Meet Ashley Ortega

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Ortega. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ashley with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

A way I keep motivated with my work is taking things in small pieces, it can be easy to look at a big task ahead and get so overwhelmed by it, that achieving it can seem impossible, thus this makes the habit of procrastination a lot more enticing. However I always think back to the saying “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” although I don’t condone eating elephants, this is saying still rings true to approaching those seemingly impossible tasks, the ones that loom over you or haunt the never ending to-do-checklists, always remaining unfinished. But as the saying goes, take it one bite at a time, instead of trying to take it all at once, it’s easier to commit one small task a day towards your project, no matter how small it may be, you are still chipping away at it. In my own lifestyle I tend to value routine, small things like making the bed in the morning or keeping consistent with non-work activities helps train my brain to process this routine and I can then apply this skill to the way I approach completing design tasks. I am also a casual runner, I used to only be able to do small sprints, and at the time distance running felt like an impossible goal, but one day at a time I worked up my stamina and over several years of training I could run so much further than I thought that I ever could. Although when applying this idea to working life as a designer some things may require a sprint especially in the fast-paced industry of motion graphics, there are times I have to power through and it can be unpleasant in the moment but I remind myself that this is “just a moment” in grand scheme of life, this too shall pass and soon the task will be done and I will be able to rest again.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a Motion Graphic Designer and Artist, I love working on story driven projects and I always have been inspired by ways I can push my designs to new levels. I like to think of my designer skills as being a Swiss army knife, as a generalist I find I am constantly learning multiple programs or fine art mediums, and like a chameleon I can adapt to the different styles and blend in where needed. I believe that by trying different mediums I can understand the process of design better, with each new experience I grow more aware of ways I can solve creative problems. I am very passionate about animation and story telling, I believe that narrative story telling is essential to connecting communities together and bringing forth new ways to reflect on our life and the world we live in. As an independent artist I like to open up my options not only for motion design but to other callings, whether that be teaching or illustration or starting a small business, I aspire to explore new opportunities and embrace the challenges that come with it. This creative industry is changing rapidly, and I like to see new opportunities as ways I can adapt and continue to expand my vision as an artist.

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?

Patience, forgiveness and persistence. These three things I feel have brought me to finding peace as a creator in an industry that is often chaotic and tumultuous. Patience is essential when creating art, as it takes time to break down different concepts and develop solutions, good things come with time, as well as growth. One of the most difficult feelings as an artist is feeling limited by one’s own ability or skill level, however that is where you have to apply forgiveness, and allow yourself to be bad at something, because no one is good at everything the first time they try it and learning new tasks takes effort and practice. And to become a master at something you need persistence, everyone has to start somewhere. Stick to your goals and work through each challenge, you have to be able to get back up when you get knocked down, and eventually you’ll be a stronger than you were before, and the things that used to be a challenge to you will become much easier.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

my parents encouraged me to follow my passion, the arts can seem like an uncertain career, as the needs of the industry can fluctuate so easily and rapidly, I know this could be a reason why many parents worry for the future of their kids. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have been able to study motion graphics and animation and graduate with a bachelors of fine arts. I also had the privilege to travel and explore new cities and countries while still being a student. now that I am in the industry working as a freelance motion designer I look back fondly on those memories I made in school and the long time friends I made there, knowing that they supported my dream and made my future where I can live doing my passion, a reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://v1.amotion.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amotion.me?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyaortega/