of new opportunities, creative growth, and important steps forward in my art journey. I’ve had the chance to share my work in several wonderful spaces, including Terrain 16 in Spokane and the ACES (Artist of Color Expo and Symposium) in Seattle, which runs until November 8th. Each show included just a handful of my pieces, but they offered meaningful opportunities to connect with new audiences and see my work through different eyes.
Now, I’m preparing for something that feels especially meaningful: my upcoming gallery show for the Edmonds Art Walk. It takes place on November 20th from 5–8 PM, and my work will be on display throughout the entire month of November. The show will feature about 20 pieces, a mix of mordançage, film, and digital photographs. It will include both old favorites and new works, all available for sale. This feels like a big step for me, an opportunity to share a fuller picture of who I am as an artist and how my work has evolved.
Outside of creating, running has become a space where I find balance and stay present. It’s something I do just for myself: a place to breathe, think, and reset. Running reminds me that growth, in art or in life, comes from time, patience, and consistent effort. It’s a quiet reminder to keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow.
Lately, I’ve felt a shift, like I’m stepping into a new path that truly aligns with who I am and what I love to create. I’m deeply grateful for the direction things are moving and for everyone who has supported me along the way.
Thank you for being part of my art journey. I hope something in my work or words speaks to you and reminds you to keep showing up for what truly matters.
-Ash (10/28/2025)
“You Don’t Have To Be Great To Start, But You Have To Start To Be Great.”
A Fresh Chapter in my Art and Life.
Hi friends,
It’s been almost three years since my last blog post — which feels both like a blink and a lifetime. In that time, I’ve been reshaping not just my art, but also myself. I’ve given my website a fresh look, and with it, I’m stepping back into sharing more openly about my creative journey, the things that inspire me, and how I’m growing along the way.
One quote that’s been sitting with me lately is one I first heard on a Jay Shetty podcast, though it’s originally attributed to Zig Ziglar:
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Simple, but powerful. It’s helped me push through perfectionism and just begin — whether that means picking up a camera, stepping into the darkroom, or lacing up my shoes for a run.
This past season has been about learning to show up consistently, even when I don’t feel ready. Training for a half marathon has done as much for my mental health and spirituality as it has for my body. Running has become a moving meditation — a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful.
I’ve also been listening to the Soul Boom podcast, which has been nourishing my spirituality. Hearing conversations about humanity, growth, and the fact that even the people we admire most are still human — they stumble, they make mistakes, but they find ways to keep going — has been incredibly grounding. It’s comforting to know that imperfection is part of the journey, and that we’re all just learning as we go.
That theme of imperfection has pulled me back into one of my oldest loves: mordançage. I haven’t worked with this rare darkroom process since college, but returning to it has felt like reconnecting with an old friend. The way mordançage reshapes an image — lifting the emulsion, creating unexpected textures and veils — mirrors so much of what I’ve been feeling in life: fragile, raw, and yet strangely beautiful in its unpredictability.
Alongside mordançage, I’ve been creating more black-and-white photography again, both digital and film. Stripping away color has always sharpened my attention to light, shadow, and emotion. Recently, though, I’ve also begun weaving more color into my work. It feels like a new layer — a chance to explore vibrancy and mood in ways that balance the quiet strength of my black-and-white pieces.
With all of this growth, I’ve also updated my bio and artist statement in the About section, and reorganized my photographs into clearer, more intentional collections — including new sections for mordançage, black-and-white, and color. It feels good to have my work reflect where I am now, while also honoring the path that brought me here.
All of this — running, podcasts, spiritual growth, mordançage, black-and-white, and color — has been shaping not only my art but the way I move through the world. My creative practice continues to be a space where beauty and imperfection meet, where resilience and vulnerability can coexist.
Here are a few glimpses of what I’ve been working on lately (You can see more in Collections):
Thank you for being here, for supporting my work, and for walking alongside me on this journey. I’m still building this space (a store will be coming soon!), but for now, I’d love to hear what you think of the new site, my updated artist statement, and this next chapter. Feel free to message me on my socials, or email.
-Ash (08/23/2025)
Olivia + Johan
Engagement Shoot
12/03/2022
Washington Coast
07/31/22
This weekend was my first time being on the coast of Washington! I haven’t had the opportunity to go until this last weekend. It was incredible. It was so peaceful and freeing to get out of the city and explore more of what is on this Earth. I wish I could stay there longer.
This weekend was also my first time trying out astrophotography! Needs a little bit of work, but I’m happy with how they came out.
-Ash
“Small”
06/28/2022
This photo has been in the making for over a year now. The idea came about when I learned something that still effects me everyday. It’s about being in a situation when you’re vulnerable and someone is taking advantage of your body, mind, and/or spirit. Maybe in the future I’ll talk more about this photo, but for now this is all I can say comfortably.
-Ash
Index with Nathan
05/31/2022
Index, Washington has been on of my favorite places to explore ever since I moved over to the west side of Washington. Sitting on the rocks on the Skykomish River with a view of the Cascades is absolutely breathtaking.
I brought Nathan with me for the first time yesterday. We spent some time wandering around the river in our muck boots, enjoying the fresh air and gorgeous views.
Listening to the river run past me, watching the clouds move across the mountain tops, and the feeling of the wind brush against my skin, I feel at peace.
See you again soon, Index.
-Ash
Website Launch
05/14/2022
Hello and welcome to my website! I’ve been spending so much time working on this. What to add, what not to add, trying to make it “perfect.” But honestly, I don’t care if it’s perfect or not, I just want people to see the work I’m proud of all in one place. I am a bit nervous to show this to people, but lately I’ve been telling myself, “Don’t let anxiety hold you back from the things you want to do.” And I’m trying to live by that. So I guess, here goes nothing!
Thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy!
-Ash