May 11, 2023 • 35 mins
Amy Ringholz is an artist, entrepreneur, mother and an author. She made a pivotal decision to pursue art full-time after a remarkable summer in Jackson, where she sold 30 paintings and gained immense support from the Jackson Hole community. Amy attributes her success to her strong work ethic, creating an average of one painting every three days and continually pushing herself to produce new and captivating works. Her dedication serves as a testament to the power of dreaming big and believing in one's abilities, inspiring others to pursue their own goals.
During her college years, winning scholarships played a significant role in altering Amy's path. This experience motivated her to establish art scholarships of her own, providing support to ten aspiring artists each year, helping them realize their dreams and achieve their artistic goals.
In addition to her acclaimed paintings, Amy has ventured into the world of writing and self-publishing. Her upcoming book, 'Rabbit and the Crown of Dreams,' draws deeply from her personal experiences, delving into the pursuit of dreams and the quest for a deeper purpose in life. Scheduled for release on May 13th, the book will be accompanied by a children's show at noon and an adult show at four. Furthermore, an auction of the 14 original paintings featured in the book will take place on August 19th.
For more information about Amy, her remarkable artwork, and the release of her book, visit AmyRingholz.com.
This week's episode is supported in part by Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, reminding residents and commercial businesses of Teton County’s food waste programs; the next frontier material in the quest to achieve the County’s goal to reduce, aiming for zero waste. More at TetonCountyWY.gov or at @RoadToZeroWaste.JH on Instagram.
Support also comes from The Jackson Hole Marketplace. The Deli at Jackson Hole Marketplace offers ready-made soups, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and hot lunch specials. More at JHMarketplace.com
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(00:00):
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(00:25):
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(00:47):
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And my guest today is somebody that I'veknown since she drifted into town over
20 years ago, starting off working atdude ranches, Amy Ring Holtz, and most
people around town know Amy as the artist,and soon many people will know her.
(01:09):
As a writer of a self-publishedbook today, Amy shares with us.
The back of the house of being aprofessional artist, what it takes to
earn a living as an artist, and whyAmy puts in so much time how she takes
action and lives life with a heart ofabundance through her generous giving.
(01:32):
What we see on the outside is notalways what's happening on the
inside or on the back of the house.
And Amy had a dream and continues todream today, and you have the opportunity
to hear from someone who knows what isinvolved, to take a dream to reality.
And that's Amy Ring Holtz
(01:54):
Amy, thank you for joining me today,here on the Jackson Hole Connection.
It's delightful to see you todayand be able to have some time to sit
down and talk to you, versus justseeing you passing by on the streets.
thank you for having me.
I'm really happy to be here and talk aboutour town and what I do with the town.
Will you Certainly do a lot here forour community and we will get into that.
(02:21):
Before we begin, of you sharingyour partnership and involvement
here in town in our community, Ilove hearing people's background.
So where were you born and raised?
Where did you get to be dirty and asa kid and rolling around in the mud?
and then how did you land here in Jackson?
(02:42):
All right, thank you.
I am an Ohio girl, bornnear Cleveland, Ohio.
I remain a big baseball fan to thisday, and I went to school in, in
college at Bowling Green in Ohio.
I went to be an art major.
I also got a degree in arteducation back in the day.
and.
throughout school.
Kind of never had been out west.
(03:02):
We went down to Georgia as a familyon our breaks and went golfing.
That was our family thing.
So after school or in college, I hadthe opportunity to a semester and travel
to a different college in the country.
And I thought that'd be exciting.
So I went off to the Universityof New Mexico for a semester.
(03:23):
And I remember I got off theplane there and I saw the sand
mountains and I was like, what?
How
one has ever taken me to theWest or to the Rockies or to the
incredible, don't know, the dramaof the landscape of the West.
that was it, man.
I was hooked.
I, felt like, you know, coming home,To a place you've never been before.
(03:43):
Hello, John Denver.
And was it.
So I went to school out thereand then I came back to Ohio
to finish my senior year.
Hung out there a couple yearsteaching art and just could not get
the west out of my mind or heart.
so I took a dude ranch job at the ArlesZs Ranch in 2002, cleaning cabins.
(04:07):
just had a wonderful summer and whenI wasn't cleaning, I was painting.
got into that, art association,art Fair at like Miller Park
I thought I'd won the lottery.
It was very exciting day.
I did that show August and Iwas just hooked on Jackson and
I, I decided to come out herepermanently and see if I couldn't.
(04:29):
make it as an artist.
the guests that came to the dude ranchwould go to town all day and go to
galleries, and then they'd come backto my little shack I stayed in and
they would buy my paintings there
Hmm.
say, we just couldn't findanything like what you were
doing, and we love your work.
And that's how I got started.
sold about 30 paintings that summer,and my roots began in Jackson Hole.
(04:52):
2002.
2002 kind of gathered allmy things in a U-haul and a
motorcycle and a Honda element.
And I got out here and lived ina skid house and worked at the
airport throwing bags until Ihad too many paintings to paint.
And then began this journey as afull-time artist since about 2005.
(05:13):
Which has been an adventure in itself.
Amy, what did it feel like to say?
I now need to take the leap ofcommitting all of your energy to your
art as a career source of income,and saying that, all right, I.
(05:33):
Don't need to be havinga side hustle as well.
I'm not gonna treat art as a side hustle.
I'm gonna treat art as my career.
How did that feel?
You know, something you could neverbelieve could actually happen.
I think of the, one of the advantagesthat kids get to have here in
Jackson is they get to actually seeartists and know them and meet them
(05:55):
and know that this is a career paththat people do make and succeed.
In Ohio, no one had ever heard ofsomething like that, so, I took my time
in, in working at the airport part-time,to just make sure my bills would get paid
and then I'd paint more and more and more.
And then that feeling one day oflike, man, I just cannot get these
(06:16):
paintings done by keeping this job.
And that's what you're waiting forwith that side hustle where you
can't any longer do the other job.
And I was only at theairport maybe two years.
Yep.
I was too swamped with artwork andremember all of the excitement and the
kind of disbelief that I was now going to.
(06:36):
Be an artist full-time and kind ofreally assume that title and understand
what that job required, which is, youknow, your own, your own drive and
self-discipline and desire and, andalso kind of staying true to yourself.
it's a really wonderful job that it'sso challenging and yet, it just keeps
you on your toes and keeps you growingevery single day, 20 years later.
(06:59):
How cool and.
You said that first summer youwere out here, would you produce
30 paintings, did you say?
I hear that correctly?
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
How many do you produce now a year?
I guess on average over the past manyyears that I have my own gallery, artists
(07:21):
all do it differently, which is why it'ssuch a beautiful career is that you can
skin the cat in many different ways.
when you're showing in several galleries,you know, and you have a show there a
year that's about 20 paintings, a show,you know, a hundred paintings a year, I
would say what an average has been for me.
