Psyche Inspired: Ash Soriano

Ash Soriano Headshot

Institution: Arizona State University

Major: Media Arts & Sciences

Psyche Inspired Class: 2024-2025

"Metal World Essentials" is a layflat design of some of the materials associated with the Psyche mission, including merchandise, models, and some scientific instruments. This piece was made digitally with Procreate using dry ink and half tone brushes.

MEtal World Essentials

ASH soriano

October 30th, 2024

Major: Media Arts and Sciences

Genre/Medium: Digital Painting; Created with Procreate

About the work:

“Metal World Essentials”— named after Psyche’s slogan “Journey to a metal world”— is a layflat design of various objects related to the Psyche mission. As my first piece for Psyche Inspired, illustrating a poster with merchandise, models, and scientific instruments was a great way to familiarize myself to the mission. I was inspired by prop illustrations and other layflat designs, especially since there are many items associated with the mission. I thought that this would be a perfect introduction for others to catch a glimpse of what surrounds the mission. It was a little challenging to find objects that would fit in a small area, since a lot of the instruments involved in the making of Psyche were so big. Ultimately, I decided to go with two instruments— the spectrometer and multispectral imager— amongst other Psyche items that were introduced to me at the ASU Earth and Space Open House. Read more…

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This print pictures a black and white image of the Psyche asteroid. The asteroid sits at the center of the print, with the Psyche spacecraft circles around below the asteroid. There are light rays coming from the asteroid. A trail of smoke and stars borders the entire piece.

Inspired Ink

Ash Soriano

December 4th, 2024

Major: Media Arts & Sciences

Genre/Medium: block printing ink, carving tools, linoleum block, paper

About the work:

For this piece, I wanted to try something new to challenge myself, much like how the Psyche mission is doing something new to challenge what we know about our earth. “Inspired Ink” is a linoleum block print, also known as a linocut print, made by sketching a reversed image on the block, carving away the negative, then inking the block to transfer it to paper. Visually, I wanted to focus on the orbit of the Psyche spacecraft around the Psyche asteroid, especially since I was limited to one ink color. I had the border around the piece a trail of smoke and stars to represent the beginning— the launch of Psyche— and the destination— the asteroid among a sea of stars. This piece was particularly challenging because the cuts are permanent and the final product won’t be revealed until the end, so I was a little intimidated trying something new for this project. However, it reminded me a lot of the wonderful speakers the Iridium Class interns have had thus far; how this mission was new to them and how we all get the chance to find out together what Psyche has in store for us.

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The cover says "Letters to The Universe" on an envelope. The whole zine reads, "Dear Universe, we sent out a friend. I'm sure you may have met. Not to worry she isn't lost, she's looking for her namesake. Perhaps they can answer her questions that we cannot. We wonder what she'll see on that long journey ahead. She's alone out there. Keep her company, won't you? Sincerely, Earth".

Letters to the Universe

Ash Soriano

March 18th, 2025

Major: Media Arts & Sciences

Genre/Medium: Digital – created in Procreate, printed & folded physically

About the work:

“Letters to The Universe” is a printable mini zine that details a short note from Earth, telling the Universe to expect a guest— Psyche! For this piece, I wanted to depict a story that would personify the Psyche spacecraft, getting people to sympathize with Psyche’s search for answers about our world. I was inspired by a lot of my other peer interns who approached their projects narratively! I loved the stories they had about their versions and interpretations of Psyche, so I wanted to try my hand at a creative approach— and what better way to do that than a mini booklet! I was also somewhat inspired by the Voyager Golden Record, since the “letter” is addressed to an entity we may never get a response from. I created this piece digitally in Procreate, predominantly using colors from the official Psyche brand and logo.

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This poster comic shows the Falcon Heavy lifting off, with two panels around it depicting the preparation of Psyche. The panel in the center depicts a group of onlookers watching the launch, with the final panel being the Psyche spacecraft in space. Text accompanies the piece, reflecting on the feat of getting Psyche out there in the first place.

The Launch

Ash Soriano

Major: Media Arts & Sciences

Genre/Medium: Digital (Procreate)

About the work:

“The Launch” is a short poster comic as well as my fourth and final project for Psyche Inspired! After spending an academic year learning more about the Psyche mission, I was really inspired (if you will) by the story of how Psyche came to be, particularly the launch! I loved hearing the perspectives from the folks who were there to witness liftoff in person, and I wanted to pay homage to that experience. There has been so much talk about the potential of Psyche (both the space craft and the asteroid) but sometimes it’s easy to forget about what humans were already able to accomplish in getting the spacecraft out there in the first place. What a feat of curiosity, intelligence, and truly, imagination! I wanted to capture that in “The Launch” as much as I could, especially in depicting the beginning (building and preparation), middle (the launch itself), and the ongoing story (the spacecraft on its journey) of Psyche. I created this, much like my other pieces, digitally using Procreate. I opted for a dominant blue palette with some textured brushes to give it more of a “storybook” feel, almost like a nostalgic memory. I also tied in some textured brushes I used in my very first project to kind of bring it full circle as a nod to where I started at the beginning of this internship— much like this piece pays homage to the beginnings of the mission!

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The Psyche badge with no words on it.

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