To Know Her Is To Love Her, No Ifs, Ands, Or Butts About It.

It is an honor & a pleasure to introduce our first ever featured artist, Ashley Pompell, with charm & talent far beyond our wildest dreams. She beams with grace & kindness as she marches through life to the beat of Seger's drums. (Seger Rauls, formally known as a musical genius & Ashley's boo thang.) Ashley is a Media & Productions Assistant at Phoenix Studios in Nashville, TN, Restaurant Extraordinaire, & Cookout Drive-thru Enthusiast. She could tell you exactly how old the cheese bites are in a blind taste test. Impressive is an understatement.

This spicy redhead is everyone's tattooed pinup dream girl, & her art is a brilliant reflection of the mastermind she is. Ashley's edgy femme craft takes shape in tattoo-esque digital & hand drawings, representing the sharp side of sensuality. Radiant in personality, questionable is soul, Ashley & her art share the allure of haunting complexity.

 

Q&A with A.P.

Where are you from?! Give us a little background.

I currently live in Nashville but grew up in a small-town, conservative Cookeville, TN. Raised by a sweet, baby angel mother & an unhinged, goofball father, my household was a constant pull between calm & cozy or hilariously disastrous. We were the go-to fun house for both the neighborhood & church kids. While I'm technically an only child, it truly never felt that way. Between broken fingers on the backyard blow-up water slide & exploded boiled eggs still stuck on the kitchen ceiling to this day, my childhood stories are endless. My childhood was filled with love & fun experiences, but as I got older, I found myself longing to be closer to the city. So here I am, Nashville living.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I'm a massive foodie, so this is a difficult thought. I'm always weak for some BBQ but also a mac & cheese lover until the end. BBQ mac & cheese it is!

Do gingers have souls?

Absolutely not. That's why we act the way we do!

What is a day in the life of Ashley?

I try to start the day with a yummy breakfast & some coffee, always. Dove, my cat, sits in my lap at my vanity watching my every move while I get ready. If I'm not getting ready for a workday, you'll catch me at a thrift store searching for treasure or helping Seger with home & work projects. Regardless, the night always ends with a meal (our favorite is Cookout) & binge watching whatever show we are currently obsessed with (it's 24 for now).

You & Seger Rauls prioritize a daily mental health practice as a couple. How does that take shape?

"Alexa, play 'I Gotta Feeling' by Black Eyed Peas," then we jump on the bed until he simply can't deal with me anymore.

On a scale of 1-10, how bad is your morning breath?

A solid 7, which is a warning sign to not speak to me until I'm up, brushed, & have coffee in hand. I have never been & will never be a morning person. 

How many tattoos do you have?

I have a sleeve, & I'm working on filling up a leg! I fill areas piece by piece, so maybe 16-17 of various sizes. I'm a big traditional tattoo fan, & it definitely influences my own drawing style.

What is the meanest thing anyone has ever said to you?

 

When I was probably 14 years old, a boy told me I was so pale I looked translucent & sick. I told him, "I'm a redhead, dummy. Kick rocks."

 

What is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?

 

A compliment that has always meant the world to me is when I was told that I'm kind & approachable. I made it a goal in high school to try my best to be inviting & inclusive. My friend groups have always looked like The Breakfast Club & that's something I've always valued.

 

Best advice you've ever been given/taken?

 

Don't be afraid to start over. You're not starting from scratch; you're starting from experience. A lot of things keep us in places, with people, in jobs we don't need to be. People pleasing, fear, & anxiety have always been a ball & chain to me.

I'm proud to report, with a few traumatic experiences, therapy, & a sense of humor, I've leaned into this advice more than once. I think I might be on my third life by now?? HA! We live & we learn. Don't be afraid of it.

 

What are you working on now?

 I'm currently challenging myself, creating in a different style working on a collection of digital paintings for a dear friend battling breast cancer. After that, I'll be expanding my collection of hand-painted vintage bags & purses.

CHLOU in & Shop all things Ashley.

Follow her on Instagram @shlay_ & @baddashh