In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
What is your name?
Ashleigh Green
What do you always find yourself saying?
I recently put up a poster in my studio that says “CREATE” and “QUESTION.” I find myself repeating those words every time I enter my studio now.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Maria Popova and talk about everything on her website Brain Pickings.
Who inspires you?
Jillian Tamaki, Cheryl Strayed, Roman Mars, Louise Fili, Maira Kalman, Robert Frank Hunter, Kirsten Lepore, Julia Pott, Chris Ware, Moebius...
What are three things on your bucket list?
1. Own an adventure van
2. Work in a new country
3. Learn a second language
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Jumbo Jet.
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I don't think I'd want to see an entire day before it happens. There's so much joy in the unexpected.
What are you passionate about?
Creating beautiful things, bringing ideas to life, learning about the world through exploring, documenting my discoveries, helping people, good food, and travelling.
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
There are a few special days that stand out right now: a spontaneous adventure from a train ticket found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art that took us up the Hudson river to an artsy town called Beacon; one of the days during a road trip across the South of Iceland with my boyfriend last year; camping outside of Bruges and spending the entire day walking around the city eating waffles, fries, chocolate, and cheese, drinking delicious beers, looking at work from Flemish master painters, and talking about everything.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
During my second year of university, illustrating the children's book The Global Christmas and getting it published by Balboa Press, as well as receiving the DVC Purchase Award for my reel of animations in my UBCO grad show.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
It's hard to choose only one... Whenever I'm away from Kelowna I find myself thinking about the waffles from the Jammery, Woodfire Bakery's cordon bleu subs, and the laksa from Mad Mango Cafe.
What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Hiking/walking the mountain trails, or listening to good music and driving to various lookouts at night. Either way, I love seeing new perspectives of the city.
What is the name of your business?
Ashleigh Green Illustration & Design
What does your business/organization do?
Illustration and graphic design. I work with small businesses and wonderful people throughout the Okanagan to create graphics, branding, and promotional pieces. When I'm not working with clients, I'm creating my own animations, drawings, and books.
Where can people find you or your business online?
ashleighgreen.ca
Where can people find your business on Instagram?
@ashsgreen
What is your Twitter account?
I use dribbble instead: dribbble.com/asgreen/
What is your mission?
To create beautiful experiences and communicate clearly.
If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To publish a book with Drawn & Quarterly like many of my favourite illustrators have.
Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
An involved component of the growing arts and tech community in Kelowna.
What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
All mediums of my work share the following values: simple, clean, and personable.
What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
To everyone I've worked with: Thank you!
How does your business/organization impact the community?
I intend to help small businesses grow and support the places I love most in this city. For example, I work closely with Aboriginal Programs & Services at UBC Okanagan because I believe in their mission and want to help future and current students at UBC.
If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
The publishing industry. It would be amazing to walk away from being trapped in an elevator with a book deal.
If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Its dependency on cars.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Its natural beauty and growing arts scene.
My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Kelsie Balehowsky, photographer and printmaker.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
I'm currently creating a small self-published book of drawings and memories from my recent travels around Europe.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clickingHERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!
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