dreamityoufuckingdreamers.

there have been exactly 3 messages in my career (5 yrs) that have moved me to tears with how (often surprisingly) beautiful the process of inspiring & CREATING can be in impacting the lives of others. (photogs, artists, dreamers: it is *so* important what we do) | read that over and over and over again.

i got that 3rd message this afternoon, in a target store dressing room and had to sit down while i read such an incredibly personal message about one woman's heroic life journey that ends each night in her coming to my work for her solace.

And it got me to thinking that I really wanted to share this thought with others.

Anyway, artists/people who endeavor: this is LONG overdue:

i'd like to make a toast: ::raises glass:: TO ALL OF YOU WHO CREATE, INSPIRE, DREAM, ASPIRE, And Spin like you are still a child: here's to YOU. Because, guess what? - you inspire ME.

and readers: when you write me messages about my work inspiring you, i'm just floored. (really)

you better know and believe that i take those messages and spin them into my writing and imagery. this is the journey of the artist.

There is an incredible quote about life that goes something like this:

'dont ask what the world needs. ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. because what the world needs is people who have come alive.' - howard thurman

so much love.

ash x

Faerieland 2011 -- BEHIND THE SCENES!!

friends.

i'll keep this short, because i have another blog to post on the rendering well this evening as a journal for the traveling/shooting/set building and life living i've been up to, but i did want to make sure i posted a few behind the scenes from yesterday's first shoot of the season! weather has disallowed shooting again and again, and finally yesterday was 60's and sunny and magic happened.

as you can see, the shoot was incredibly fun and i had the opportunity to work w/ the lovely Rae Weisz from ANTM (again) as well as one of my favorite makeup artists: Lacey O'Sullivan.

i've been mulling over this idea of a brownie in faerieland for nearly a year and am absolutely thrilled it finally came to fruition. by these shots, you'll definitely be able to see some hints as to what this shoot consisted of location and prop wise (i'm going to leave it, for the most, a secret ;) and i cannot wait to share the final imagery with you in the next two days or so.

blogspot really mangles quality, but will be posting to flickr when this full storyboard is processed as well as high res in the faerieland gallery on my website. :)

behind the scenes:

just after rae arrived, we took to the tiny bathroom and began hair and makeup...

a detail shot of how i wanted my brownie's hair...

and, the remaining (above) shots were just quickly snapped after we were out on location, goofing off as well as a few much needed touch ups. faerieland is incredibly dark this year, and so we found ourselves joking around out in the woods after the mention of her motivation being a 'cannibalistic brownie' ;) | it was a nice contrast to the images you'll see from this shoot. i think nature is a perfect indifferent contrast, so faerieland, though fantasy, is also the representation of light amidst darkness.

a big thanks as well to my partner (and mum) in set building, Waunita Shaw.

just when i think i cannot build something or don't know how, she swoops in with an idea that makes it possible.

again, i will be posting journals about my travels on the rendering well this evening. i wish time allowed for one a day, but perhaps i can manage about 1 a week.

right now, I feel as if my life is in the eye of the hurricane (in an amazing way) and i will touch more on that in a few hours, with a personal photo or two. ;)

hope you all are well!

ashley | bottle bell - x