Hey everyone! I’ve been exploring gouache paints lately and here’s a landscape I started. Hoping to play around with getting light/ sun light areas to be more realistic and play around with this fun paint more as I explore!

Part of my current process is allowing myself to just explore, experiment and try new mediums! 🎨 I started gouache paint for the first time last night - very interesting medium. Anyone else have experience with gouache?

I’ve been playing around with Posca markers on different materials and really like how this horse turned out in my sketch book! Anyone else playing around with new materials lately?

Ashley Messer is a passionate artist, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to making the visual arts accessible and meaningful for learners of all ages. As a primarily 2D artist, her creative practice centers on painting with watercolor and acrylics, while also embracing mixed media and sculptural approaches. Her work reflects a deep appreciation for traditional art processes paired with contemporary educational values. Ashley is the owner of Creative Studio 23, a mobile art studio designed to bring high-quality art instruction directly into communities. Through this venture, she teaches students of all ages using traditional visual art mediums such as drawing, watercolor, acrylic painting, mixed media, and sculpture. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity, skill-building, and confidence, empowering students to explore their artistic voices in supportive and engaging environments. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2014 and recently completed her Master’s degree in Art Education at Augsburg University. With this advanced training, Ashley is committed to serving students in public school settings and broader arts communities, advocating for equitable access to arts education. Her goal is to inspire, educate, and nurture the next generation of artists while strengthening the role of the arts within schools and communities.

Yesterday I went down to Minneapolis to help out some businesses who are struggling (minority & immigrant businesses) and also went to a screen printing open studio to get a shirt made! Getting out but the community with other artists and activists felt so empowering and gave me hope. Here’s my tshirt!