(07:42):
Now that's one every three days.
So, it's a, it's an interesting jobthat's kind of misconstrued where
some might believe the artist kindof just lays around all day and then
maybe something comes to 'em andthey hit the studio up for an hour.
you can't just roll into the studio andsomething that you're super proud of.
(08:03):
It's such a, it's a battlefield sure.
And you're going into, of compete with thepainting and there are times when it is
winning and times when you are winning.
And, uh, the goal is to, to win inthe end without overworking the piece.
So, just kind of job evolves.
(08:24):
Yet there is a dedication tomaking a painting every three
days that you cannot let up on,no one else can paint it for you.
Talk about Go pro.
Wow, . I think a lot of times peoplesee the results of professionals so
they see your results of your artwork,but they don't see how we'll say the
(08:47):
grinding of the sausage takes place.
and to produce a painting everythree days is mind blowing to me.
I mean, that's just remarkable.
Talk about that is professional.
Yeah.
the overnight success story,which is hilarious, you know,
that that does not really exist.
It's it's kind of the grind.
(09:08):
And I don't wanna make art soundlike a grind, but have to find
the energy when you're losing.
to go get back in the game,and it takes that kind of a,
I haven't slept in 20 years.
I love saying that to people becausethat's what it took to kind of get here.
I would work the job, which isplenty of marketing and business in
(09:32):
strategy and emails and run aroundand chaos and clean the studio and
get the supplies and order them andcarry them in, and then carry them.
The gallery, unload to the gallery,I mean, a full on labor job.
then when all that work is finally doneand you're exhausted now, eat dinner, have
a cocktail, say goodnight to everybodyand head back in there to make your work.
(09:55):
So that's how I have pulled thisoff is don't sleep a lot, but
also, I'd have to clear my mindfrom all of the to-dos the lists.
and, um, all the obligations orderto have a space to actually breathe
and pull something out, that'simportant to me to make a painting.
(10:18):
So, I don't know how others really do it.
I'm, I'm a pretty quick worker, which isa key element to actually making it in
art because you have to be able to produceand, the walls filled and, make your
deadlines and your shows and deadlinesthat come six months before the show.
Uh, but you also have to have a, aspirit and a heart to create good,
(10:42):
good things in the world, which thatcan be really challenging sometimes.
you said every, you gothrough the whole process.
You're running a business,you're an entrepreneur.
You have the business side inaddition to the creation side
Yes.
and to get in the creation, howdo you clear your mind to be
(11:04):
in the space for you to create?
Uh, this for sure has been abalancing act that I have not
been very good at all these years.
the, the key is that youare putting out so much.
There's so many.
there's so much coming from within andgoing out on the canvas or out into the
conversations or filling or checkingoff the list that you have to find a
(11:27):
way to refuel in order to create again.
And, um, I guess in life,I, I like to play sports.
I'm still the Ohio girl, where I liketo golf, play softball, play tennis.
That's kind of my scene here in Jackson.
but later on recently I've got, Igot a little tiny farm going here.
(11:48):
I got some chickens.
I got a nice garden.
got three dogs that arelooking at me all the time.
And uh, this really beautiful coupleacres that's like heaven on earth to me.
And so I would say that now I refuelby homesteading and I'm building build.
I'm always building kind of something.
And this is kind of a.
(12:10):
Uh, I don't know, probably a part thatmost artists feel is that they wanna
create not always exactly in the same way.
So, building a garden and buildinga chicken coop and designing this
room and wallpapering that room.
And I just did a mural and, youwanna make things, build things,
design things, dream things.
And so I kind of refuel bymaking other types of artwork.
(12:35):
Hmm.
and, I, our gallery has turned intoa event place in the evenings well,
because I love to throw a party.
I love the, the, uh, the planning andthe layout and the tablescape and the
dishes and the lighting and the music andhow you feel when you walk in the room.
I'm creating art a different way.
(12:56):
I, I love it and.
, you're creating art in a differentway, and I've known for many
years and seen for many years.
You are heavily involved in thecommunity to support especially in
that, high school realm where they'regoing to college to become help.
(13:19):
Raise money for them to go to collegeto find their path in the world of art.
Yeah, I was, when I moved to Jackson,of my mentors told me that I, in order
to live here, which I love and I'dlove to like put this out there in
the world, but in order to have thisamazing gift that you get to live in
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which we are also.
Just so lucky to be here.
(13:41):
He's like, you gotta work and contribute.
You've gotta have a job.
You've gotta contribute tothis place, then you have to
give back to your community.
And those two things justhave always stuck with me.
And I think that's such agreat thing to teach our kids.
And be a, a citizen of a town is to, um,not only do your part, but then also.
(14:06):
your part as far as contributingto making this a wonderful place?
So, off the bat, it's been a long time.
I have been in some way donatingor giving to many, many, many, many
organizations that come that work inJackson, and been a privilege to be
able to use my talent to not only, youknow, keep our bills paid here, but to.
(14:30):
Continue to make Jackson special and alsoshow that I do care about the people the
animals and this and this town's future.
So after doing that for a long time,finally I felt like I'm always pushing
for the dreamer cuz that's what I am is.
I say Dreamers, don't sleep becauseI'm up at night working, but working.
(14:53):
So I thought that starting my ownart scholarships would be the coolest
way to keep encouraging the dreamer.
They also played a giant role in mylife and the direction of my life when
I won a couple scholarships in collegeI really shouldn't have I was an art
education major, I was competing withthe fine artists for these scholarships.
(15:18):
And when I won them over them, it reallyhit me that I, maybe I've got something
here, maybe I've got some talent here.
it really helped me, you know, go homeand say to my parents, I, I really
think I wanna try to be an artist first.
So it, it totally turned.
My life's direction because Ididn't have that direction from
(15:40):
a mentor or a parent as a kid.
So these scholarshipshave been a big deal.
ring holds art supply awards.
The rasa supplies are very expensivefor artists, so it's hard enough just
to make things, but then you gottago pay for a paintbrush that's $40.
So I
of them a year.
been complete.
honor and delight to be a part of 10different people's lives every year
(16:05):
and give them a tiny bit of financialhelp, but really give them that
push that I got, which was sees whatI'm doing and they believe in it.
And that's, that's all I need.
So what I continue to do.
I, I work with the rotary, uh, club inJackson and, um, I work with my old high
school and then I give out five acrossthe country to artists of all ages,
(16:28):
and it's just such a, a wonderful tomy life and full circle part my story.
Very gracious and kind of youto, go back to your roots.
That's just phenomenal.
I love it.
so how did you get involved to giveto or other scholarships around the
(16:51):
country that weren't related to your highschool or related to here in Jackson?
I kind of tried to start my ownfoundation a few years ago and then
God bless you, all the foundationpeople out there, that's a lot of work.
