Art is not only a form of self-expression, but an alternative way to communicate. When unable to find the words to describe something, art can step in to fill in the gaps. This shines brightly through the work of Ashley Dianne Merced, also known as AngelRoseStar, on social media platforms. With lightning-fast skills, she can create sketches for new artworks with ease and can finish a smaller piece within the span of fifteen to twenty minutes, an impressive feat for an artist so detailed.
Much like the delicate, sweet, and floral nature of a white rose, Merced (who prefers to go by Angel) and her art express gentle, colorful hues and detailed design. Another extension of herself, her art shows her creativity, whimsicality, and thoughtful nature. Not only is she grateful for her life’s journey, but she is surrounded by a uniquely inspiring, comforting, and whimsical aura that rubs off on those closest to her and especially into her art. Forever punctual, being on time or a smidge early are some of Angel’s specialties, a trait which directly spills over into her ability to speed run a precise, high quality commission for her buyers and viewers.
Angel, the eldest of three, was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Alberto Merced and Silvia Mieto on July 16 in 1997. The pair had met initially in the Bronx, New York and returned to its downtown neighborhood of Melrose when Angel was three months old. Her younger brother Kevin and sister Emmaly were born a few years following. As a close-knit family, they have always brought each other comfort and inspiration, even if her parents were initially a bit strict.
Growing up as a (now former) Jehovah Witness shaped Angel’s outward facing personality as well as her moral compass. “There were times when you can’t celebrate holidays, especially your birthday, and I thought it was very sad because I couldn’t understand why as a kid, ‘Why can’t I do this?’” Angel also refrains from use of profanity, “I still don’t curse,” she said.
Family holds a pivotal role in her life, from playing American handball together to encouraging each other’s dreams. Eventually, her parents allowed the children to discover their own beliefs and navigate life of their own accord and provided consistent support.
Her mother’s love for the anime Sailor Moon initially opened the door for her to begin evolving her artistic interests. Angel was also an avid consumer of Japanese manga. “I love metaphors within imagery. When I see a picture, I understand it more. A picture can say a lot. I put a lot of myself into my imagery, including emotions,” she said with a smile in her voice.
Art became Angel’s favored form of communication, shaping her development and self-expression from a young age. Diagnosed with Dyslexia at a young age, the young artist would be frustrated to the point of crying and internal anger when faced with assignments such as reading or long answer questions.
“I had trouble reading to the point that I hated reading books. I struggled but got through it and really worked to read better. I’m still not perfect, but I’m better than I was,” said Angel, confidently.
The duration of her education frequently brought her to Chinatown and the surrounding areas in Manhattan, where she attended most of her grade school years and college, surrounded by communities that highly influenced her media interests. She attended a fine arts high school that led her to develop her artistic interests into skills.
College was a new ballpark for Angel, one that initially overwhelmed her with possibilities. Initially confused with what major piqued her interest, she ultimately settled on packaging design. She graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree.
The origins of her username dated back to her 5th grade year, when she and fellow grade students received their first school email accounts. Inspired by her friend’s username choice, she went with AngelBlueStar. Upon discovering Twitch, she decided she preferred something more unique and fitting to her, AngelRoseStar.
As for the inspiration behind the new name, Angel explained, “Angel for my love of angels and heaven, roses are my favorite flower, especially white roses, and stars because I love stars and star shapes, also my favorite Pokemon is the star Jirachi.”
Twitch quickly became and remains a big part of her life. Angel began watching in 2014, when the site was mainly a live-streaming platform for video games. The artist had an array of acquaintances, but her online communities loomed larger in her social life. The website debuted new categories in 2015, one being the Art Directory. July 16, 2018 (her 21st birthday) marked the official launch of AngelRoseStar’s Twitch Art channel There, she started showcasing her art and the full creation process.
Largely influenced by her peers, she decided to take the leap. “I was like, ‘Oh! Maybe this is something I can do so that I can actually show off my skills to people.’ After a few years is when I bit the bullet and said, ‘Okay, I can do this!’” Angel exclaimed.
She has continued her commission work over the years and even collaborated with other creators, which has been a stable source of income. “I’m grateful for the gratitude I receive from my viewers, knowing that my art is appreciated makes me very happy!” said Angel.
Painting a picture with her words, Angel described a brief vision of her future. Although a daunting task to some, her answer came with ease. In a fluffy and positive tone, she said, “Hopefully I’ll get my own place, build my business, maybe even open a shop of some kind using my art. I want to network more, and possibly even hire employees of some form. I just want to continue doing what I love. I just want to be happy with what I do and what I’m going to do. And I just want people to get joy from my art.”
Ashley “AngelRoseStar” Merced is a testament to the fact that hard work and passion can truly create something beautiful. She currently resides in the same Bronx apartment with her father and siblings, continuing her commission work and maintaining her Twitch community with rarely a day off.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all my friends and supporters for everything over the years. Seeing people enjoy my work and the process of creating it makes me so happy and makes it all worth it,” Angel said cheerfully.
Check out her art streams at twitch.tv/angelrosestar and follow her Twitter, @Angelrosestar if you are interested in a commission, send Angel a direct message via Twitter. Angel’s digital illustration portfolio can be accessed here: https://angelrosestar.carrd.co/ .
