Made in Chicago: I'm Smitten

By Jess D'Amico in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 29, 2008 5:08PM

You might have seen Antler Girl around. She's been spotted for a couple years now on t-shirts, bags and postcards. What you might not have known is that Antler Girl is only one of the mostly-human, part-animal characters roaming our city by fabric and paper (like Giraffe Girl, pictured).

Ashley Alexander, 32, is the creator of I'm Smitten, a collection of fairy tale and childlike creatures available as posters, cards, t-shirts and soon, teacups. Ashley, originally from Saudi Arabia, defines her work as "a little bit pretty and a little bit strange."

We got Ashley out of hibernation to ask her about drawing, her messiness, and why she puts pennies in her shoes.

Chicagoist: How do you make your art stand out from everything else out there?
Ashley: I just make things that I think are interesting, I'm not necessarily making things to stand out. But I guess I don't want it to look like everything else out there either.

C: Where do you want to go with your art? Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: Hopefully with some small shows, drawing and illustrating more. I'm not over-ambitious, I just want to do what I love and be able to support myself doing it.

C: How did you start making stuff?
A: As a little kid, drawing, drawing. It's a release for me and thats how I started making the cards- it was during a very difficult time in my life and I made them to give to people and they liked them and it just kinda grew from there.

C: Why is the sky blue?
A: Um, I'm sure there is a very interesting scientific reason, but I cant seem to remember! I'll google it.

C: What does your process look like?
A: A mess! I don't even use messy materials- just paper and pencil, but you have never seen someone spread out all over the place and explode like I do. But when I'm done it all gets cleaned up.

C: Tell us a secret. . .
A: I like listening to Fergie and Britney Spears and Beyonce. I pick up pennies that are heads up and put them in my shoes for luck. If they are heads down, I flip them over for the next person.

C: What does the Chicago art scene look like?
A: I'm not as involved as I should be. I do think its pretty supportive and cool and a small world.

C: Where do you see that culture going?
A: I think there are a lot of people doing exciting things here. I love the energy here. Right now it feels cold and I just want to hibernate, but really there are a lot of cool things going on.

C: Any advice for beginners?
A: Go to openings and draw on the inspiration. Check the Reader or Time Out [or Chicagoist] and see whats going on. There are so many great free things going on here!!

Know someone we should feature? Drop us a line: MadeinChicago[at]chicagoist[dot]com