Mm-hmm.
high, nonprofit people, that's a lotof work and it's, it's a full-time
job, so I wasn't able to keep up allthe and regulations of the nonprofit,
(17:13):
so I just moved into a private.
privately funded.
Um, I let a a hundred people apply ayear from around the country I pick five
winners and they get, a little scholarshipfrom me and a little boost every June.
get to just kind of see whatkind of art's going on out there.
And I pick people based on talent.
hard work and heart.
(17:34):
So I have them answer a littlequestionnaire about those things
and, and look at their portfolios.
And then, you know, kidshave won my scholarship are
coming back to intern for me.
will write to me or thank me and tell mewhat they did or how they passed on that.
kind of that good karma onto others and,you know, I'm just trying to do good the
(17:55):
world in whatever capacity I can handle.
That is leading with aheart of abundance and
you.
beautiful,
Thank you.
And you have some other.
Cool projects going as well.
And I, before we get into that, you,you get it about the generosity, the
(18:20):
abundance, the heart of, of giving andteaching other people to be a part of
the community, to be good citizens.
What is the feeling you havethat you could share with people?
I think this is said overand over again, but it's so
important to reiterate it that.
Fame slash making some money.
(18:41):
That feels pretty good.
I mean, usually you're so tired, youcan barely, um, enjoy those two things.
But know what really feels good?
Like really helping somebody outand really making a difference for
somebody really being there somebody.
Um, the act of giving is sounderrated sometimes that.
(19:02):
That's the best feeling you'reprobably ever gonna feel.
And it's, you know, it just is, it's sonice to complete the circle of feeling,
the gratitude of how I've gotten here.
The people that have helped me, thecollectors that have bought my paintings,
have gotten me to this amazing place.
You know, without them I wouldn't be here.
And now I can, you know, turnback and give what I can to help.
(19:27):
Keep those circles continuing.
I can be the personsupporting someone else.
So I would just say that, you know,when you're down and depressed, where
I've also found times and places theysay to go out and help somebody else in
those moments, cuz you're so wrapped upin your own pain, in your own strife.
And I have found that yes, thatcan help pull you out is by
(19:49):
focusing on some other people.
Doing other things, and I thinkthat's just the heart of that
giving emotion and feeling it.
It's powerful and everyoneshould give it a try.
So true and a beautiful statement.
And one which we should all remember.
because how you see someone respondfrom your generosity, it's priceless.
(20:13):
it is.
priceless.
Amy, we're gonna take a quick break toget a word from one of our sponsors,
and then we're gonna come back andtalk about the big project that you
have going on, which is very exciting.
Amy, welcome back.
You just were sharing with ushow you feel when you are giving
to others and helping others.
(20:33):
And as I mentioned and youhave shared with me, you have a
little project, a big project.
I don't wanna call it a little project.
It's a big project cuz what you'vedone, not many people have done.
And it's happening very soon,where if you've done it, it's
just being released very soon.
Why don't you take the michere and share with everybody
(20:55):
what's, what's going on there?
Okay.
This is pretty exciting.
this kind of came to me inthe middle of the night.
If you can imagine about four yearsago this story, That pretty much kind
of summed up my life as a dreamer,following a dream As a rabbit, way
more interesting if you're an animal.
I'd go back and give talks to mycollege and I'd, and I'd talk to
the kids about, you know, kind offollowing a dream and what that takes.
(21:18):
And had, uh, things that aregonna stop you from getting there.
And I call 'em the dream killers.
That was in my lectures.
And so have a story of how therabbit achieved his antlers
and became a jackalope.
We're all wondering how they got there.
So it's, it's great that somebody'sput some thoughts to that.
I made a, a children's book.
(21:40):
it's really an adult bookdisguised as a children's book.
And someone just recently saidto me, aren't they all, which
I loved that little thought.
and so Rabbits and the Crownof Dreams has finally showed up
on my porch after years and andwritings and edits and rewrites and.
(22:02):
I painted 14 beautiful paintingsthat went that go into the book.
Um, they're super special because they arekind of Amy Ring holds as an illustrator.
it kind of just shows me in adifferent light, once again, being
creative for me in a new way.
And then I got to be an author,is still a fun word to say that I
never thought I would say, I gotto tell this wonderful story about,
(22:25):
you know, feeling a, a calling.
actually before the calling,feeling like, is this all there?
Is, is this it?
Is this the only reasons I'm here?
What are they?
And a calling to go be morewho you are and more, more
than what you have to offer.
And then, uh, Jack left goes on hisjourney and, learns his way through
(22:46):
life to achieve something special.
And then maybe.
that that, that that thing wasn't exactlywhat he thought it would be anyway.
And maybe it's even more than that.
So I'm really proud of this firstadventure with, with putting words to,
to art and, writing this story, whichI feel is, a common story the Dreamer.
(23:08):
but it's also told in a reallyfun way that relates to us here in
Jackson that the Tetons show up inthe book, but they're never mentioned.
but all of us from here will, will,will know the, the viewpoints of the, of
the mountains you'll all feel connectedto this is a, a story from our place.
I'm very excited that it's here.
It's beautiful.
(23:29):
It came out.
a beautiful hardbound book with 14gorgeous acrylic paintings painted
on with a, with a lovely storyline.
So I hope that everyone willof fall for it when you see it.
we are going to release that book,May 13th at the gallery, we're
(23:50):
having a kids show in the afternoon.
So I wanted the kids to feel like theywere going to an adult art opening at a
gallery, there'll be a lot of cake pops.
and we're gonna read the storyand I'm gonna dedicate the books.
And I love it if the kids want me todedicate something to them specifically,
like a certain sentence, like, you know,go, go number 32, go Bronx, whatever I'm
(24:12):
dedicate for the kids.
And then that evening, um, havesome surprises for our adult
release party, on Saturday.
So I'm hoping that people will,know it's a busy day, like every
Saturday in Jackson Hole, but swingin there for a minute, a minute and
and, and take a look at the book.
And I hope you, you know, either can loveto have this in your own home or think
of someone that would love this book.
(24:33):
we're excited to share it with everybody.
We're gonna start it locallyjust at the gallery on the 13th.
What time is that for the kids?
The kids starts at noon andI'm gonna read the book at one.
the adult show starts at four andI'm gonna read the book at five
My kids will be in school
on Saturday.
on the 13th.
(24:54):
No.
No, we could do that.
Yeah.
I didn't realize it 13th.
I had to look.
Thank you.
Yeah.
on Saturdays,
No, no, we do not have ourkids go to school on Saturdays.
That's nice.
Good Dad.
Mm-hmm.
, Well, congratulations.
Um,
Thank you.
I'm, I'm interested.
I'm, I'm a details guy.
My brain goes in that direction.
Um, how many books did you haveto buy to have it published?
(25:18):
well, I self-published this round.
Um, I bought 2000 books.
That's about all I can afford and I'mhoping that it's a, a success and we
may have to do a second edition print.
Mm-hmm.
