“Follow your bliss” describes the artistic path of oil painter, Amy Ringholz. Moving from Ohio to Jackson Hole in 2002, she found work at an historic dude ranch to make her way, while she was building an identity in the art world. Blessed with a gift, the creative spark and a pure heart, Amy brings her journey of discovery to her art. Her unique process; drawing in ink then adding colors inspired by the west, brings her renditions of the animal kingdom to life.
After a three month sabbatical of volunteer work in South Africa in 2008 and 2009, Amy returns enriched, inspired, changed and eager to begin her new collection of works. “I want to capture what I have seen and learned and allow my animals to tell stories of tradition, dreams, symbolism and of coming together. I am moving from portraiture and towards relationships and storytelling. Africa may not be front and center in my new work, but rather found in subtle undertones hinting at the profound impact it has had on my life.”
Education:
BFA in Drawing/Art Education: Bowling Green State University, OH 1995-1999
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1997
Affiliations:
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, The Trail of Painted Ponies, Yellowstone Association, Glacier Institute, Earthfire Institute, Petsmart Charities, Jackson Hole Art Association, Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Art For Orphans, Jackson Hole Winter Festival, pARTners
Recent Exhibitions:
Solo Show, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming, August 10,11, 2006
“Let The Dogs Out” Solo Show, Joan Cawley Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona, March 25, 2006
“Quick Draw” Jackson Winter Festival, Jackson Hole Wildlife Museum, January 2006
“Quick Draw” Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Jackson Wyoming, September 2005
“Eclectic” Group Show, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming, September 2005
“Gone Wild” Solo Show, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming, August 2005
“Gone Wild” Solo Show, Joan Cawley Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 2005
“A Brush With The Wild” Solo Show, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming, August 2004
“A Brush With The Wild” Solo Show, Leona King Gallery, Scottsdale, February 2004
“Freedom and Mystic of the Western Animal” Leona King Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona, February 2003
Ringholz’ Holiday ‘Critters’ Article
December 19, 2007
By Kate Balog
Local contemporary wildlife painter and one-woman institution Amy Ringholz is happily throwing the doors wide open tonight from 4-7 p.m. to celebrate the holidays. The glamorized artist’s reception celebrates her one-woman show, “Critters,” at Mountain Trails Gallery. The event will be a “festive party where people can meet, get together, and mingle,” she said.
The show features small-format wildlife paintings and new, relatively affordable artwork beginning in the $600-$1000 range. Six pieces had sold as of Sunday and it’s possible the show will sell out before the opening.
Using drawing ink, oil paint and oil sticks in both earth tones and bold, crayon-like colors, Ringholz creates animated images of wildlife with human personalities. Her work is extremely popular with local art collectors because the colors are so vivid, the animals seem so alive, and the style is just abstracted enough to be considered contemporary.
“Emotion, personality and humor are the traits I strive for in each new painting,” Ringholz said. “Some of my animals have humanlike characteristics. You can see their soul through their eyes.”
Ringholz was chosen as one of Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 Under 31″ Emerging Artists of 2006 and as one of Artist’s Magazine’s “25 Under 40″ in 2007. She shows in Jackson, Austin, Scottsdale, Santa Fe and Bozeman and usually hangs about four solo shows a year. Originally from Ohio, she now calls Jackson her home.
“Critters” will be up at Mountain Trails Gallery, 150 Center St., through Jan. 2.
Also opening this week at Mountain Trails is Duke Beardsley’s one-man show “Open Range,” beginning Friday and hanging through Jan. 4. Beardsley was born and raised in Denver, where he currently represents the “New West Genre” as a professional artist. Beardsley draws inspiration from the natural beauty of Colorado, contemporary Western literature and his favorite artists, Ray Turner and Richard Bunkall. The best advice he claims to have ever received was from Turner, who told him to “learn the difference between the precious and the essential, and make every painting essential.”
