Ashley Morken
By Ashley Morken, Owner, Unglued
Photos provided by Ashley Morken
The creativity in this community continues to grow in variety and style—and I think discovering Danny Devito mashed up with Pikachu thanks to the work of Mark Elton while shopping Mark’s own illustrated book that includes a red panda exemplifies this perfectly! Meet this creative genius and wordsmith below!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a professional illustrator who prefers cats over dogs, podcasts over music, and really bad movies over just mediocre ones. My blood type is probably caffeine by now, and if I could, I’d be living in a secluded cabin in the woods reading books from my towering TBR pile.
Describe what type of products you make under BiblioTrek?
Over the years, my artwork has been influenced by everything from comic books to classical art. My biggest influences include Norman Rockwell, Richard Scarry, Mike Mignola, and Carl Barks.
Tell us how you got started with your businesses.
When my brother told me he and his wife were expecting their first child, I knew I wanted to do something special for the kid. Remembering my own childhood and the hours I would spend pouring over animal books, I decided to make one just for him. But not just a regular animal book that contained cats, dogs, cows, and horses. I wanted something that would spark his imagination. Hence, the creation of my first book, “Atypical Animals.” The book was a success, and launched two sequels: “Curious Critters” and “Fantastic Fauna.”
What are your personal favorite items you’ve created so far?
My favorite Illustrations are “Rogues & Royals” and “Movie Night,” as both represent a major milestone in my draftsmanship techniques.
What is your most popular item you specifically sell?
In terms of physical items, stickers happen to move fast because they are inexpensive and accessible to most people. However, the most popular illustration I happen to sell is “Danny DeVikachu.” That little critter dude is a friend-shaped fever dream cooked up from doodles meant to pass the time while behind a table. At the insistence of a close art friend, I followed through and finished the rendering, birthing a symbol that blesses every sticker, charm, magnet or mug he happens to grace. People who see him cannot help but stop and say hello!
What is something you’ve enjoyed the most about doing this handcrafted business?
For as long as I can remember, art has been a meditative practice. Having that ability to analyze and explore worlds and ideas as they can or should be acts as a balm when the anxieties and responsibilities of life become overwhelming. What is the most challenging thing? Completing everything I need and want to create at a level that is satisfactory to my inner critic.
You work with both 2D and 3D art—how do you find these interact with each other in your work?
I paint as I sculpt and I sculpt as I draw. Before I was anything close to a satisfactory draftsman, I had a surprising knack for sculpture. So when I started teaching myself how to paint, I leaned into my strengths and adapted what I knew about sculpting and broke everything I wanted to render into cubes, spheres, and amorphous blobs. On occasion, I have even sculpted fully three-dimensional figures and dioramas to act as a physical reference when I found myself having difficulty figuring out the light and perspective of my ideas on the two-dimensional plane.
What is something people might find surprising about creating a book?
It is easier than you think, and can be much less profitable than you would imagine. What is a word that best describes you? Well, I would like to say “human,” but after checking with my friends, they seem to disagree (should I be insulted?), and suggested the following instead: Thoughtful, genuine, dedicated, empathetic.
What advice would you have given yourself five years ago?
Do what you love and trust your heart.
Where can people find your work?
My newest exhibition “Magical Menagerie” will be on display at The Rourke Art Gallery & Museum from November, 8 through the end of December. I highly recommend you check that out as it will be filled with an intense year’s worth of new pieces.
Or, if you just want to check out my stuff online, you can find me at:
BiblioTrek.com
Instagram | @bibliotrekoriginal