. Cool.
One thing that's kind of cool aboutChildren's Book, when I tell people
that a lot of people immediatelysay, I have a, I have a story
(25:39):
I'd, I really wanna make a book
Uhhuh
And I love that.
I love that thought that we all havehad, you know, a storyline in our
lives that we think is important enoughthat it's worth repeating and sharing.
And so I just wanna take that little twoseconds to encourage everybody out there.
If you do have your ownstory, You know, don't wait.
(26:00):
Don't wait for the perfectprinter and the perfect artist
to tie up with it, write it down
Yeah.
and share it, you know, with,with your, with people and
with your kids and all that.
But I love that we all have a story,so I just wanna set that out there.
And all of those, pictures,the 14 pitchers, what's
(26:21):
what's happening with those?
Are they gonna, I think,
I, I'm excited about this as also agallery, an artist and gallery owner
that we, I wanna sell these 14 paintingsbecause they're lovely and I think
people will fall in love with them.
so I've decided instead of you comingin the gallery and there's a red sticker
(26:42):
on there and you're heartbroken thatit's sold, the coolest invest thing to
do would be to have an auction for them.
So gonna let the book, um, come outfor the summer and let everybody see
it, and hopefully fall in love withthe page and maybe find a place for a
page in your heart and in your home.
then we're gonna do a live auctionAugust 19th in the gallery.
(27:04):
that's also gonna besomething that's online.
So if you don't live in Jackson, youcan also have that opportunity to
bid on a painting then everyone willget a, get a fair shot at each piece.
And then I just wanna like reiterate thespecialness of that, that these paintings
are gonna be seen by thousands of peoplein these books and how, how cool to have
(27:27):
original from that book.
especially if it really speaksto you or one of the images
really touches your heart.
just, I think there are 14very, very special pieces.
and there's only one original, soit's just a great opportunity, to
collect something special that maybethis book could go on and on and on.
And then in these, and these imageswould be just, um, highly regarded.
(27:50):
So very excited about the second halfof the book, which is the artwork.
And with your heart of generosity,is there a plan that you have for the
funds generated from the sale of thebook and or the sale of the paintings?
Well, um, I guess I haven'treally gotten there yet.
I am gonna give
(28:11):
to all of my scholarshipwinners this year.
So that's a
Mm-hmm.
Possibly they could lead that, that somefunds from that could lead back to the
scholarships as well, cuz that's what
following.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
and curious question.
You said, did I hear you correctlythat these are painted on wood?
(28:32):
Yes.
These
acrylics on wood
panel.
Okay.
Acrylics on wood panel, is that normal?
Your, A lot of what I've seen you do ison canvas, are you doing wood as well?
What I'm able to do on wood is, um,I'm, I use pencil and I can get more
detailed and more of the environment.
(28:54):
in a more detailed way around the animal.
So a lot of my paintings are oils oncanvas and they have to do kind of
with being close up to the subject.
And then these book pages justreally, they needed to show
so much more of the story.
And the best way for me todo that is with a pencil.
And the most interesting way forme to do that is to draw on wood.
And then I used wood stain.
(29:16):
acrylic paint to kind ofbuild up these paintings.
So the pages look like they're, they'reon a woodgreen, so it's got this
cool illusion where the page looks
and it just kinda added a, a depth to,to each page in the, in the, in the book.
I've, I use wood and I draw on wood inthe gallery and I sell that as well.
But these are just different that there'san illustration piece to it that's,
(29:39):
um, something fresh and childlike.
I, I, I love it, Amy,
Hey, thank you.
dreaming.
It's so important and.
I can just hear, Hey, getyour head out of the clouds.
Stop dreaming.
But it's dreams that bringabout new things in life.
would we be without dreams?
(29:59):
Exactly.
That's the start.
the creativity and the dreamskind of go hand in hand.
And then when I say dreamers don'tsleep, it means because they're
up working, they're not laying inbed, having amazing dreams of life.
They're up working on thosedreams, which hard work and a
dream can maybe get you somewhere.
I'm gonna challenge what you just said.
(30:19):
You said maybe it can getyou there, get you somewhere.
I, I think the dreams and thehard work can get you somewhere.
It might not be where youoriginally thought you would go.
think we have to all be prepared with,once when we start taking action and
putting in that hard work for ourdreams, we could in end up in a different
(30:40):
place, but then we have a new dream.
Yep, that's true too.
Yeah.
And then maybe that giving back that,um, that good karma plays a role too.
I feel as though it does,
and as a Rotarian thank you forall the years of your commitment
to the Rotary Scholarship Fund.
(31:01):
That is for,
um,
been.
Which is, I am just still in awe ofyou producing on average, you know,
it comes out to three, paintinga painting every three days.
Yeah,
a painting can take you a week or twoweeks depending on size or how hard it is.
(31:23):
So I have several going at the sametime and you know, some don't make it,
some are in detention in the back ofthe barn, uh, They're gonna remain there
until they're allowed out of there.
They have their face against the wall.
So I didn't just get all that bad
the room.
I haven't had a weekendoff, let's just say that.
I don't have a, there's noweek and weekend in my life.
(31:45):
So,
the job.
the job, that's how I can keep up is, isI work a lot and luckily I love my work.
So that's kind of my lifestyle.
Well, would you say that when you loveyour work, it doesn't feel like work
maybe work has a bad connotation to it.
(32:06):
You know, work doesn't, work isn't bad.
Work is you're growing
No.
becoming,
know, a better you and hopefullylearning and succeeding.
And there's a lot ofgreat things with working.
Mm-hmm.
know, if you're working with a bunchof paint all day, it can't be that bad.
I work with a bunch of bottles all day.
It's not that bad.
(32:27):
Love
Yeah.
Well, Amy, what is a great way forpeople to contact you and to keep an
eye out for this August 19th auction?
And I would guess that they canbuy the books on your website too,
in addition to being in the store.
Will that be possible?
(32:47):
Okay.
son.
We're just waiting for the release date sothat um, everything can be ready to roll.
So May 13th, you know, probably early inthe morning they'll be available online.
We'll ship 'em to ya they'llbe available in the gallery.
just keep an eye on Ring Hall Studios.
We'll be in the paper and we'llhave shows throughout the summer.
Um, we have events at, in theevenings if you need a place for
(33:09):
an event, a small dinner party.
It's really lovely spaceto be downtown and.
Close to an after party atthe Cowboy Bar, let's say.
and then the book, hopefully we'llstart at the, the gallery and then
move on to some shops in town.
hopefully you'll be seeing it around.
And then anytime I'm around,I'd love to dedicate it for you.
(33:29):
So if you do get a book and thenyou're, in the gallery later on
this summer and I'm around, I'dlove to write in there for you.
So that's kind of a fun thing to do too.
But we are on Broadway.
We have our website@ringhallstudios.comand uh, we'd love to see you.
