We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Oberholtzer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Making art is self-care. I avoided making art for many years for many reasons – fear of imperfection, busyness, exhaustion. I can get wrapped up in thinking about art without actually making any. I spent years in a state of art-paralysis, which I can still easily slip back if I’m not mindful about it. Yet when I show up and make the art, particularly with a scheduled daily practice, I feel more fulfilled and refreshed than ever.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Austin, Texas based painter exploring what ‘electric feminine’ means to me as a woman and artist. It feels like blasting David Bowie, it is the bliss of singing with the crowd at a performance of the all-girl band The Last Dinner Party. It feels like checking in at Hotel Saint Cecilia and lounging poolside at night under the neon glow. It is the pleasure of ordering yourself flowers from your favorite local florists.
The purpose of my work is to highlight and share those delights by making paintings in color palettes washed in reds, magentas, and violets. My candy-colored oil paintings on wood panels are rendered in an expressive representational style and coated in a glossy varnish.
The darkness of the pandemic, followed by the passing of my wonderful mother from cruel and brutal cancer has made me want to focus on the delights this world has to offer rather than sink into the dark. In this current moment of political déjà vu, it’s a matter of joining the movement of joy as resistance.
Recent exhibitions include a solo show called “Studies on Delight” at Llano Art Gallery in Llano, Texas from April – July 2024 and inclusion in PxP Contemporary’s Virtual Exhibition “Glam” in June 2024 and their Glam (Winners) show from Feb – April 2025. PxP Contemporary owner, Alicia Puig, has been featured by Bold Journey and she is such an inspiration to me. I will also be included in an upcoming Southwestern Artist show with Square Foot Show April 10-11, 2025. Square Foot Show provides a fun online format to collect affordable original art in 12″ x 12″ size – hence the name.
I’m currently working on a series of electric feminine floral pieces to include in a 2026 calendar. Please sign up to my email list at www.ashleyoart.com or follow me on Instagram at @ashley_o_art to be notified when pre-orders open up. I also have original oil paintings for sale on my website and with PxP Contemporary until April 2025.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Sharing. I’m just beginning my journey – I have been sharing my art on instagram @ashley_o_art for several years now and my suggestion is not to wait to get good or perfect before you start sharing. It is vulnerable to share art because it feels so personal. I share my work in progress, my milestones of shows or new paintings. I often share snippets of moments that inspire me from travels, concerts, or some gorgeous florals. I think if you scroll through my feed and you can see how I’ve grown and progressed. And I love the occasional heartfelt messages from friends and followers that it’s been fun for them to watch me grow. I think it helps others see that you do not have to be perfect to share – and they can begin too. It’s been a true joy to see my husband share his bird & wildlife photography @thesquirrelsarewatching and my bestie start sharing her beautiful weavings @mksk_weaving. I’d much rather see bird photos, weavings, art or whatever craft you are working on than anything else on the internet.
Routine. I owe this to my amazing mentor: Father Bronques of The Mystery School. He has taught me how to schedule my art making – just as if it’s committing to 30 minutes of daily exercise. For as much time as we scroll these phones, we have time to make art and take care of ourselves – we just have to prioritize it.
Self-compassion. I think the only way to make anything as an artist is to forgive yourself for your imperfections. Once you start treating yourself the way you would treat someone you love and being your own cheerleader, you can really get stuff done. Give yourself permission to lean into what you love and discover what delights you. I think self-compassion has been the key to unlocking my creativity. Keep consciously choosing love and compassion over hate. Over time it gets easier and you don’t even need external validation anymore. Let yourself be cringey. It’s okay to do whatever feels authentic to you.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
My favorite book is Ross Gay’s “The Book of Delights”. He wrote a series of essayettes detailing a multitude of delights over a years time. I truly feel like I see the world in a new light from his book.
Through these essays, he teaches us how he developed his “delight radar” and how it’s like developing a muscle. The more you practice pointing out and naming delights, the more delights you see. He doesn’t diminish the pain, loss and heartache in life – he’s just saying even so, you can live a life more full of delight. Whatever that means to you. He also points out that delight grows when it’s shared. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook read by the author. The joy in his voice is contagious.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleyoart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_o_art
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