Mary Ross Buchholz
Biography
Mary Ross Buchholz is from a pioneering, ranching family heritage and those time-honored traditions and values are a tremendous part of her life today. Mary and her husband live and ranch in rural west Texas near the town of Eldorado. For over 25 years, art has been Buchholz’s devotion. She offers a glimpse of her daily ranch life using the most primitive of mediums, charcoal and graphite, and also by sculpting and painting.
“When using charcoal and graphite, I enjoy subtlety rendering the details, the different textures and the individual characteristics of my subjects. I marvel at how black and white images seem timeless and impart a simplicity without other distractions. And, I feel this is one reason why I choose to use charcoal and graphite as my primary medium. When drawing, anatomy plays a large role in my process; but, I think in terms of shapes, planes or plane changes and incorporate a wide range of values to describe form which in turn gives my work a realistic and three-dimensional quality”.
“I hope to capture the viewer’s attention both from a distance and up-close. I intentionally lead the viewer’s eye around the various areas of my drawings and paintings. This can be achieved by designing works with strong and balanced compositions, having interesting lighting, deliberately placing fine detail in specific focal areas, and using negative space. Another important aspect of my work is having areas of rest within the artwork. What does that mean? Well, much like beautifully composed music, art needs areas of rest or areas that have only subtlety suggested detail. For me as an artist, it is all a balancing act in creating both a successful and intriguing piece of artwork”.
Mary is represented by InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX. She has been featured in publications including the Western Horseman, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, The American Quarter Horse Journal, America’s Horse, Quarter Horse News, True West, Western Art & Architecture, Fine Art Connoisseur, Cowgirls Magazine, and Cowboys & Indians. Buchholz was recently awarded the 2023 Academy of Western Artists “Artist of the Year” and the “Editor’s Choice Award & Patrons’ Award” at the 2023 Night of Artists show and sale at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. She also has been selected as both a winner and finalist in the ARC Salon competition over the past seven years.
Recent articles and books featuring Buchholz include:
Art of the West— 2023 Sept/Oct Issue: The Studio feature by Sara Gilbert Frederick
Western Art Collector—2023 June Issue: Timeless Expressions by Erin E. Rand
The American Quarter Horse Journal–Jan/Feb 2023 Issue: Ranch Works by Holly Clanahan
Western Horseman—March Issue 2020: “Rooted in the West” article by DeeAnn Littlefield
Selected Shows & Galleries:
Represented by InSight Gallery and ArtzLine.com
Coors Western Artshow / Denver, CO / 2025
Night of the Artists / San Antonio, TX / 2013-2025
Small Works Great Wonders / Oklahoma City, OK / 2014-2024
Miniatures by the Lake / Coeur d’ Alene Gallery / Coeur d’ Alene, ID / 2019-2024
Round UP / Kerrville, TX / 2020-2024
AQHA: America’s Horse in Art / Amarillo, TX / 2010-2024
Texas Masters / Fredericksburg, TX / 2013-2023
Professional Memberships:
Portrait Society of America
Oil Painters of America
ARC Associate Living Master
Selected Publications:
Art of the West— 2023 Sept/Oct Issue: The Studio feature by Sara Gilbert Frederick
Western Art Collector—2023 June Issue: Timeless Expressions by Erin E. Rand
The American Quarter Horse Journal–Jan/Feb 2023 Issue: Ranch Works by Holly Clanahan
Western Horseman—March 2020 Issue: Rooted in the West by Dee Ann Littlefield
Western Art Collector—2020 March Issue: InSight Gallery Texas Masters Show
