2026 Art of the Cowgirl Fine Art Fellowship Application

*** IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES COMPLETING OR SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT JAIMIE STOLTZFUS AT JAIMIE@ARTOFTHECOWGIRL.COM

DEADLINE: March 15th, 2026, recipient will be notified no later than April 15th, 2026

Our Mission

The Art of the Cowgirl Fellowship Program will encourage, promote and invest in the development of emerging artists and makers engaged in the unique arts, trades, and horsemanship of the western lifestyle while celebrating tradition and inspiring innovation through mentorship from established leaders in their fields. Through this program, Art of the Cowgirl will foster creativity and will work to preserve traditional art techniques and functional gear.

The Fellowship Program is Tammy Pate’s original dream of providing an opportunity for western artists to work with masters-- a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn or refine their passion with some of the most talented makers in the business. Whether it be a fine art, functional trade or horsemanship, these fellowships will enrich, empower and educate while honoring our western heritage. The fellowship seeks to remove obstacles such as funding and access for up and coming artists, without restriction of age or location.

Program Details:

* Recipient may receive: supplies and materials, travel, room and board at Master’s location, travel expenses to Art of the Cowgirl event for presentation to be determined by Art of the Cowgirl

* Each recipient to have a completed piece of work or agreed upon task at conclusion of fellowship period

* Recipients will be required to complete fellowships in same calendar year as award received and present work at next Art of the Cowgirl event (must be completed in 2026 calendar year)

*Recipients will be required to sign contracts and releases before funds will be released

*Recipients will be required to donate an item to the 2027 Fellowship Art Auction (does not have to be piece completed during Fellowship)

* Recipients will be chosen by Fellowship Selection committee

Recipient Requirements:

* 18 years of age or older

* Open to both men and women

* Able to complete fellowship before Dec. 31st of the calendar year in which the award is provided.

* Able to attend and present work at Art of the Cowgirl February 2027 in Arizona

* Meet minimum skill and experience requirement as determined by Master

* While individuals may apply for fellowships more than once and more than one fellowship, selected recipients may not be awarded a fellowship more than once

About Master Mary Ross Buchholz

For over 25 years, art has been Mary Ross Buchholz's devotion. Born and raised in west Texas, she brings preservation and an authentic portrayal of the American West to life. Buchholz and her husband live and ranch along with their three adult sons in a rural west Texas near the town of Eldorado.

Coming from a pioneering ranching family that homesteaded in the early 1890s, Buchholz offers a glimpse of her daily ranch-life primarily with the use of charcoal and graphite, the most primitive of mediums. She enjoys sculpting and painting, as well, and has been honing her skills since her childhood.

With an affinity for anatomy and the sciences, Buchholz received an Animal Science degree from Texas A&M University in the early 1990’s. Taking a different direction than originally planned by deciding not to follow in her father’s footsteps as a veterinarian, she envisioned returning to the ranch to raise a family instead.
With toddlers under foot and feeling the need to create, Buchholz, with the encouragement of her mother, embarked upon an amazing art journey. All in all, it allowed her to have a career while staying at home with her young children.

Buchholz relishes in creating the portrait, whether the subject is an animal or a person. She enjoys subtly rendering the details, the different textures and the individual characteristics of her subjects. “I want my pieces to not only look real, but feel real. I’m always mindful of the subject’s personality and hope each piece is portrayed with honesty and simplicity. I am blessed that what I enjoy drawing is right here, out my backdoor”, as Buchholz often portrays her own family members and the animals raised on the ranch.

Buchholz has received numerous awards and participates in many museum shows across the country including the Night of Artists at the Briscoe Museum in San Antonio, TX, the Small Works Great Wonders at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage museum in Oklahoma City, OK, and the Coors Western Art Show in Denver CO. Her most recent honors include the Small Works Great Wonders art show 2024 Cynthia Post Memorial Directors' Choice Award at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Briscoe Western Art Museum 2023 Night of Artists “William B. Travis Patrons’ Choice Award” and the 2023 Academy of Western Artists "Artist of the Year” award. She is represented by InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX and Broadmoor Galleries in Colorado.

Fellowship Details

Fellowship includes the opportunity to learn from Mary Ross Buchholz for 5-7 days in her studio in Eldorado, TX. The focus will be on charcoal and graphite. Option to do some sculpting as well if time permits.

All travel and lodging expenses will be covered by Art of the Cowgirl Foundation. Recipient must provide proof of insurance and sign a liability release before the Fellowship time.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT FOR FELLOWSHIP:

* Must be 18 years or older

* Must exhibit strong work ethic, open mind, and willingness to learn

* May be a beginner or intermediate artist

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Please tell us about yourself.

Please tell us about your art background, favorite medium, favorite subjects for your art, and what inspires you most when creating art?

Do you live on a ranch or come from an agriculture background? Are you familiar with ranch animals like horses, cattle, sheep, goats, or border collies?

How would you describe your learning style and attitude towards learning new things? Have you taken any prior art workshops, classes, or studied under any artists?

Name two areas that you would like to improve your skills.

Where would you like to be with your art in 2 years? What are your longer term goals?

Why are you specifically interested in learning from Mary Ross Buchholz? What draws you to her art or teaching?

What would receiving this Fellowship mean to you?

What has been your experience with Art of the Cowgirl? What does the Foundation's mission mean to you?

Please attach 3-6 photos of your work if available.

I ensure I am 18 years or older and all information and photos on this application are a true representation of my work.

2026 Art of the Cowgirl Fellowship Application