Meet Ashlan Darsey | Stained Glass Artists

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

Hi Ashlan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Like most creatives I’ve met recently I started doing stained glass over the pandemic. I was ( as well as all the folks I worked with) let go from my bar gig. After much panic and uncertainty I needed to find a routine and balance with my life. I started to paint on these old antique windows, I enjoyed it… but I wanted something that would take more time. I looked into stained glass, watched an unhealthy amount of YouTube videos, took myself off of social media for a moment and just went for it. I made lists of everything I needed and got to work! The moment I made my first piece, it scratched an itch that I had for so long. The process of making stained glass challenged me, motivated me, inspired me and gave me a feeling I’d never had before. I remember holding my first piece up in the sky and seeing the sun go through it and I just got butterflies in my stomach. I knew that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I started my first year as giving away all of my pieces as presents and my friends and family just loved it… I went back to work at Hotel Clermont for a little longer and quit my job in August of 2022. Every time I was bartending I was daydreaming about what stained glass piece I wanted to make next and all of my future pieces. I knew from the moment I touched glass that I had found what I really wanted to do with my life for the moment… and that was by far the best feeling I’ve ever experienced to this day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love doing all kinds of designs out of stained glass but my most favorite is doing designs inspired by traditional tattoos. That’s my sweet spot for sure. I love doing large pieces and commissions. Commissions are fun for me because it challenges me to go outside of my comfort zone and allows me to practice drawing things that I would normally not draw. Large pieces are fun for me because it is absolutely breathtaking holding up a big ol piece after hundreds of hours working on it and seeing the light pass through it for the first time, absolutely amazing. I am where I am today with a lot of patience, a lot of trial and errors, a lot of help from the stained glass community and just jumping in head first and working on stained glass almost every single day since June of 2020.
I’ve learned to just take all the opportunities that come your way, the worst that can happen is that you don’t succeed and then that just turns into a learning moment. If you want to make something, make it and if you don’t like it fix what needs to be fixed and keep on going. I’ve learned to do my best with every piece, how to talk positively to myself while dealing with imposter syndrome and to just go for it and take a risk!
What I’d like for the world to know about me/ my brand and story is that there is so much love that goes into each piece as well as so so so much patience. Stained glass is also my little therapy moment. I’ve been booze free for five years on June 28th and while I’m creating pieces I’m constantly reflecting on my past, my future, things I want to do for myself and others, ways I can make a difference in my life and others. When you get a piece from me know that so much love and care goes into it. I am so honored that so many people have supported my little business over the years and that they want something I’ve created in their homes. Life is wild and I’m so dang glad to be here!

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.
Oh yes! We would start every morning at Aurora Coffee shop in Little Five Points its the best and the folks that work in there are so dang sweet and I love them all too much. Food spots would be Littles in Cabbagetown (those sliders are insane), Vice food truck, Bona Fide Deluxe, Carroll Street Cafe, Botiwalla inside of PCM, Iberian Pig and of course Tiny Lou’s inside of Hotel Clermont… every single one of these chefs in there are sweet baby angels and the food they prepare is always so wild and comforting. Hang outs would probably be the roof of Hotel Clermont, Oakland Cemetery, going to see some shows at Variety Playhouse, Boggs, Masquerade, Walking around Inman & Candler Park, getting tattoos at Liberty Tattoo on Ponce, go to either locations of The Victorian in EAV or off of The Beltline and going to eat donuts at Revolution Doughnuts/ Doughnut Dollies or Sarah’s Donuts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh man! I don’t even know where to start. I’d have to say my little sister Lauren, my partner Stenvik Mostrom and my best friends Erin Robasciotti and Raeanne Bevil. Day Kennedy who is the owner of ATL Glasssworks is also my role model and I look up to her so very much. She’s an amazing artists and friend! There are a lot more folks, but that’s my little group who has supported me and loved on me during this wild ride!

Website: Www.havesomemoreatl.com

Instagram: @havesomemoreatl