Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, The Augusta Press presents a standing feature called People and Places, highlighting people or places of interest in the area. This week, the focus is Jana Ashing, who creates characters through costumes and makeup.
Her job requires a uniform, but outside of work, Jana Ashing allows her creativity to flow.
“Costuming and cosplay are hobbies of mine,” said Ashing, who works as a naturalist at Mistletoe State Park, and wears an olive drab uniform.
On weekends and after hours, though, there’s color and creativity.
She often works with area photographers doing creative photo shoots around town. In the fall, she did costuming for a Day of the Dead shoot at Augusta’s historic Magnolia Cemetery.
She also did a four horsewomen of the Apocalypse themed costume for a Renaissance fair and a Viking photo shoot.
“I like historical costumes, but most of mine is fantasy-based,” she said.
She enjoys the history and research that goes into creating historical costumes. She has participated in a variety of historical reenactments including many where judges were sticklers for accuracy. One weekend event she participated in called for the re-enactors to stay in character the entire weekend. Having hidden present-day objects in someone’s pocket would take off points.
The demand for her costume skills reached the point where she started to do it as a side business.
“It started as a hobby, costuming for a drama group,” she said. “I decided to do it as a business, but I didn’t enjoy it as much when I had to do it.”
Since she relegated it back to hobby status, it’s more fun for her, she said.
Her personal favorite cosplay involves characters from the “Star Wars” universe.
“’Return of the Jedi’ is my favorite,” she said.
She has portrayed characters such as a Twi’lek, a humanoid species that appears in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
The fantasy cosplay world provides a good balance for Ashing who does educational programming at Mistletoe State Park. She teaches archery at the park as well as giving classes on animals and organizing arts and crafts projects.
“I love our kayak paddling events,” she said.
Ashing grew up in Florida. Her father worked for the Department of Agriculture, and she and her twin sister spent a lot of time in the out-of-doors growing up. That influenced her when deciding her career path. Initially she majored in political science, but she found herself drawn to environmental education.
“I decided I didn’t want to be in an office,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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