Congratulations to Asha Bronicki for earning her place as a finalist in the 6th Edition!

Who are you?

My name is Asha, I am a graphite and charcoal artist. Around the age of 5, I began drawing people which included full-figured people in different positions whether it be standing, sitting or kneeling and I’ve always had an interest in clothing. My background includes a corporate career in fashion design during which I designed sleepwear. Alongside that, I also did commission portraiture. I went to school for fashion design from 2011 to 2015 and received a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. And also an Associate's degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Drawing has always been a great foundation for fashion. Fashion was a fun and creative outlet that provided me with financial stability while, at the time, working in New York City. I’ve always wanted to create art but did not have the time or means to create my own series but I was more than willing to do commissioned work when I had availability.

What led me to begin a life as an artist was realizing there is no better time to start than now. Since the beginning of COVID-19, I was blessed with the opportunity to work remotely which in turn gave me more time to search for inspiration, refresh my skills by taking workshops and invest time into art.

What inspired you to utilize drawing as a medium?

I have been drawing as a hobby since I was a young child. While growing up in school, I would always draw on notebooks and assignments when I was bored in classes. Luckily, my teachers never discouraged me. For most of my life, drawing has been second nature to me.

How would you describe your artwork?

I would describe it as being quite expressive because it portrays a deep projection of emotion through facial features such as the eyes and facial recognition. Theology is a dominant theme in my work. I was inspired by a conversation that I had overheard about life’s purpose and why we exist and that led me to have a deeper interrogation of self and to rethink and reevaluate what my purpose in life is. I was intrigued by existential questions such as “Why are we here?”, “Why do we believe what we believe?”, “What we are here to accomplish?” and “What is our lasting impression before we die?”

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind "New Tears"?

I wanted to create a powerful emotion from a spiritual message that people can relate to. "New Tears" is about overcoming obstacles or "tears" of our past and gaining tears of joy for the beauty that is revealed from our ashes. When times are hard and we feel like we’ve overcome immense difficulty, big or small, we shed tears to create a new version of ourselves to create new layers and new beginnings and that new beginning should bring us tears of joy because we are shedding all the tears of our past struggles and difficulties.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

With my work, I aim to show how we see ourselves differently. Sometimes we fail to see the beauty in ourselves and/or in life after a struggle. However, the lessons we learn, and the strength and wisdom we gain, help to form our beauty within.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

One lesson I learned from creating this work was that failure did not exist unless I did not try. After spending several hours on this work that I wanted to finish immediately, I realized I needed many more layers of graphite and charcoal to portray the hyperrealism outcome I wanted. However, this style of work takes an enormous amount of patience. Moving forward and pushing myself was the only way to achieve the final result.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

With my commissioned portraiture clients, success to me was a smile on the client's face after receiving a finished work of art. When families asked me to draw their loved ones, I never forgot the joy it brought to them when they saw the finished product, an art piece that would last in their homes for lifetimes. With my current projects, I start to see more personal success by pushing my own limits, creatively and skillfully.

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

Keeping my current projects private, I hope to accomplish a 15-20 pc large-scale series on the topic of theology. Every year, I hope to invest time in learning about a new religion. To become better acquainted with and gain a deeper understanding of each religion, I start by reading their respective holy book or scripture, as well as taking time to travel to visit sacred sites, and places of worship and meet local people. I am focusing on Judaism in Italy firstly because there’s a vibrant population of Jewish Italians but also Christians and Catholics as well. This year, I’m dedicating my time to focusing on the Bible and next year, another religion. It’s a very eye-opening journey. I believe that religion is often presented as a source of division but I want my work to open eyes to religion being a place of comfort for many to find some ideal way of life to follow. I would say if used correctly, it’s harmless.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?

You are never too old, too inexperienced, or too late to start your artistic dreams in life.