Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlynne Berkebile

Hi Ashlynne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I’m Ashlynne Berkebile and I own a small art business in Johnstown, PA called AZ Oilscapes, LLC. I create original, hand-painted landscape scenes and home decor with a focus on expectation free creativity. My path to where I am now has had many twists and turns. I actually have my master’s degree in psychology and worked in the mental health field for several years right out of college. I loved helping and connecting with people, but I quickly began feeling burnt out. I eventually decided to leave my career in mental health and take some time for myself. That is when I started painting… I always wanted to learn to paint, but never had the time. Once I started, I fell in love. I began by teaching myself different techniques by watching videos and tutorials, from artists I found on Youtube to reruns of Bob Ross himself. It came to me naturally and once I had the techniques down, I began to experiment and find my own style. After just a few months, I accumulated quite a collection and decided to put myself out there and try selling some of my pieces. I started setting up at a few local events and it just snowballed from there. Fast forward to now… I am a full time artist selling hundreds of pieces each year. I set up at local events 3-4 times per month, offer commissions per request, and sell online via my website. The core of my business is based on the connection that art and creativity can cultivate. As I’ve grown, I’ve really focused in on my mission of connection and that has guided my business’s evolution.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

As with every adventure, there have been so many bumps along the way. I can’t tell you the number of times I have wanted to give up. My biggest struggle has honestly been myself. I think most business owners feel this way at one point or another, but self-doubt is so real when you are building a business. I have had so many highs and so many lows and they usually come one right after another. This is a constant battle that I am slowly working to overcome. I have found that running a business doesn’t come with constant reinforcement… It truly is about learning and adapting and that means there will be ups and downs. I have been working on making my passion for what I do the priority and, while I still dedicate a lot of time to the business side of things, my painting and connecting with customers comes first. When I’m able to settle into this mindset, I definitely enjoy the process more and I’m able to make positive changes to keep growing my business. I also have an amazing network of supporters, including so many other small business friends. It really helps to have people that understand what you’re going through and can relate to these struggles.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I could talk about this all day… I create expectation free, nature inspired paintings and home decor. I feel my process and approach to creating is really what sets my work and business apart from others. When I paint, I try to keep everything low stress with little expectation… I don’t have a plan for what I’m going to paint when I start a piece. I just pick the colors I want to start with and put the paint right on the canvas. I blend and blot until I’m happy with the background and I let that lead me into the next step and I do this until my eye sees a finished piece. The paint guides me rather than me guiding the paint. I also use “alternative” tools like paper towels and makeup applicators as my brushes for a lot of my work. This allows me to be looser with my movements, which makes for a more relaxed and free creative experience. I would say I specialize in landscape/nature inspired work with a focus on connection with the viewer. Even though most of my work is created without a specific customer in mind, the connection when a customer sees one of my pieces is almost immediate and so strong. I feel that my loose creative process really allows so much room for interpretation so my customers are able to find their own scene within what I’ve created… And that makes the piece so much more meaningful to them. I have also become known for my functional home decor pieces, specifically my hand-painted light switch covers. These have become one of my most popular items, as they are very affordable and make for a beautiful accent piece. Finally, I do not offer prints of my work, so all of my pieces (even the light switch covers) are original and one-of-a-kind.
I’d have to say that I am most proud of the atmosphere I have created through my business. I honestly just want to share joy and kindness through my art and I feel that I’ve found success in this mission. I have so many good conversations and interactions during my events and I can honestly say that so many of my customers have become very special to me.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

I’d have to say my favorite childhood memory would be family days by the pool. I have a big family and my grandma’s house was always the hang out spot for our get togethers. All of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents would spend all day outside running around the yard and jumping in the pool. We’d get these big subs from this famous little sandwich shop in my hometown and just make a day of it. I’ve always been a quiet extrovert… never super loud or talkative but I enjoy being around other people. The days when I was surrounded by family and time didn’t seem to matter will always be my favorite.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.azoilscapes.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/azoilscapes
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/azoilscapes
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Bridge Perspective – Johnstown, PA