Meet Ashlyn, a storyboard artist on Harvey Beaks! We loved hearing about her experience going to school in Canada, her advice to constantly create, and her love for a nice, warm slice of pie.
Read on about this incredibly talented artist!
1) Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Ashlyn, and I’m a storyboard artist on Harvey Beaks! I also write and illustrate picture books, and eat cookies.
2) How did you get your start?
I started drawing in my teens, and then I went to Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada for a bachelors in animation. I was very cold. Then, four years ago, I moved to LA to get a great tan and have been doing animation ever since.
3) What do your day-to-day tasks look like?
My board partner, Anna, and I work on an episode every 5 weeks. Usually I come in, drink a whole bunch of coffee, look at dresses on the internet for 10 minutes, and then spend the rest of the day drawing or writing. Sometimes we have a meeting! Sometimes not.
4) Favorite parts of the job?
My favorite part is that feeling of presenting a joke or something emotional and seeing a reaction. Something lives inside your head for so long, the first time you see someone react to it is really fulfilling.
5) Advice you’d give to aspiring artists in this industry?
Make as much stuff and stories as you can, and show it to everyone. You have to work out a lot of rougher stuff before you can start feeling good about the work you create, and showing it to people gives you valuable feedback.
6) What tools have helped you get to where you are?
I am a traditionalist! I use the computer so much for work that when I do personal work, I experiment a lot. I find switching up tools and not getting too comfortable helps me a lot. I love acrylic gouache, too.
7) What inspires you?
I teach kids’ workshops sometimes, and I’m constantly astounded by the ideas that come out of them. They’re usually much more creative than anything I can come up with.
8) What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I run a ladies craft night once a month, and I read a lot. To counterbalance the hobbies of an elderly woman, I also love seeing weird shows around LA, there are a lot of fun ones!
9) What is your biggest responsibility?
I have to finish the board. If I don’t, they tie me to a tree and throw marshmallows at me.
10) What is one of the most challenging aspects of your job?
It’s hard to see the whole picture of the episode when you’re working drawing by drawing. Stringing everything together feels sometimes like a feat of magic. When it comes together though, it’s really satisfying!
11) Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
Sometimes I feel like each drawing I finish is a miracle, like “LOOK I CAN’T BELIEVE I FINISHED THIS”, and then five minutes later I’m on to the next thing. I’m proud that my first picture book came out this summer, though! That’s probably the biggest single thing I’ve worked on.
12) Where would you go in a time machine?
Great scott, I’d probably go to back to the prehistoric years when they had Giant Wombats and other megafauna.
13) Choice of superpower/ability?
Flying!! Or the ability to swim underwater forever and touch a giant squid. I am sensing a giant animal theme.
14) Spirit animal?
Probably an otter, they’re the sassiest sea creature.
15) Favorite ice cream/dessert?
HMMMM I would never turn down a well made slice of pie. Ever. Warm strawberry rhubarb pie from the oven.
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Follow Ashlyn to get more of her amazing work:
Tumblr: @ashlynanstee
Twitter: @ashlynanstee
Instagram : @ashlynanstee
