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Many university graduates in Jamaica follow the traditional route of seeking a nine-to-five job after earning their degree.

But, for 27-year-old Ashley Chambers, her true calling didn't come from her animation studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica, but from her pencil, passion, and an unexpected moment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was actually my friend Shari, we were just there and she said, 'Ashley, draw me.' I did, and her brother saw it and said, 'This looks so good, can I get one too?'"

What started as a casual request quickly became the foundation for a thriving career. With each new portrait, Chambers' skills sharpened and, soon, demand for her work grew. Despite having formal training in digital animation, she found her deepest passion in hand-drawn art, something she had been doing since childhood.

"I can't even put it into words, understanding the anatomy of the way shadows and light fall on the face and on the bone structure is a huge part, but it's also about the very slight shading. The way shadows are drawn creates the face, and then you have value - how dark or light certain areas are. That's what makes a face look old or young, depending on the wrinkles and the softness," she said.

Chambers is also a teacher, inspiring young minds at May Day High School in Manchester. Her journey into teaching was somewhat unplanned, sparked by a suggestion from her sixth-form art teacher.

"She told me, 'I think you'd be great at this,'" Chambers recalled. "I had always helped out my younger siblings with their schoolwork, so I thought, why not?" As a teacher, she works with future artists, seeing their transformation firsthand.

"The best part is seeing the growth in my students," she said. "A lot of them come in saying, 'Miss, I can't draw,' but, when I show them how to start with a shape, add shading, and build from there, they surprise themselves."

MALE DOMINATED FIELD

Portrait artistry in Jamaica, much like other fine arts, has traditionally been dominated by men. While names like Jeffrey Perry are well known in the space, female portrait artists remain relatively rare. Chambers, however, sees this as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

"When people hear about a portrait artist, they often assume it's a man," she said. "But, once they see my work and put a face to the name, I've never had an issue getting recognition." She credited her success to social media, particularly TikTok, where her work has gained widespread attention while sharing pieces with dancer Pretti Pretti, and famous couple Shanzi and Nino.

"It's an amazing feeling to know that people appreciate my work," she said. "The comments, the support, it's overwhelming in the best way."

Juggling full-time teaching, commissioned portrait work, and other creative projects is no easy task, but Chambers likens it to a popular saying.

"When you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work. It's about time management. It's not always easy, especially with deadlines, but I make it work."

Her detailed, hyper-realistic portraits often take up to 80 hours to complete, spread over two weeks. But she also has ambitions to expand into live portrait painting and capturing people in real-time at events like weddings.

"That's my next goal. I've been practising on my siblings, and I'd love to bring that experience to clients in the future," she said.

Chambers' creative pursuits extend beyond drawing. She is also the producer of the Yaad Podcast, a platform she helped bring to life alongside her boyfriend, Brandon.

"He had this idea for a podcast and I was like, 'Let's do it!' With my background in animation and editing, it just made sense."

"I always have my hands in different things," she added. "I love creating, whether it's art, events, or content."

For young Jamaicans considering a career in art, Chambers urged them to put their work out there, opining that there is a market for art in Jamaica.

"I used to be hesitant, thinking I wasn't good enough yet. But, the more you create, the better you become, and your audience will find you."