We're open every day, 10 to four.
Thank you, Amy, for
(33:50):
your kind heart, your, your generousoutlook and abundance of living.
Thank you for having me.
It was fun.
You got it.
We'll see you soon.
Bye.
To learn more about Amy and herbook Rabbit and the Crown of
Dreams and the other works thatshe's done, visit the Jackson hole
connection.com, episode number 241.
(34:12):
Thank you everybody for listeningtoday Get out and share this
podcast with your friends andfamilies, Instagram and Facebook.
If you know, if somebody would liketo be a guest, send us their name.
We'd love to have.
Take care everybody.
Look forward to seeing you backhere for the next episode of
the Jackson Hole Connection.
You are tuned into the Jackson hole,connection, sharing, fascinating stories
of people connected to Jackson Hole.
I am truly grateful for each ofyou for tuning in today and support
for this podcast comes from:
I will begin today's episodewith a quote from Coco Chanel.
Success is often achieved by those whodon't know that failure is inevitable.
(00:25):
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Channels to let us hear whatyou think of this podcast.
And my guest today is somebody that I'veknown since she drifted into town over
20 years ago, starting off working atdude ranches, Amy Ring Holtz, and most
people around town know Amy as the artist,and soon many people will know her.
(01:09):
As a writer of a self-publishedbook today, Amy shares with us.
The back of the house of being aprofessional artist, what it takes to
earn a living as an artist, and whyAmy puts in so much time how she takes
action and lives life with a heart ofabundance through her generous giving.
(01:32):
What we see on the outside is notalways what's happening on the
inside or on the back of the house.
And Amy had a dream and continues todream today, and you have the opportunity
to hear from someone who knows what isinvolved, to take a dream to reality.
And that's Amy Ring Holtz
(01:54):
Amy, thank you for joining me today,here on the Jackson Hole Connection.
It's delightful to see you todayand be able to have some time to sit
down and talk to you, versus justseeing you passing by on the streets.
thank you for having me.
I'm really happy to be here and talk aboutour town and what I do with the town.
Will you Certainly do a lot here forour community and we will get into that.
(02:21):
Before we begin, of you sharingyour partnership and involvement
here in town in our community, Ilove hearing people's background.
So where were you born and raised?
Where did you get to be dirty and asa kid and rolling around in the mud?
and then how did you land here in Jackson?
(02:42):
All right, thank you.
I am an Ohio girl, bornnear Cleveland, Ohio.
I remain a big baseball fan to thisday, and I went to school in, in
college at Bowling Green in Ohio.
I went to be an art major.
I also got a degree in arteducation back in the day.
and.
throughout school.
Kind of never had been out west.
(03:02):
We went down to Georgia as a familyon our breaks and went golfing.
That was our family thing.
So after school or in college, I hadthe opportunity to a semester and travel
to a different college in the country.
And I thought that'd be exciting.
So I went off to the Universityof New Mexico for a semester.
(03:23):
And I remember I got off theplane there and I saw the sand
mountains and I was like, what?
How
one has ever taken me to theWest or to the Rockies or to the
incredible, don't know, the dramaof the landscape of the West.
that was it, man.
I was hooked.
I, felt like, you know, coming home,To a place you've never been before.
(03:43):
Hello, John Denver.
And was it.
So I went to school out thereand then I came back to Ohio
to finish my senior year.
Hung out there a couple yearsteaching art and just could not get
the west out of my mind or heart.
so I took a dude ranch job at the ArlesZs Ranch in 2002, cleaning cabins.
(04:07):
just had a wonderful summer and whenI wasn't cleaning, I was painting.
got into that, art association,art Fair at like Miller Park
I thought I'd won the lottery.
It was very exciting day.
I did that show August and Iwas just hooked on Jackson and
I, I decided to come out herepermanently and see if I couldn't.
(04:29):
make it as an artist.
the guests that came to the dude ranchwould go to town all day and go to
galleries, and then they'd come backto my little shack I stayed in and
they would buy my paintings there
Hmm.
say, we just couldn't findanything like what you were
doing, and we love your work.
And that's how I got started.
sold about 30 paintings that summer,and my roots began in Jackson Hole.
(04:52):
2002.
2002 kind of gathered allmy things in a U-haul and a
motorcycle and a Honda element.
And I got out here and lived ina skid house and worked at the
airport throwing bags until Ihad too many paintings to paint.
And then began this journey as afull-time artist since about 2005.
(05:13):
Which has been an adventure in itself.
Amy, what did it feel like to say?
I now need to take the leap ofcommitting all of your energy to your
art as a career source of income,and saying that, all right, I.
(05:33):
Don't need to be havinga side hustle as well.
I'm not gonna treat art as a side hustle.
I'm gonna treat art as my career.
How did that feel?
You know, something you could neverbelieve could actually happen.
I think of the, one of the advantagesthat kids get to have here in
Jackson is they get to actually seeartists and know them and meet them
(05:55):
and know that this is a career paththat people do make and succeed.
In Ohio, no one had ever heard ofsomething like that, so, I took my time
in, in working at the airport part-time,to just make sure my bills would get paid
and then I'd paint more and more and more.
And then that feeling one day oflike, man, I just cannot get these
(06:16):
paintings done by keeping this job.
And that's what you're waiting forwith that side hustle where you
can't any longer do the other job.
And I was only at theairport maybe two years.
Yep.
I was too swamped with artwork andremember all of the excitement and the
kind of disbelief that I was now going to.
(06:36):
Be an artist full-time and kind ofreally assume that title and understand
what that job required, which is, youknow, your own, your own drive and
self-discipline and desire and, andalso kind of staying true to yourself.
it's a really wonderful job that it'sso challenging and yet, it just keeps
you on your toes and keeps you growingevery single day, 20 years later.
(06:59):
How cool and.
You said that first summer youwere out here, would you produce
30 paintings, did you say?
I hear that correctly?
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
How many do you produce now a year?
I guess on average over the past manyyears that I have my own gallery, artists
(07:21):
all do it differently, which is why it'ssuch a beautiful career is that you can
skin the cat in many different ways.
when you're showing in several galleries,you know, and you have a show there a
year that's about 20 paintings, a show,you know, a hundred paintings a year, I
would say what an average has been for me.
(07:42):
Now that's one every three days.
So, it's a, it's an interesting jobthat's kind of misconstrued where
some might believe the artist kindof just lays around all day and then
maybe something comes to 'em andthey hit the studio up for an hour.
you can't just roll into the studio andsomething that you're super proud of.
(08:03):
It's such a, it's a battlefield sure.
And you're going into, of compete with thepainting and there are times when it is
winning and times when you are winning.
And, uh, the goal is to, to win inthe end without overworking the piece.
So, just kind of job evolves.
(08:24):
Yet there is a dedication tomaking a painting every three
days that you cannot let up on,no one else can paint it for you.
Talk about Go pro.
