Winter Thirteen Interview at All-Con 2018
At every convention that I've been to, there are always so many talented artists that show up to sell their work. Each has their own unique style to offer. However, at the larger conventions, Artist Alley can be so expansive that it's easy for individual artists to get lost in the crowd. That's why conventions like All-Con are so important. They are small enough that each artist represented has a chance to stand out in the crowd, yet large enough that more than a handful of people will see their work. That becomes all the more important for someone like Ashley Villers, aka Winter Thirteen, who I found situated right in the middle of the three rows of Artists Alley at this year's All-Con.
Her work was colorful & unique, having an old-school Americana feel to it with a touch of modern tattoo aesthetic. When I asked her what the inspiration for her work was, she told me about how she loved watching Disney cartoons growing up & would often find herself drawing what she was watching. While she's come along way from drawing Disney princesses, you can still see that influence in her work. There is a regal, yet delicate quality to the lines of her faces. Choosing dark lines of contrast for the outer edges, while choosing a softer blending of shades & colors for the inner details of each face, the final result is something that feels very classic Disney-esque. However, don't expect to see princesses & talking mice at her table. While her style may be influenced by Disney, the images that grab her attention are pulled from Stranger Things, Rick & Morty, Marvel, & the Walking Dead. Like many people that we have known who also grew up with The Mouse, she has a darker sense of artistic creativity that she uses for inspiration.
Something else that surprised me about her was how much she has embraced the online space to showcase her work, as well as her creative process. While she uses social media to show off her final work, she regularly streams on Twitch, showing how she makes her art. Though, as a former art teacher, it makes perfect sense that she would be drawn toward a platform that would allow her to show the step-by-step process of how she makes her images. More than that, it is a way for her to interact with her fans. As the internet has continued to allow more artists to show off their talents, Ashley has figured out that personality & interaction makes all the difference when trying to stand out online.
As she continues to create more & put herself out there, I, for one, hope to see more of her work. If you want to see more of Ashley, be sure to follow her on social media or drop in to her studio through her Twitch streams. And definitely look for her at her next con!