PAINTING FOR CONSERVATION
AN ARTIST LED PROJECT
PAINTING FOR CONSERVATION.
The Valley Zoo Development Society is proud to host artist Misty Ring for an extraordinary year-long project at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Misty will create 16-19 life-sized paintings of Canadian wildlife, with a special focus on Albertan species. This unique endeavor highlights the importance of conservation, with 56% of the chosen animals classified as threatened, 50% found at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, and 44% featured on the Conservation Carousel. Each brushstroke tells a story of resilience, biodiversity, and the need for collective action to protect our natural world.
A list of potential animals Misty will paint this year includes:
- Red Fox (At the zoo)
- Swift Fox
- Arctic Fox (Featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- North American River Otter (At the zoo)
- Peregrine Falcon (At Zoo)
- Canada Lynx (At the zoo & featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Reindeer (At the zoo)
- Northern Leopard Frog (At the zoo)
- Little Brown MyotisÂ
- Piping Plover
- Prairie Rattlesnake
- Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Burrowing Owl (At the zoo)
- Great Horned Owl (Featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Great Grey Owl (Featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Snowy Owl (At the zoo &Â featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Mallard (Featured on the Conservation Carousel)
- Arctic Wolf (At the zoo & featured on the Conservation Carousel)
Visitors will have the chance to watch Misty bring these magnificent creatures to life in the Conservation Corner, located in the Saito Centre. Follow Misty on social media for details on her painting schedule, the species she’s currently working on, and interactive activities that will complement the project.
The first collection of paintings will be released on April 1, 2025, at 6 PM, with new releases every 1st of the month at 6 PM.
When you purchase a painting, you can choose from two options: 1) Pick it up after the Painting for Conservation Exhibition wraps up in early January 2026, or 2) Take it home now, but return it for the exhibition, which is expected to start in November (dates TBD). Either way, your painting will be recognized with a special placard for its generous loan during the show.
Best of all, 30% of every sale will support the Valley Zoo Development Society, helping to fund important conservation initiatives. Don’t miss the chance to own a beautiful painting and contribute to a meaningful cause!
ABOUT THE ARTIST
MISTY RING.
Misty’s life has always been shaped by her passion for art, animals, and nature. Growing up in British Columbia’s rugged interior, she was surrounded by mountains, lakes, and rivers that ignited her creative spirit. In 2006, she moved to Alberta, where the vast prairie sky became her new source of inspiration. A pivotal moment in her childhood was volunteering at the Kamloops Wildlife Park, where she helped bottle-feed an orphaned whitetail deer—a memory that deepened her love for wildlife and conservation.
From a young age, Misty was drawn to art, with animals, particularly cats, featuring prominently in her early works. She initially focused on graphite, mastering the beauty of form and detail, before expanding into painting. Today, her primary medium is oil, though her 2020 Skyscape Collection showcased her versatility in watercolour. While known for her skyscapes, Misty’s love for animals continues to guide her artistic path, urging her to merge her passions.
Her upcoming Painting for Conservation marks the beginning of her journey toward using art as a tool for animal conservation. Through this collection, she seeks to raise awareness about wildlife and the need for preservation, creating works that highlight the stories of those who cannot speak for themselves.
Misty’s artistic mission goes beyond aesthetics; she aims to provide a sense of peace and reflection. Whether capturing the grandeur of the sky or the vulnerability of wildlife, her art invites viewers to pause and consider the deeper narratives that connect us all.
With a Visual Arts Certificate, an Arts & Cultural Management Diploma, and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture from the University of Alberta, Misty hopes to also pursue a Masters in Art Conservation. Her dedication to both art and conservation reflects her commitment to making a lasting impact on the world around her.
BOOK CLUB
Join Misty’s conservation-focused book club via Zoom. It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with others passionate about wildlife and the environment. To secure your spot, email misty@mistyringart.com and dive into a year of inspiration, art, and conservation.
The 2025 Book List:
- February 2025: The Sixth Extinction (10th Anniversary Edition): An Unnatural History by Elizabeth KolbertÂ
- March 2025: Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future by Gloria Dickie
- April 2025: Wilder by Millie Kerr
- May 2025: The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammals by Merlin Tuttle
- June 2025: Streams of Consequence: Dispatches from the Conservation Wolrd by Lorne Fitch
- July 2025: Path of the Puma: The Remarkable Resilience of the Mountain Lion by Jim Williams
- August 2025: American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee
- September 2025: The Rights of Nature: A Legal Revolution that Could Save the World by David R. BoydÂ
- October 2025: The Snow Leopard Project and other Adventures in Warzone Conservation by Alex Dehgan
- November 2025: The Hidden World of the Fox by Adele Brand
- December 2025: Wild Ones by Jon MooallemÂ