Wow, . I think a lot of times peoplesee the results of professionals so
they see your results of your artwork,but they don't see how we'll say the
(08:47):
grinding of the sausage takes place.
and to produce a painting everythree days is mind blowing to me.
I mean, that's just remarkable.
Talk about that is professional.
Yeah.
the overnight success story,which is hilarious, you know,
that that does not really exist.
It's it's kind of the grind.
(09:08):
And I don't wanna make art soundlike a grind, but have to find
the energy when you're losing.
to go get back in the game,and it takes that kind of a,
I haven't slept in 20 years.
I love saying that to people becausethat's what it took to kind of get here.
I would work the job, which isplenty of marketing and business in
(09:32):
strategy and emails and run aroundand chaos and clean the studio and
get the supplies and order them andcarry them in, and then carry them.
The gallery, unload to the gallery,I mean, a full on labor job.
then when all that work is finally doneand you're exhausted now, eat dinner, have
a cocktail, say goodnight to everybodyand head back in there to make your work.
(09:55):
So that's how I have pulled thisoff is don't sleep a lot, but
also, I'd have to clear my mindfrom all of the to-dos the lists.
and, um, all the obligations orderto have a space to actually breathe
and pull something out, that'simportant to me to make a painting.
(10:18):
So, I don't know how others really do it.
I'm, I'm a pretty quick worker, which isa key element to actually making it in
art because you have to be able to produceand, the walls filled and, make your
deadlines and your shows and deadlinesthat come six months before the show.
Uh, but you also have to have a, aspirit and a heart to create good,
(10:42):
good things in the world, which thatcan be really challenging sometimes.
you said every, you gothrough the whole process.
You're running a business,you're an entrepreneur.
You have the business side inaddition to the creation side
Yes.
and to get in the creation, howdo you clear your mind to be
(11:04):
in the space for you to create?
Uh, this for sure has been abalancing act that I have not
been very good at all these years.
the, the key is that youare putting out so much.
There's so many.
there's so much coming from within andgoing out on the canvas or out into the
conversations or filling or checkingoff the list that you have to find a
(11:27):
way to refuel in order to create again.
And, um, I guess in life,I, I like to play sports.
I'm still the Ohio girl, where I liketo golf, play softball, play tennis.
That's kind of my scene here in Jackson.
but later on recently I've got, Igot a little tiny farm going here.
(11:48):
I got some chickens.
I got a nice garden.
got three dogs that arelooking at me all the time.
And uh, this really beautiful coupleacres that's like heaven on earth to me.
And so I would say that now I refuelby homesteading and I'm building build.
I'm always building kind of something.
And this is kind of a.
(12:10):
Uh, I don't know, probably a part thatmost artists feel is that they wanna
create not always exactly in the same way.
So, building a garden and buildinga chicken coop and designing this
room and wallpapering that room.
And I just did a mural and, youwanna make things, build things,
design things, dream things.
And so I kind of refuel bymaking other types of artwork.
(12:35):
Hmm.
and, I, our gallery has turned intoa event place in the evenings well,
because I love to throw a party.
I love the, the, uh, the planning andthe layout and the tablescape and the
dishes and the lighting and the music andhow you feel when you walk in the room.
I'm creating art a different way.
(12:56):
I, I love it and.
, you're creating art in a differentway, and I've known for many
years and seen for many years.
You are heavily involved in thecommunity to support especially in
that, high school realm where they'regoing to college to become help.
(13:19):
Raise money for them to go to collegeto find their path in the world of art.
Yeah, I was, when I moved to Jackson,of my mentors told me that I, in order
to live here, which I love and I'dlove to like put this out there in
the world, but in order to have thisamazing gift that you get to live in
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which we are also.
Just so lucky to be here.
(13:41):
He's like, you gotta work and contribute.
You've gotta have a job.
You've gotta contribute tothis place, then you have to
give back to your community.
And those two things justhave always stuck with me.
And I think that's such agreat thing to teach our kids.
And be a, a citizen of a town is to, um,not only do your part, but then also.
(14:06):
your part as far as contributingto making this a wonderful place?
So, off the bat, it's been a long time.
I have been in some way donatingor giving to many, many, many, many
organizations that come that work inJackson, and been a privilege to be
able to use my talent to not only, youknow, keep our bills paid here, but to.
(14:30):
Continue to make Jackson special and alsoshow that I do care about the people the
animals and this and this town's future.
So after doing that for a long time,finally I felt like I'm always pushing
for the dreamer cuz that's what I am is.
I say Dreamers, don't sleep becauseI'm up at night working, but working.
(14:53):
So I thought that starting my ownart scholarships would be the coolest
way to keep encouraging the dreamer.
They also played a giant role in mylife and the direction of my life when
I won a couple scholarships in collegeI really shouldn't have I was an art
education major, I was competing withthe fine artists for these scholarships.
(15:18):
And when I won them over them, it reallyhit me that I, maybe I've got something
here, maybe I've got some talent here.
it really helped me, you know, go homeand say to my parents, I, I really
think I wanna try to be an artist first.
So it, it totally turned.
My life's direction because Ididn't have that direction from
(15:40):
a mentor or a parent as a kid.
So these scholarshipshave been a big deal.
ring holds art supply awards.
The rasa supplies are very expensivefor artists, so it's hard enough just
to make things, but then you gottago pay for a paintbrush that's $40.
So I
of them a year.
been complete.
honor and delight to be a part of 10different people's lives every year
(16:05):
and give them a tiny bit of financialhelp, but really give them that
push that I got, which was sees whatI'm doing and they believe in it.
And that's, that's all I need.
So what I continue to do.
I, I work with the rotary, uh, club inJackson and, um, I work with my old high
school and then I give out five acrossthe country to artists of all ages,
(16:28):
and it's just such a, a wonderful tomy life and full circle part my story.
Very gracious and kind of youto, go back to your roots.
That's just phenomenal.
I love it.
so how did you get involved to giveto or other scholarships around the
(16:51):
country that weren't related to your highschool or related to here in Jackson?
I kind of tried to start my ownfoundation a few years ago and then
God bless you, all the foundationpeople out there, that's a lot of work.
Mm-hmm.
high, nonprofit people, that's a lotof work and it's, it's a full-time
job, so I wasn't able to keep up allthe and regulations of the nonprofit,
(17:13):
so I just moved into a private.
privately funded.
Um, I let a a hundred people apply ayear from around the country I pick five
winners and they get, a little scholarshipfrom me and a little boost every June.
get to just kind of see whatkind of art's going on out there.
And I pick people based on talent.
hard work and heart.
(17:34):
So I have them answer a littlequestionnaire about those things
and, and look at their portfolios.
And then, you know, kidshave won my scholarship are
coming back to intern for me.
will write to me or thank me and tell mewhat they did or how they passed on that.
kind of that good karma onto others and,you know, I'm just trying to do good the
(17:55):
world in whatever capacity I can handle.
