Meet Ash Soriano | Digital Illustrator & Comic Artist (my pronouns are they/them/theirs)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ash Soriano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ash, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’m in the very beginning of my career, so I’m still finding my footing, but I will say that being an artist and a writer has been one of my biggest dreams as a kid! I grew up with people wanting a medical or engineering career out of me, but I really struggled with fitting myself into that box as I got older. I was always a creative kid when I was little and I rarely let it get to me, however, my plans always shifted around what I thought was what everyone wanted for me. Masking what I truly wanted or resolving to “pursue my passions on the side” made me fall out of love with what brought me so much joy as a child.

I had a chance to evaluate my goals during my junior year of college after taking a class with one of the most passionate professors I’ve had, Dr. James Blasingame at ASU. I’ve been introduced to so many amazing local artists and creatives since then, and have gotten the incredible opportunity to refocus my vision for my future toward something I’m very passionate about. So I would say I’m pursuing my artistic career because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a cartoonist, so I suppose what sets me apart is my art style & way of storytelling. I’ve always loved telling stories, so with being a visual storyteller, there are so many ways you can articulate a narrative. Comics have always been a love of mine, so a lot of my work revolves around comics– specifically about my personal life. It’s always cathartic to express myself through art, plus, my life is a story no one else can tell! As I’ve mentioned before, I’m currently working on a comic project with Zack Solomon, and I’m so excited to have the chance to illustrate his narrative. Alongside that, I’m very excited to start working on my own zines and short comics— I’m looking forward to one in particular, which is a short memoir-like comic about my Filipino background and the food I grew up with!

I don’t know if I’d categorize myself as a professional right now, especially because my career is still getting started! There is so much for me to learn, but as of right now, I’m hoping to apply to some schools for a master’s in illustration practices after I graduate next spring. One of the current challenges I’m facing— and I’m sure many other artists are as well— is the rise of generative AI and its threat to real, human creatives, especially now that we rely on an internet presence. It’s a scary thought, to have your possible career and lifelong dream crushed by unfeeling technology, but something that helps me get by is that it is just that– unfeeling. The amazing artists I’ve gotten the chance to meet inject their works with so much love and care that it’s truly hard to beat the real thing. You can’t meet an AI and have a true, heartfelt conversation about their latest illustration, nor can you have a genuine interaction with an “AI artist” about their practices. Being surrounded by local creatives has helped me immensely over the last few months and being connected to a community has shown me that passion and drive for the arts is real, tangible, and full of love.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would absolutely take them to Snakes & Lattes in Tempe! It’s one of my favorite spots in town and it’s so close to ASU too! They have incredible vibes and a wonderful selection of foods and drinks, and honestly, nothing can beat the energy of playing a board game with some good friends. I’d also honestly plan a trip around the Tempe Festival for the Arts or 2nd Sundays on Mill during the cooler months! I love the energy of art markets and with it being Tempe’s biggest markets, it’s not only nice to walk around, but you can support local artists and vendors directly!

I would also recommend Brick Road Coffee of course, which has been the spot of many study, writing, and drawing sessions over the past few years. Their iced vanilla lattes do wonders for me when I need to do work or just catch up with a friend. Plus, they’re a local queer business, and their environment is so welcoming!

One final place I would have to recommend is At My Place cafe in Mesa– being Filipino, I can’t not recommend Filipino food! It’s such a place of comfort whenever I’m missing my mom’s homestyle cooking, and it’s a wonderful place to introduce people to authentic Filipino cuisine.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out Dr. Blasingame as mentioned before of course! His YA Literature class helped me connect with so many amazing and creative people! I’d also like to recognize my good friend and writing partner Zack Solomon, who reached out to me to work on my first project as a comic artist & has introduced me to incredible local artists & writers– truly, without him, I wouldn’t be where I am right now! And I’d like to thank all of my supportive friends for being my hype people, as well as my incredible partner in crime, Zoe, who has endlessly supported my creative ventures as my personal little cheerleader.

Finally, I want to thank my mentors in high school who never hesitated to support me– I still think about them! As I was figuring out who I was in the world, they always encouraged me to be true to myself and not to change for anyone. Their words have impacted me to this day, and I am so grateful.

Website: https://ashdoescomics.squarespace.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashdoescomics/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-soriano-64302b232/