AC Parsons

Catching Up with Sasha Velvet

Sasha Velvet is a mixed media artist and writer from the United States and became somewhat of a celebrity in Daejeon while she lived in South Korea. Her work is known for its provocative and sensual qualities. She was a member of the Daejeon Arts Collective from 2011 until 2013 when she returned to the States.

 We decided to check in and see what she’s been up to since moving back home.

Can you tell us about your work and what inspires you?

Sasha Velvet: I am a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to my work. I like to incorporate a lot of different media and techniques. I paint, write, draw, build and practice photography and digital manipulation.  Currently I am super in to building installations and playing with double exposure.  I am inspired a lot by faces, especially women. The variation in the human face is just so staggering and interesting. I am also inspired by nature, mortality and social injustices. (Laughs) I sound so generic! That’s what every artist says right? Inspired by the world around me…

Did living in Korea have any profound impact on your work?

SV: It really did. I feel like the time I had in Korea really helped me to develop as an artist. I had the time and the resources to really focus on my work and explore myself.

 

What have you been up to since leaving Korea and what has the transition been like?

SV: The transition back to life in the states has been very difficult. When stressed I get mad creative block and have a really hard time working. I feel like I am just starting to get out of the funk. I finally have a great day job at a non-profit offering support to new mothers and I am just finishing up setting up house. On top of all that I am planning my wedding so I haven’t had too much time to lend to creative endeavors.  I do however belong to a local art collective. I also recently have been hooked up with an awesome gallery space. I am doing live painting demos for their events and I am having a solo show there this July that I am really looking forward to.  I was working as a commercial photographer for a while but quit because I absolutely hated it! It was the worst but I’m glad I now realize that is something I don’t want to do. I have a hard time compromising my artistic vision. (Laughs aloud) It’s cliché but it’s true! Boundaries freak me out man! Besides, I never really considered myself to be a photographer anyway. I am definitely more of a mixed media/digital artist. Oh and I am working on a new website that is taking forever.

About :

Sasha Velvet currently resides on a tiny farm in Ashland, Oregon where she is trying to practice self sustainable living but mostly just takes pictures of her Boston Terrier, Bruce Wayne. She has exhibited her work in South Korea, Japan, Hawaii, San Francisco and Napa Valley. Her photography has been published by CNN.com, My Japan Exhibitions and Elle Décor South Africa; her writing has been published by various online and print literary magazines. She won Best Photo for the annual My Japan Photo Contest in 2011.

 Follow her on Tumblr.

Published by AC Parsons

AC Parsons is an educator and photographer from Daejeon South Korea. He has a passion for sharing information about his experiences through photography. As a photo is worth 1,000 words, often his articles are succinct . He is a member of The Daejeon Arts Collective and has been exhibiting his work throughout Korea for the past 4 years. Artist BIO AC Parsons is a self-taught multigenre photographer who is originally from California. By viewing his unique imagery, one can see that he loves to capture life in all forms and objects/environments of all kinds. AC has been capturing South Korea through photography for the past 12 years. Although he has an intrinsic aspiration to photograph, AC also enjoys sharing his work with the world. He is a seasoned artist having participated in over 20 exhibitions in the past 3 years. He won 3rd place in the 2015 Daejeon Tourism photography contest. His photos have been featured on the cover of PIK, in Groove Magazine, and a variety of websites. He hopes that those who view his photographs can see the world through his eyes, if only for a second.