Ashley Caswell: Illustrator

Plants have never had more of an impact on our well-being than now. Caring for living things gives us purpose and can bring joy in the midst of uncertainty and anxiety. 

Brooklyn-based artist and illustrator Ashley Caswell creates humorous comics about dealing with anxiety and other life experiences and sometimes does so with plants as the subjects. 

“I definitely consider myself a plant person. I have killed more than a few plants in the past…but it’s really rewarding to see a plant thrive because of how you take care of it.”

As a final thesis project in 2016, Ashley self-published a zine titled Plant Buds, a creative comic showing a more literal connection between humans and plants. The art depicts people with various plant-life growing from their bodies. 

Not all of Ashley’s works depict plants, but it seems having an apartment full of greenery has been a big inspiration.

“I like to explore the idea of growth in my comics and storytelling and I think plants are the easiest way to do that.”

Ashley’s style is mostly line-art which allows for more detail to come out with each project. The bright and pastel colors really make each artwork stand out.

Ashley’s plant-themed works have a realness to them, depicting the struggles of keeping a plant alive and the stress that comes with caring for a living thing.

“I want to be really self-indulgent with humor and exploring my relationship with the plants that I grow and the guilt for when I don’t succeed…”

This episode was filmed and edited by Patrick Schechter. 

Ashley mentions the upcoming work, My Plants Know I’m Their Dad, it is out now and information can be found here.

Click here for Ashley’s website.

Follow Ashley on Instagram.