working on details of "Deanna" oil on canvas 20" x 24" What's new? Me here, the lady who is really bad about updating her blog! Also me, the person pretty decent at updating her Instagram this summer. So if you're a person who is constantly refreshing or truly PINING away for an e-mail from me in your inbox, go on over there and follow me. :) Since you last heard from me I was making gains at getting little people to understand perspective, the color wheel, and how to be ki

Beat a rainy summer day into submission by joining me at the Imagine Museum tomorrow for Pop-Up Art! Children and families are invited to Imagine Museum to enjoy art-making activities in our Grand Hall. Pop-up art activities are suitable for all age levels. No need to RSVP- come by anytime between 11 am and 2 pm to enjoy a creative family activity. Take advantage of our family discount and tour our museum! All ages are welcome. Free 1st floor, Grand Hall All ages can particip

Hi Friends! It's been a wild month. Two shows, our first family vacay with a baby (success!), and dun da da dun - a new job! I'm returning to teaching in the fall and couldn't be more excited! It's been a lot of: interviews, studying, test taking, and wearing hot dress pants in 92 degrees. So, what's the job? I'm the new art teacher at Anclote Elementary! Are you ready? We're going to make some awesome things in the art room! I've been following fellow art educator, Ca

Hey friends! I have two shows in the Tampa Bay area this month.  Hope you can check them out! June 30th - September 29th, 2018 @ ENIGMA ENIGMA 1110 Central Avenue N St Petersburg,FL Check out this and a couple of other rainbow-fueled paintings: The Earring oil on wood panel 36" x 36" $300.00 (Did you know that the Earring is painted on top of lots of fun things like puffy paint, glitter, and charcoal?) July 3rd to Aug. 21, 2018 - Grand Visions @ Hidden Springs Ale Works 1631

Check out these new works on paper by Tampa artist, Ashley Cassens, as she shares intimate moments of her pregnancy through drawing and pain

Thank you to Peripheral ARTeries, who included me in a Special 2018 issue! Please follow the links below to view the digital mag. Some but not all things covered in the interview: + why I'm a crappy abstract painter (page 62!) + hideous things I made in 2014 (page 69!), + why I love painting hands (page 83!) + and if being a woman impacts my work (page 76!). Cuddle up with a cup of coffee for the full dish - I apparently have one of the longest articles in magazine history.

I've been s-l-o-w-l-y plugging away, in between commissions drying, at a new series, titled: dear Merritt, It's a body of small oil paintings, standing only 5” x 7” tall. Currently I'm working on five but envision 7-10 framed paintings in total. Each little work is accompanied by a one page written narrative exorcising each painting’s memory. The oil paintings are delicately painted miniatures (i.e. the tinier the brush the better!) inspired by my memories from childhood in

If you're like me, you're impatient waiting for paint for dry and don't have 6+ months to wait for a painting to be varnished. Yet, you want the rich color and protection that varnishing an oil painting brings. Solution solved! Say hello to Gamblin's Gamvar Picture Varnish! In this quick tutorial I walk you through the basic steps on how to go about varnishing your oil painting. note: always practice safety and varnish in a well-ventilated area and stay.away.from.flames, d

PRIMED: an art exhibition that explores the endless possibilities of paint featuring three Florida Artists

Does it bother me to present my private exchanges in a public space? No.  Was I hesitant?  Sure.

Hi friends! I'm back with a crash course video on how to paint what you SEE and not what you KNOW. Is an apple really red? Is the sky really blue? Learn how to become a better painter by truly looking and knowing the difference between local color and perceived color. The more I search (and understand that we never stop learning how to see) the better my work becomes. I challenge you to do the same! Local Color Vs. Perceived Color by Ashley Cassens #artvideo #arttutorial #

I know it seems absurd to mention the C-word (Christmas) and consequently the H-word (Holidays) but I'm going in! Start thinking about putting requests in now if you'd like a beautiful, personalized, painting to give as a gift to someone you love or to yourself. The process takes 6-8 weeks so carve out YOUR spot by sending me a message today. I already have two spots that are taken and I can only fit in a few more! Proof positive that a painting from Home Goods never elicit

STORM UPDATE: While September has thus far been a roller coaster, thanks to Hurricane Ir... you know. I'm not even go to finish that sentence. If you've been watching, reading, reacting, cursing at that former storm than, like me, you are just as sick of thinking about it, talking about and expending more energy on it. What's important is that I'm safe, my friends and family are safe and for the most part it's nothing that time and a few trips to Home Depot can't repair.

Welcome to my studio! A lot has changed since May! I am quasi-moved into my new home studio space. It's a loft space which provides beautiful light throughout the day. The Florida rays are definitely heating things up (heat rises!) but it's nothing a powerful fan and an iced coffee can't cure. My pup, Lucius Fox, is certainly loving his status as full time studio dog and I'm currently caught up with all my favorite podcasts. If you have any suggestions, let me know! Pictu

In the spring I had the pleasure of meeting and learning from esteemed artist, Steven Assael, at the Armory Art Center. Coming into the workshop I was clearly intimidated by his immense talent but was pleasantly surprised to learn how approachable and encouraging he was as an instructor. Steven made an indelible impression on me as an artist which truly affected the quality of my work. Months later I am still ruminating on major takeaways from the experience. Here are fiv

tre amici at The Bunker presents the highly chromatic oil paintings of visual artist Ashley Cassens from Sun. August 13th 4pm through Sun Sept. 17th, 2017 2pm SUN, AUG 13th - SUN, SEPT 17th @THE BUNKER 1907 N. 19th St. Ybor City, FL Mon-Sat 8am-8pm Sun 10am-4pm SOFT OPENING: August 26th 5-7pm FREE! ABOUT: Ashley Cassens is a recent graduate from the Master of FIne Arts Program at Florida Atlantic University. She creates saturated and lusciously layered oil paintings that feat

Drawing and painting can be rough. Simplifying your composition is the first step in making a great drawing and painting. In this how-to video I show you how to make your viewfinder to do just that! Step 1: Assemble your materials index card (4"x 6") x-acto knife ruler pencil tape floss (optional) Step 2: Measure your viewfinder 1" on the longest side - 1 1/2" on the shortest side. Your viewfinder window is 3" x 2" Step 3: Cut your viewfinder Step 4: Add floss in the cente

Byeeeeee As school's are closing, bbq's are firing and summer vacations are launching, I wanted to send a quick thank you for so many new and old followers. Being a painter can often be an isolating affair and it means so much to have you all in my corner. I'm busy prepping for lots of new commissions in June, as well a vacation of my own, and may (pun intended) be disconnected for the next few days. In the meantime, don't forget the May discount that's happening right now i

Happy Friday, y'all! Gather around the proverbial fire as I drop a little art hack for the weekend. I'm using gold leaf imitation (not real gold, boo!). A few tips: be sure to shake up your adhesive sizing before using and gold leaf in a well ventilated area. Gold leafing takes some practice and can get a little messy but what fun thing ISN'T? Materials: Canvas (my canvas is primed with a napthol red acrylic paint - many gold leafers will use a warm tone underneath to bring

Happy Friday! Today's art hack debunks creating value scales on your palette. Check out how to quickly make one of your own, using oil or acrylic paints on any palette! (I'm using a glass palette mounted to foam core board, but a paper palette or even a paper plate works in a pinch). Materials: Winsor & Newton Zinc White Winsor &Newton Flake White Hue (all the things you love about flake white without the cancer) Winsor & Newton Ivory Black palette knife palette #tutorial #ar