That is leading with aheart of abundance and
you.
beautiful,
Thank you.
And you have some other.
Cool projects going as well.
And I, before we get into that, you,you get it about the generosity, the
(18:20):
abundance, the heart of, of giving andteaching other people to be a part of
the community, to be good citizens.
What is the feeling you havethat you could share with people?
I think this is said overand over again, but it's so
important to reiterate it that.
Fame slash making some money.
(18:41):
That feels pretty good.
I mean, usually you're so tired, youcan barely, um, enjoy those two things.
But know what really feels good?
Like really helping somebody outand really making a difference for
somebody really being there somebody.
Um, the act of giving is sounderrated sometimes that.
(19:02):
That's the best feeling you'reprobably ever gonna feel.
And it's, you know, it just is, it's sonice to complete the circle of feeling,
the gratitude of how I've gotten here.
The people that have helped me, thecollectors that have bought my paintings,
have gotten me to this amazing place.
You know, without them I wouldn't be here.
And now I can, you know, turnback and give what I can to help.
(19:27):
Keep those circles continuing.
I can be the personsupporting someone else.
So I would just say that, you know,when you're down and depressed, where
I've also found times and places theysay to go out and help somebody else in
those moments, cuz you're so wrapped upin your own pain, in your own strife.
And I have found that yes, thatcan help pull you out is by
(19:49):
focusing on some other people.
Doing other things, and I thinkthat's just the heart of that
giving emotion and feeling it.
It's powerful and everyoneshould give it a try.
So true and a beautiful statement.
And one which we should all remember.
because how you see someone respondfrom your generosity, it's priceless.
(20:13):
it is.
priceless.
Amy, we're gonna take a quick break toget a word from one of our sponsors,
and then we're gonna come back andtalk about the big project that you
have going on, which is very exciting.
Amy, welcome back.
You just were sharing with ushow you feel when you are giving
to others and helping others.
(20:33):
And as I mentioned and youhave shared with me, you have a
little project, a big project.
I don't wanna call it a little project.
It's a big project cuz what you'vedone, not many people have done.
And it's happening very soon,where if you've done it, it's
just being released very soon.
Why don't you take the michere and share with everybody
(20:55):
what's, what's going on there?
Okay.
This is pretty exciting.
this kind of came to me inthe middle of the night.
If you can imagine about four yearsago this story, That pretty much kind
of summed up my life as a dreamer,following a dream As a rabbit, way
more interesting if you're an animal.
I'd go back and give talks to mycollege and I'd, and I'd talk to
the kids about, you know, kind offollowing a dream and what that takes.
(21:18):
And had, uh, things that aregonna stop you from getting there.
And I call 'em the dream killers.
That was in my lectures.
And so have a story of how therabbit achieved his antlers
and became a jackalope.
We're all wondering how they got there.
So it's, it's great that somebody'sput some thoughts to that.
I made a, a children's book.
(21:40):
it's really an adult bookdisguised as a children's book.
And someone just recently saidto me, aren't they all, which
I loved that little thought.
and so Rabbits and the Crownof Dreams has finally showed up
on my porch after years and andwritings and edits and rewrites and.
(22:02):
I painted 14 beautiful paintingsthat went that go into the book.
Um, they're super special because they arekind of Amy Ring holds as an illustrator.
it kind of just shows me in adifferent light, once again, being
creative for me in a new way.
And then I got to be an author,is still a fun word to say that I
never thought I would say, I gotto tell this wonderful story about,
(22:25):
you know, feeling a, a calling.
actually before the calling,feeling like, is this all there?
Is, is this it?
Is this the only reasons I'm here?
What are they?
And a calling to go be morewho you are and more, more
than what you have to offer.
And then, uh, Jack left goes on hisjourney and, learns his way through
(22:46):
life to achieve something special.
And then maybe.
that that, that that thing wasn't exactlywhat he thought it would be anyway.
And maybe it's even more than that.
So I'm really proud of this firstadventure with, with putting words to,
to art and, writing this story, whichI feel is, a common story the Dreamer.
(23:08):
but it's also told in a reallyfun way that relates to us here in
Jackson that the Tetons show up inthe book, but they're never mentioned.
but all of us from here will, will,will know the, the viewpoints of the, of
the mountains you'll all feel connectedto this is a, a story from our place.
I'm very excited that it's here.
It's beautiful.
(23:29):
It came out.
a beautiful hardbound book with 14gorgeous acrylic paintings painted
on with a, with a lovely storyline.
So I hope that everyone willof fall for it when you see it.
we are going to release that book,May 13th at the gallery, we're
(23:50):
having a kids show in the afternoon.
So I wanted the kids to feel like theywere going to an adult art opening at a
gallery, there'll be a lot of cake pops.
and we're gonna read the storyand I'm gonna dedicate the books.
And I love it if the kids want me todedicate something to them specifically,
like a certain sentence, like, you know,go, go number 32, go Bronx, whatever I'm
(24:12):
dedicate for the kids.
And then that evening, um, havesome surprises for our adult
release party, on Saturday.
So I'm hoping that people will,know it's a busy day, like every
Saturday in Jackson Hole, but swingin there for a minute, a minute and
and, and take a look at the book.
And I hope you, you know, either can loveto have this in your own home or think
of someone that would love this book.
(24:33):
we're excited to share it with everybody.
We're gonna start it locallyjust at the gallery on the 13th.
What time is that for the kids?
The kids starts at noon andI'm gonna read the book at one.
the adult show starts at four andI'm gonna read the book at five
My kids will be in school
on Saturday.
on the 13th.
(24:54):
No.
No, we could do that.
Yeah.
I didn't realize it 13th.
I had to look.
Thank you.
Yeah.
on Saturdays,
No, no, we do not have ourkids go to school on Saturdays.
That's nice.
Good Dad.
Mm-hmm.
, Well, congratulations.
Um,
Thank you.
I'm, I'm interested.
I'm, I'm a details guy.
My brain goes in that direction.
Um, how many books did you haveto buy to have it published?
(25:18):
well, I self-published this round.
Um, I bought 2000 books.
That's about all I can afford and I'mhoping that it's a, a success and we
may have to do a second edition print.
Mm-hmm.
. Cool.
One thing that's kind of cool aboutChildren's Book, when I tell people
that a lot of people immediatelysay, I have a, I have a story
(25:39):
I'd, I really wanna make a book
Uhhuh
And I love that.
I love that thought that we all havehad, you know, a storyline in our
lives that we think is important enoughthat it's worth repeating and sharing.
And so I just wanna take that little twoseconds to encourage everybody out there.
If you do have your ownstory, You know, don't wait.
(26:00):
Don't wait for the perfectprinter and the perfect artist
to tie up with it, write it down
Yeah.
and share it, you know, with,with your, with people and
with your kids and all that.
But I love that we all have a story,so I just wanna set that out there.
