About

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Karin Ashley works in the alchemy of crystallizing ethically sourced insects, bones, articulated skeletons and other ephemera. Her unique body of work is best described as being classically beautiful, yet modernly glamorous - inspired by the natural world and the beauty within it. Her completed specimens appear as if they have been carrying their precious crystal burdens through their lives, and skeletons look as if they have crystallized as part of their decay.

After graduating with a degree in fine art, Karin began collecting insects as reference material for drawing and painting. Quickly, the process of preserving specimens became an all consuming labor of love and a welcome respite from the rigors of classical, figurative art training. It reawakened the spirit of the young girl wandering the halls of the natural history museums, mesmerized by the beauty in the shimmering wings of the dragonflies, the intricate patterns of mineral formations and the meandering trails of beetle galleries underneath tree bark. Dusting off an old craft store "grow your own crystals" science kit provided the catalyst for what has largely become the foundation for Karin's work today. Biology meets chemistry through the exacting lens of a fine artist. 

Karin has been creating and selling work in the oddities community for a number of years and her work can be found in collections around the world.

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Crystallization Process:

The crystallization process is not dissimilar to growing sugar crystals on a string. A supersaturated solution is mixed up and allowed to cool. As the solution evaporates, crystals begin to form and fall out of the solution. They form larger crystals that continue to grow on a disturbance in the solution; in this case, an exoskeleton from various insects. This process can take anywhere from a couple hours to several days and even weeks, depending on the solution, desired size of the crystals and the current weather conditions. Crystal shape and color is determined by the elements in the solution, but occasionally artistic license is used to achieve colors that are highly toxic or otherwise unstable naturally. Once the desired crystal size has been achieved, the specimen is removed from the solution and the crystal growth will stop. After carefully drying, the specimen is placed in an airtight display. This serves two purposes: to protect the insect specimen from being destroyed by opportunistic smaller insects that target collections and to protect the crystals from drying out and degrading over time. All materials used are archival and will last for the years to come if kept out of direct sunlight.