Ashley Goss, of Barrington Passage, N.S., says creativity has always been a part of her life. Photo by ContributedArticle contentAshley Goss creates her art based on feelings and moods.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIt is a way of relaxing to escape and release when her emotions are too intense or she can’t handle something. This is how she ended up having three, and sometimes more, different artistic streams.Article contentArticle contentAbout 15 years ago, the Barrington Passage, N.S., woman began creating Roko Itonami, which is an indie dark fantasy anime that works on mental health and the struggles it can create. Four years ago, she also created Auntie’s Artwork, which she primarily uses as a creative outlet for painting on canvases, and then Iridescent Imagery where she works with a partner on photography.Article contentArticle content Out of everything she makes, Ashley Goss says her potions are the most popular. Photo by ContributedArticle contentSometimes, she says, her mood will match her Roko Itonami and she will create stickers or storyboards or something new in her world. Other times, her mood leads her to create something random, like her abstract pet portraits, under Auntie’s Artwork. Goss says she tends to create these when she wants to make others feel better about themselves.Article contentArticle contentSeparate businessesArticle contentKeeping it all separate comes with great difficulty, she says.Article content“I make sure everything separates into my businesses first, so my laptop has a user for each type of art,” she says.Article contentFrom there, her portable hard drive has folders for each art business. Then, her files are further subcategorized and separated based on what the subject is. It’s all about being organized.Article content Ashley Goss, of Auntie’s Artwork, enjoys painting. Photo by ContributedArticle contentArticle contentEntrepreneurArticle contentThe idea to have her own business began when she was 10 years old. At that time, she thought it might be to have a vet clinic. However, when she started to work on her Roko art, she knew that that would be a business venture. Her second two artistic businesses were things that just happened rather than having been planned.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentLearningArticle contentTo learn her art forms, Goss says she relies on YouTube.Article content“I may do research, but everything I make, I have had to watch someone else make them before I can,” she says.Article contentFor example, her mother-in-law taught her how to make candles, and she learned to draw by watching YouTube Speedpaints or tutorials. Now, she is learning how to make suncatchers, needle felting, and clay items, all from people on YouTube as well.Article contentAs for her photography, Goss says it is just through instinct.Article content“I can’t explain it. I take a lot of photos, but I also find it hard to find things to photograph for this reason. It has to be the right look and feeling,” says Goss.Article contentArticle contentPopularityArticle contentSince Goss does so many random things, she says it is hard to tell what her most popular creations are, but she says her potion bottles are popular, especially the decor and/or keychain ones. The most popular of those would be shielding elixir, phial of mischief and restful brew.Article content“I have had potions ship to Finland, Germany, the U.S., and many provinces across Canada, which always makes me excited to see,” she notes.
MEET THE MAKERS: Barrington Passage resident balances artistic streams
