Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Kothenbeutel.
Hi Ashlee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was always a high-energy kid and my parents chose to channel my energy into sports and arts. I have always loved creating artwork and find the experience to be cathartic. I decided that I wanted to take my love of art and pursue it as a career, so I studied Graphic Design at Saint Louis University “SLU” in Saint Louis, MO.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many during COVID, I struggled with the isolation especially taking online classes for almost a year. I crave collaboration and am excited to start a new chapter in my life where I can start a new job post-college and connect creatively with my coworkers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I focus on emotional expression through colors, brushstrokes, and dynamic portrayal of movement, as well as metaphors in my artwork. My interest in nature, filtered through art explores two main concerns: The formal expression of natural beauty, and the human destruction of nature. I enjoy the challenge of creating and discovering unique ways to display these messages.
While my love of fine art began with illustrations by hand, I now use programs like Adobe to convey my ideas. My skills with this software have allowed me to make a wide variety of products, including logos, signs, booklets, and even animations. As a Graphic Designer, I design logos and advertisement material for clients. Graphic Design has also influenced my paintings and hand-illustrated drawings compositionally. It has taught me the value of breaking down ideas to get to the core.
Through courses taken at Saint Louis University, I have had the opportunity to learn an array of techniques. As a student, I worked with the student newspaper which was a good jumping-off point to develop my creativity, and my ability to work with clients (the writers and editors on the paper), as well as meet fast-paced deadlines. I worked with Tidy Projects; a student-run graphic design group, for the last two and a half years to engage with real clients and get the experience of working with a team of graphic designers.
Through my experiences in college, I am better equipped to create unique design solutions for clients. Most recently, I interned (the last two summers) and freelanced (during the school year) with the design team at Medscape, or WebMD. I love to continually learn and use new media to expand my skill set and my understanding of the world.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
My favorite parts about Saint Louis would definitely have to be all the amazing food options. I love brunch and I would try and go to Kingside Diner every weekend. I also really liked Russell’s on Macklind and Roosters for brunch.
The dessert options in Saint Louis are also awesome, like Baileys, the Fountain on Locust, and of course Ted Drews. I really loved going to Forest Park and enjoyed visiting the Saint Louis Art Museum from time to time as well as the other smaller art museums and galleries.
My least favorite part of the city would definitely be the traffic on 64, all the lovely potholes, and the random construction that popped up out of nowhere closing down a lane without warning.
Contact Info:
- Email: ashleedesignsFB@gmail.com
- Website: www.ashleedesigns.com
- Instagram: @ashlee_designs
- Facebook: @ashleedesignsFB
