astray
it’s okay to be astray
Lifelong creative Erin tells her story of self acceptance and discovery, and how she can’t keep her hands out of the proverbial artistic “cookie jar”
Before the unprecedented year of 2020, Erin never gave herself full permission to be an artist and pursue her art.
Even while attending the well regarded art program at Kutztown University for her BFA in fine arts years ago, in the back of her mind Erin was reminded of the stereotype of the starving artist. “Art didn’t feel like a legitimate choice,” she says. She remembers hearing that art curriculums were being cut from schools, and that the art therapy career path was being fazed out, a prospective path she was considering at the time and still ponders.
But her professors gave her hope. “Professor Kane and Professor Mahosky",” Erin reflects, “they saved me from myself.” While dealing with her complicated feelings regarding her professional future, she was also grieving the sudden death of her best friend, Alyssa. Erin remembers her art at that time was very telling. It was apparent that she was letting out deep and sometimes dark emotions through her work.
erin’s creative love languages
Portraits of all “creatures”, humans and animals
Apparel- lover of vintage and funky fashion
Photography, including a series of portraits she captured at a nursing home, and a Veterans photo series
Custom cow skulls
Movement and fitness, including a career as a fitness instructor at many boutique studios (more on this below)
Poetry and music- a lover of all music genres from screamo to country to r&b
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Erin found herself wondering “what now?” With the closure of fitness studios worldwide, Erin’s work life (her resume includes barre 3 fitness instructor, waitress, manager at soulcycle, lagree coach) came to a stuttering halt. Suddenly she had ample time to devote to her art, and she intended to take full advantage of it.
She was enjoying her newfound time to create while simultaneously processing the various social movements heightening in the spring of 2020. Erin felt called to do her part, and offered donation-based portraits ranging from people to pets. “I was so lit up by the Black Lives Matter Movement and felt motivated to help and amplify black voices,” says Erin, who donated all of her portrait proceeds to Brotherhood Sister Sol, a Harlem-based organization benefiting black and latino youth.
Her zany portrait style developed organically when she started creating custom digital sketches. “I’m just playing,” Erin says. “For the first time I’m consistently playing with my work.”
Beyond portraits, Erin formulated ASTRAY long ago, and secured the LLC immediately after college with the help of her late friend Alyssa’s father. At the time, she sold mostly ASTRAY apparel, including beanies (pictured above), vintage finds and unisex custom shirts and sweatshirts. Now ASTRAY is more than apparel; it’s all of Erin’s art and passions, and it’s her vessel for creativity. Her interest in unisex apparel runs parallel to her acknowledgement that she’s never fit in a tidy box. Influenced by breakout male and female artists like Stevie Nicks, Zoe Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix and Florence Welsch, she channels these fashion icons unapologetic approach in her designs. “I think no matter however you may identify, you should feel powerful in whatever you feel called to wear,” Erin says.
With her recent IN THE WILD collection, Erin celebrates her knack for vintage curating, including apparel and accessories.
the next chapter of astray
fitness for creative creatures
ASTRAY MOVEMENT will fuse Erin’s love for art and fitness, and serve as a creative approach to movement. For Erin, movement needs to be grounding, intentional and creative. But it’s taken a while for her to learn those ropes.
“I struggled with disordered eating and overexercising in my 20’s. I’ve finally figured out the type of movement that honors how I have learned to honor myself. I have decided to step into my own teachings to showcase the type of movement that has supported my constant healing. This is a form of art therapy which has really come full circle for me.”
Moving her body slowly and deliberately brings her peace equivalent to the release of a paint stroke. Being present with her breath and allowing her mind time to process the movement is her approach to exercise. Working out has become as vital as art making for Erin. “I want to share this gift of the places you can go in the soul when you choose to move your mind while not running from your mind.”
“They don’t have to move like me,” says Erin, who believes having the freedom to choose your own adventure during a workout and have a unique experience during a guided exercise class is cathartic. “Modifications are really just alternative options to stay in a muscle group that just feels better on your body on whatever day. As a Movement Coach and Artist, I never want to present myself as healed or someone who has all the answers because I am constantly healing and constantly learning. We can collectively heal alongside of each other.” Fitness can and should be interpretive. ASTRAY MOVEMENT will celebrate independent movement.
a jack of all trades is a master. period.
The ASTRAY brand will always celebrate weirdness and authenticity. The idea that a different way of thinking is something to be celebrated. The ASTRAY logo, a rim of a coffee cup, signifies the feeling of sipping your morning coffee, and how precious that ritual can be. Everyday we reawaken, and ASTRAY is Erin’s rebirth, and promise to herself that anything is possible. Even a career as a creative.
“Sometimes I worry that ASTRAY doesn’t have one element of mastery. I have a lot of different interests and this is one big road trip of my soul. I am here for the long haul.”
Follow Erin at ASTRAY to stay updated on her artistic journey, and shop ASTRAY online for her latest creations.