Happy New Year! Hmmm, how should we celebrate? … PLEASE SEE PHOTO ABOVE … Yep, Ashley Longshore is back on the podcast for the fifth time (!?) and we’re stepping into this new year with as much optimism as humanly possible. That said, 2020 was rough on all of us – even the sparkly, go go go Ashley – so we talked a lot about how slowing down, and having to be truly vulnerable, changed the way we approach both life and art. Listen right up there under Ashley and her cheese {photo by James Letten}, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts and or Spotify.

First up. NATURE! Yes, Ashley has always been a lover of bugs, blossoms and butterflies. Here’s a little bit of bedazzled proof:

Gorgeous! And yes, that photo midway through is a real luna moth Ashley made friends with in her garden. Insane. Watch Ashley’s stories on Instagram… she really does have some “Mother F’N Nature with Ashley Longshore” going on in her backyard! Seriously, I would watch that TV show.

Next, a teeny peek at the really big work she’s been hoarding the past few months:

Huge, colorful, full of life. Yep, that sounds about right! Ashley will be releasing all of these new paintings at the end of January so keep an eye on her Instagram feed for updates.

Ahhh, and the clown self-portrait she just said goodbye to:

Yep, it’s hard to say farewell to your favorites. At least she’s going to a home that will love her very very much.

And finally, Ashley and I both want to wish you a super duper HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you ride into 2021 exactly like this:

Hahaha! Now that is how you put some JOY into your life! Thanks so much to Ashley for leading us into the new year with that firm handshake of hers; thanks to Create Magazine and their gorgeous new book – “The Complete Smartist Guide” – for supporting this episode; and of course, huge thanks to YOU for listening. There will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Ashley on Instagram
2. St.Joseph’s Arts Society, San Francisco
3. Article via ART News re: St.Joseph’s
4. Petah Coyne on the podcast, Episode No. 186
5. Create Magazine – Call for Art, Womxn’s Issue
6. How To Spot An Artist {my children’s book}