Jackie Ritschard’s art style is quite unique around this area. While she does do canvas paintings, she really enjoys doing her paintings on basswood.

“I do acrylic paints on canvas and basswood. Basswood is my favorite. I like the live edge and the look. I do a lot of nature scenes and barn themes, and the wood just really makes it,” she said.

She really loved doing art when she was younger, but as she continued on in life, she grew apart from it before finally starting up again.

“I started painting when I was a little girl, then I grew up and life happened. In about 2017, I started getting back into and it just kind of grew from there,” she said.

When it comes to having a favorite art piece, Ritschard has one that comes to mind of a farm scene she made on basswood, but pieces of hers come along every so often that she really likes.

“Sometimes I can do an art piece and I just absolutely love it, and I know I need to sell it, but I kind of want to hang on to it, but I do sell it. Once in a while, there’s that one piece that I love, then I sell it and another one comes along,” Ritschard said.

She finds inspiration from just about everywhere, but she feels it’s mostly drawn from nature.

“I’m inspired when I see a photograph, or I’ll be driving down the road and I’ll see a cool barn or something catches my eye in the field,” she said.

One thing that really brightens her day when it comes to her art is hearing how much people enjoy it and knowing she’s made an impact on them through that.

“I do love and feel humbled when people come through and say, ‘Oh, we love your artwork, it’s inspiring, it’s so bright and colorful’ and it makes a person feel good when you hear it,” she said.

While it isn’t something she’s been doing her entire life, she still really enjoys doing her art and being able to share it with others.

“I’m loving being an artist and sharing my love for art with everybody else,” she said.