Artists ~ Ashley S ~ Providence
Artist’s name: Ashley S
Shop name: Design WhatHaveYou
Website: www.designwhathaveyou.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dwhyco
Instagram: @designwhat
1. Tell us about your work
I work mostly with concrete, making concrete jewelry, as well as various sculptural projects. I also recently started oil painting. In addition, I work on a little bit of everything from woodworking to graphic design to playing with paper pulp.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Ha, there is a long story about the name of my business, but in short, I wanted a name that said what I did. I mostly do design work, and I work on a bunch of different projects-"everything and everything else" was an original tagline, so "what have you" which is an older idiom, meaning "and other similar thing", or "etcetera".
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
Well, I went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where I graduated from with my BFA in Industrial Design, and shortly thereafter started renting a studio in the Ajay Land Co artist building in Providence, where I still am today. I started working on the concrete jewelry, and while it took me about a year to troubleshoot it to the point where it was functional and would sell, I knew I had something with the first piece I made, and so I just went for it.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I'm greatly influenced by the urban environment, I love the city-the architecture, the movement. When creating, I often ask, "what haven't I seen before?" so running that thought through my head brings a lot of research that ultimately inspires me as well.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
I love coming up with new, different shapes to make.
6. What’s your best seller?
It'd probably be my basic rectangular pendant with my anchor image and lapis luzuli stones.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I've been in RI-Providence- for 11 years now. Moved here from Buffalo, NY to go to school at RISD.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I love Providence, its a great little city full of things to do and see. being "the ocean state" is great, I love being close to the water, and its only an hour to Boston and 3 hours to NY
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
I don't get many out-of-towners, but I always tell people to check out the Steel Yard in Providence, they always host a bunch of great events.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Google/search for what you're making- to not only find other creatives who can inspire you, but also, you may think what you're doing is unique but they're could be thousands more out there doing the same or really similar. So if you're looking to make a career out of it, figuring out a way to differentiate it from whats already out there. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to people, who you may or may not know, whose work you admire or inspires you.
Shop name: Design WhatHaveYou
Website: www.designwhathaveyou.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dwhyco
Instagram: @designwhat
1. Tell us about your work
I work mostly with concrete, making concrete jewelry, as well as various sculptural projects. I also recently started oil painting. In addition, I work on a little bit of everything from woodworking to graphic design to playing with paper pulp.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Ha, there is a long story about the name of my business, but in short, I wanted a name that said what I did. I mostly do design work, and I work on a bunch of different projects-"everything and everything else" was an original tagline, so "what have you" which is an older idiom, meaning "and other similar thing", or "etcetera".
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
Well, I went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where I graduated from with my BFA in Industrial Design, and shortly thereafter started renting a studio in the Ajay Land Co artist building in Providence, where I still am today. I started working on the concrete jewelry, and while it took me about a year to troubleshoot it to the point where it was functional and would sell, I knew I had something with the first piece I made, and so I just went for it.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I'm greatly influenced by the urban environment, I love the city-the architecture, the movement. When creating, I often ask, "what haven't I seen before?" so running that thought through my head brings a lot of research that ultimately inspires me as well.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
I love coming up with new, different shapes to make.
6. What’s your best seller?
It'd probably be my basic rectangular pendant with my anchor image and lapis luzuli stones.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I've been in RI-Providence- for 11 years now. Moved here from Buffalo, NY to go to school at RISD.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I love Providence, its a great little city full of things to do and see. being "the ocean state" is great, I love being close to the water, and its only an hour to Boston and 3 hours to NY
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
I don't get many out-of-towners, but I always tell people to check out the Steel Yard in Providence, they always host a bunch of great events.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Google/search for what you're making- to not only find other creatives who can inspire you, but also, you may think what you're doing is unique but they're could be thousands more out there doing the same or really similar. So if you're looking to make a career out of it, figuring out a way to differentiate it from whats already out there. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to people, who you may or may not know, whose work you admire or inspires you.
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