We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Kincaid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I’ll admit, sometimes I do not feel all that creative but when I get those feelings, I realize that I usually feel that way because I’m thinking about what I can make to please others rather than to make myself happy. Once I remind myself of that, I sit with my feelings and I throw them on a canvas or sketchpad or whatever it is I am feeling like I resonate with more in that moment. I don’t worry about staying inside the lines, or making something pretty, or even something that people are going to hate. I let my heart tell my hands what to do, and I blast up music to keep my head quiet. Sometimes, I sit in the silence and think about the feelings I’m expressing if I feel okay to sit with them for a bit.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Ashley Sue Kincaid, founder of Ashley Sue Studios. I create art pieces that express the emotions I’m feeling where it be silly or serious. I also advocate strongly for mental health awareness as well as the female artist community. Really, I just want people to be happy and let others be happy as well. I have not always had the best luck in life, especially as of late. Just in the last couple of years, I went through a life changing surgery that finally gave relief to back pain that I had fought with for my whole life from congenital scoliosis.
In my art, you can get a glimpse of different stages in my life with my business growing everyday! I recently opened up an online store, which you can find at ashleysuestudios.com, where I sell prints and other products with my artwork on it! You can even scroll through my instagram pages @ashleysuestudios where I post updates with my business, funny videos, and general art related material and @_kkincaidd_ where you can find more about me personally! I also have a TikTok account @ashleysuestudios, a Threads account @ashleysuestudios, and a Facebook page @Ashley Sue Studios Public.
I am a small business owner, but I am also a resilient and creative woman. Even if I fall down, I never let myself stay down for long. There has to be more to life than the downs, so why do myself the displeasure of staying there longer than I need to?
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My number one quality that I will forever be grateful for is how I don’t let what random people think of me affect the way I live. If I want to go out for a walk and do a happy dance I will. If you live life worrying about what other people think about you, you’ll never feel like yourself. I didn’t always think that way though, I used to care way too much. But guess what, when I cared too much I wasn’t happy nor kind. Be kind. You never know whose day you could be saving and it could quite possibly be your own! Be kind and be happy!
That’s another one, I am kind. I used to think being kind was what got me hurt and I hated myself for it. What I didn’t realize was that being kind is what gets you places. When you smile at strangers, you could have given someone a reason to live another day. When you hold the door for the person behind you, you may have helped someone who hasn’t received kindness in ages. Don’t let other people’s ugly ruin your kindness. You have to hold on to it forever.
Lastly, I would never give up the feeling of being genuine to myself. If I am ever in a situation where I don’t feel comfortable just myself, I avoid it at all cost. Instead of putting energy into making myself more pleasing for others, I save it for people who accept me as I am. Don’t apologize for being genuine to yourself and don’t entertain people who want to hide the real you. Find out who you are and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
My current challenge is really a matter of adulthood and trying to navigate through a crumbling economy. I’m going back to school for art to expand my knowledge while working full-time as a bartender and also owning a small business on the side. Even with all the hours I work, bill prices keep going up while pay stays the same, but hey! We’ll make it through! As long as I have my art, my happiness, and my family, I can overcome any obstacle and endure any storm. No matter how long it takes, I will make a name for myself and I will show the world that happiness can come from anything, even a painting you made when you were at your lowest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleysuestudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleysuestudios?igsh=NTh0aHU4aXBsanFj&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/TwdBSbefUeX7RH1m/?mibextid=K35XfP
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