Vintage, boho and eclectic: Central Florida women debut a joint art collection
This time last year Ashley Cassens and Nicki Turner would not have imagined working together on an art collection.
The pair met in March through a mutual friend and on June 10 will debut their collaborative collection, "Florescence" in Winter Haven at the Summer Nights Market hosted by Babes in Business Florida.
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“Over the last year or so in launching my business I’ve been doing different markets," said Turner. "Ashley and I have been talking about this collaboration and we thought as I am a vendor at that market that it would be a great opportunity to do a soft launch there as well.”
Cassens describes the art as “functional.” The collection includes two painting, with each paired with its own set of earrings. Cassens will paint the earrings Turner designed into the paintings.
“I feel like the collection is beautiful and it has a vintage vibe, boho feel, very eclectic with pattern and color,” Cassens said.
When a patron purchases a pair of earrings, they will receive a small print of the original painting.
“I think it’s an awesome innovative way to give people creativity in their everyday life,” said Cassens.
Turner loves being able to create art that accents what Cassens has created without overpowering Cassens' work.
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“The colors and patterns Ashley chooses is really exciting to me," said Turner. "I don’t think we realize how much we are affected by color and I think it invokes joy.”
Turner received both a bachelors degree in social work in 2009 and in May a master's degree in human services with a concentration in children and family from Southeastern University.
She is a wife and mother to three girls. Turner loved her middle name so much that she decided to name her business Cori Rose Handmade when she launched it in July. This month she is transitioning from working at Southeastern in student conduct to spending more time at home and developing her business.
Even though her academic background is not in arts Turner says she has always been creative, loving to draw and paint.
“About three 3 years ago I started making donut charms with my daughters. I loved it, we made pandas and different things,” she said. “I realized people make jewelry with clay and then last summer I launched Cori Rose Handmade.”
Cassens has a daughter and teaches art at Trinity Oaks elementary school in Pasco County. Cassens received a bachelor degree in drawing and painting from Florida Southern College in 2006. In 2017 she earned a masters in fine art from Florida Atlantic University. She started her self-titled business in October.
"I do mostly oil paintings, I can do other things," said Cassens. "I just love oil paintings so much.”
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Having only known each other for three months, the women have enjoyed their journey together creating the “Florescence” collection.
“I think it’s been really awesome actually. Nicki is really chill to work with,” Cassens said.
The Summer Nights Market is free and will feature locally owned female businesses. The event is June 10 from 6-9 p.m. at Venue 650 located at 650 Sixth St.et in Winter Haven.
Breanna A. Rittman writes news features for The Ledger. Send your feature ideas to BRittman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Two Central Florida women debut a joint art collection
