Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Kern.
Ashley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Morningbun Studio is essentially the umbrella that covers my visual, creative hobbies- drawing, styling, and photography.
I’m a Southern California native that grew up in a quiet valley a couple of hours drive from Los Angeles. It was there I had an adventurous, suburban childhood. I spent equal time indoors drawing and gaming as I did outside, playing and exploring the surrounding land.
As I grew into adulthood, I continued to return to art as not only as a means of expressing an idea but as a way to release repetitive thoughts and anxiety. It was also a way to explore my interests in a way I couldn’t otherwise- e.g. putting characters that affected me into new environments, experimenting with plants that I couldn’t find within hundreds of miles, animals that I’ve never actually seen, etc.
After changing my major several times at the University of California, Riverside, my final declaration was Studio Art. I was so confused then, as so many students are, about what I should spend my time studying. Hindsight, is, of course, 20-20 and it seems inevitable to me now that I would end up pursuing art more formally.
After graduation, I moved to Orange County and then to LA. I’m pursuing my career in retail visual merchandising while continuing to spend time creating artwork.
Has it been a smooth road?
Everyone has struggles, of course- I struggled with mental illnesses that linger today but were especially acute during my most formative high school and college years. I had a panic disorder that I’ve been fortunately able to mostly overcome due to lifestyle changes, and am still struggling with major depression. I was always extremely quiet about my poor mental health when it was at its worst. My primary worry was that turning for help would place a burden on the person, which I know now is nonsensical. I also placed a heavy responsibility on myself to remain steadfast and stable as I grew into a leader in my career.
My advice to women struggling with mental illness is to relay how you’re feeling, especially at your weakest. Surround yourself with people who you feel comfortable sharing with, even if it means making difficult decisions about who exactly that is. Find activities that make you feel better, and pay attention to how you feel as you go through your day’s activities. Try to discern whether or not they’re contributing to your stability + personal success.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Morningbun Studio story. Tell us more about it.
At school, I learned a bit of each media- construction, film, traditional painting, drawing with every sort of material. I was most drawn to photography at that time and focused there, especially on photography not for aesthetic purposes but for conceptual purposes. This is something I’d like to return to and is so different than what I’m creating now.
I’m currently creating artwork with simple pen and paper- placing effort on meticulous detail, playing with symbolism that humans have imbued into their surrounding flora and fauna. I’ve collected resources on the meaning of flowers, myths of different animals and what both have meant to different geological regions over the years. I’m interested in pushing this work into new formats- printed goods, potentially clothing, and especially trying my hand at murals.
I’ve been lucky to use this format of work to assist with both closure and celebration through commissions. What I’m interested in- the mix of meanings, flora, fauna, etc. allows for a combination of them in order to create a specific message, which I can help develop with a few thoughts from the commissioner.
The work is also unique in that the only digital aspect is in the scanning of the finished image. Everything in a piece is done by hand over several sessions- only using pencil for the initial forms, if at all.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Visibility is one, for sure. Young women need to be able to see women working/being successful in their areas of interest. Platforms (like this one!) make that sort of visibility possible, which is so important. There’s a responsibility of women who are experiencing success to be transparent in their path, which social media doesn’t necessarily assist in. There’s also a responsibility to empower other women if you’ve been able to achieve power yourself. Women raising up other women is a sure way to gain visibility and to make space in fields that have been traditionally male-dominated. Visibility is actionable. It’s not something abstract that can be impossible to make a difference in alone, like some of the other barriers that exist for female leaders. I feel like this can be applied more globally, but is something I keep in mind for my industry as my career has progressed,
As a visual merchandising manager, I work in a space that is generally female-dominated. There’s a lot of openness to ideas, and to our differences, and I know that’s not true of every workplace. I’ve been incredibly lucky in this regard, and it’s something I appreciate every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: morningbun.studio
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/morningbun
Image Credit:
Justin Moore
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