Meet Lila Ash | Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lila Ash and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lila, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I never considered anything else–always wanted to be an artist since I was really little. I’m lucky that my family always encouraged me to be an artist and it’s pretty cool to see how that support helped me create the career I have today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an illustrator and cartoonist most known for my contributions to The New Yorker magazine. It took a lot of work to get to where I am professionally, and I don’t see my accomplishments thus far as an endpoint. I’m finally able to support myself fully as an artist but this took a full decade for me to achieve. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, I had several full-time jobs in the arts as a fabricator, carpenter and architectural finish painter, as well as a years-long position in retail at an art supply store. Though it was hard to get recognition for my work, I believe it came to me because of my relentless pursuit of opportunities. I am always working on conceiving new projects and opening myself up to new artistic possibilities and collaborations. I’d like the world to know that I’m a lot more than a New Yorker cartoonist!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d probably take them to some cool views in the city–definitely hiking at Will Rogers or Griffith. We’d have to go to Venice to see the skate park because out-of-towners love that shit. I’d also go to the Getty Museum, The Broad, and my personal fave, the Hammer. We’d have a fancy dinner at Crossroads and if they’re not vegan like I am, I’d treat them to ice cream at Saffron & Rose (a place I really miss!) If there’s time I’d take them camping up in the Angeles Forest. It would be a very outdoorsy trip!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wanna keep my shoutouts local! I went to high school in Santa Monica and was in Amy Bouse’s AP art class. Miss Bouse is still holding it down at Samohi and a few years ago she invited me to come talk to her class about my work as an illustrator. Before heading off to RISD, I discovered that Miss Bouse’s class was the closest thing to a self-motivated studio practice that I had experienced as a student. I’d also like to shout out a gem of the West side, the Brentwood Art Center, which was where I took my first-ever figure drawing class and where I taught my first group of young students as a RISD graduate.

Website: http://www.lilaash.com
Instagram: @lila__ash
Twitter: @lila__ash

Image Credits
All artwork by me