And all of those, pictures,the 14 pitchers, what's
(26:21):
what's happening with those?
Are they gonna, I think,
I, I'm excited about this as also agallery, an artist and gallery owner
that we, I wanna sell these 14 paintingsbecause they're lovely and I think
people will fall in love with them.
so I've decided instead of you comingin the gallery and there's a red sticker
(26:42):
on there and you're heartbroken thatit's sold, the coolest invest thing to
do would be to have an auction for them.
So gonna let the book, um, come outfor the summer and let everybody see
it, and hopefully fall in love withthe page and maybe find a place for a
page in your heart and in your home.
then we're gonna do a live auctionAugust 19th in the gallery.
(27:04):
that's also gonna besomething that's online.
So if you don't live in Jackson, youcan also have that opportunity to
bid on a painting then everyone willget a, get a fair shot at each piece.
And then I just wanna like reiterate thespecialness of that, that these paintings
are gonna be seen by thousands of peoplein these books and how, how cool to have
(27:27):
original from that book.
especially if it really speaksto you or one of the images
really touches your heart.
just, I think there are 14very, very special pieces.
and there's only one original, soit's just a great opportunity, to
collect something special that maybethis book could go on and on and on.
And then in these, and these imageswould be just, um, highly regarded.
(27:50):
So very excited about the second halfof the book, which is the artwork.
And with your heart of generosity,is there a plan that you have for the
funds generated from the sale of thebook and or the sale of the paintings?
Well, um, I guess I haven'treally gotten there yet.
I am gonna give
(28:11):
to all of my scholarshipwinners this year.
So that's a
Mm-hmm.
Possibly they could lead that, that somefunds from that could lead back to the
scholarships as well, cuz that's what
following.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
and curious question.
You said, did I hear you correctlythat these are painted on wood?
(28:32):
Yes.
These
acrylics on wood
panel.
Okay.
Acrylics on wood panel, is that normal?
Your, A lot of what I've seen you do ison canvas, are you doing wood as well?
What I'm able to do on wood is, um,I'm, I use pencil and I can get more
detailed and more of the environment.
(28:54):
in a more detailed way around the animal.
So a lot of my paintings are oils oncanvas and they have to do kind of
with being close up to the subject.
And then these book pages justreally, they needed to show
so much more of the story.
And the best way for me todo that is with a pencil.
And the most interesting way forme to do that is to draw on wood.
And then I used wood stain.
(29:16):
acrylic paint to kind ofbuild up these paintings.
So the pages look like they're, they'reon a woodgreen, so it's got this
cool illusion where the page looks
and it just kinda added a, a depth to,to each page in the, in the, in the book.
I've, I use wood and I draw on wood inthe gallery and I sell that as well.
But these are just different that there'san illustration piece to it that's,
(29:39):
um, something fresh and childlike.
I, I, I love it, Amy,
Hey, thank you.
dreaming.
It's so important and.
I can just hear, Hey, getyour head out of the clouds.
Stop dreaming.
But it's dreams that bringabout new things in life.
would we be without dreams?
(29:59):
Exactly.
That's the start.
the creativity and the dreamskind of go hand in hand.
And then when I say dreamers don'tsleep, it means because they're
up working, they're not laying inbed, having amazing dreams of life.
They're up working on thosedreams, which hard work and a
dream can maybe get you somewhere.
I'm gonna challenge what you just said.
(30:19):
You said maybe it can getyou there, get you somewhere.
I, I think the dreams and thehard work can get you somewhere.
It might not be where youoriginally thought you would go.
think we have to all be prepared with,once when we start taking action and
putting in that hard work for ourdreams, we could in end up in a different
(30:40):
place, but then we have a new dream.
Yep, that's true too.
Yeah.
And then maybe that giving back that,um, that good karma plays a role too.
I feel as though it does,
and as a Rotarian thank you forall the years of your commitment
to the Rotary Scholarship Fund.
(31:01):
That is for,
um,
been.
Which is, I am just still in awe ofyou producing on average, you know,
it comes out to three, paintinga painting every three days.
Yeah,
a painting can take you a week or twoweeks depending on size or how hard it is.
(31:23):
So I have several going at the sametime and you know, some don't make it,
some are in detention in the back ofthe barn, uh, They're gonna remain there
until they're allowed out of there.
They have their face against the wall.
So I didn't just get all that bad
the room.
I haven't had a weekendoff, let's just say that.
I don't have a, there's noweek and weekend in my life.
(31:45):
So,
the job.
the job, that's how I can keep up is, isI work a lot and luckily I love my work.
So that's kind of my lifestyle.
Well, would you say that when you loveyour work, it doesn't feel like work
maybe work has a bad connotation to it.
(32:06):
You know, work doesn't, work isn't bad.
Work is you're growing
No.
becoming,
know, a better you and hopefullylearning and succeeding.
And there's a lot ofgreat things with working.
Mm-hmm.
know, if you're working with a bunchof paint all day, it can't be that bad.
I work with a bunch of bottles all day.
It's not that bad.
(32:27):
Love
Yeah.
Well, Amy, what is a great way forpeople to contact you and to keep an
eye out for this August 19th auction?
And I would guess that they canbuy the books on your website too,
in addition to being in the store.
Will that be possible?
(32:47):
Okay.
son.
We're just waiting for the release date sothat um, everything can be ready to roll.
So May 13th, you know, probably early inthe morning they'll be available online.
We'll ship 'em to ya they'llbe available in the gallery.
just keep an eye on Ring Hall Studios.
We'll be in the paper and we'llhave shows throughout the summer.
Um, we have events at, in theevenings if you need a place for
(33:09):
an event, a small dinner party.
It's really lovely spaceto be downtown and.
Close to an after party atthe Cowboy Bar, let's say.
and then the book, hopefully we'llstart at the, the gallery and then
move on to some shops in town.
hopefully you'll be seeing it around.
And then anytime I'm around,I'd love to dedicate it for you.
(33:29):
So if you do get a book and thenyou're, in the gallery later on
this summer and I'm around, I'dlove to write in there for you.
So that's kind of a fun thing to do too.
But we are on Broadway.
We have our website@ringhallstudios.comand uh, we'd love to see you.
We're open every day, 10 to four.
Thank you, Amy, for
(33:50):
your kind heart, your, your generousoutlook and abundance of living.
Thank you for having me.
It was fun.
You got it.
We'll see you soon.
Bye.
To learn more about Amy and herbook Rabbit and the Crown of
Dreams and the other works thatshe's done, visit the Jackson hole
connection.com, episode number 241.
(34:12):
Thank you everybody for listeningtoday Get out and share this
podcast with your friends andfamilies, Instagram and Facebook.
If you know, if somebody would liketo be a guest, send us their name.
We'd love to have.
Take care everybody.
Look forward to seeing you backhere for the next episode of
the Jackson Hole Connection.
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