Hi, I’m Ash!
I’m Ashley Clarke, the Canadian prairies-based artist and real live human meatbag behind Toothcrab Studio. My practice focuses on colourful, hand-painted wooden jewellery and playful, expressive artwork rooted in joy, weirdness, and imperfection.
Creativity
My work draws loosely from lived experience and internal worlds, using colour, humour, and a bit of nonsense to turn everyday realities into something lighter. I take the noise of blurry thoughts that come along with what I call “bad brain days” and process it into bright, punchy brushstrokes. I often layer unexpected combinations of visual motifs and overheard words to invite viewers to imagine meaning where it doesn’t strictly exist.
Outside the Studio
When I’m not making stuff, I can usually be found gaming, gardening, reading, or befriending all the neighbourhood kitties—things that help me to power down and allow my thoughts and ideas to percolate.
Why “Toothcrab”?
Toothcrab started during a dental emergency, when I began drawing broken teeth (lots of them) in a creative haze. One of those teeth refused to be a tooth, so it wandered off, picked up some crab parts, and became a representation of the kind of art I enjoy: a little absurd, slightly mischievous, and full of ideas that don’t fully explain themselves.