Conventional Bio

Having gone from sea-level to the high mountains, Ms. Amy Randolph bypassed the large agencies and Portland city lights to follow her dream of living in big sky country near Yellowstone National Park . Amy originally grew up in a commercial fishing family on the Southern Oregon Coast where she learned to love and value the outdoors. While young enough to walk and apply crayons to walls, she acquired an infatuation with Dr.Seuss and coloring books. Over the years she developed a natural artistic talent and an insatiable desire to one day become a creative. Through the years her talent fostered, she was placed in the “Naturally Gifted and Talented” programs, won art and design awards, hung artwork in local galleries, and in high school began working with multimedia projects. Receiving an art scholarship, Ms. Amy attended Oregon State University where she acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design along with a minor in photography. Afterward, her independence, adventurous heart and free spirit lead her to pack her car with camping gear and a portfolio and head to the high mountains of Montana where pavement meets gravel and the fish never stop biting.

Within her 8 years experience, Amy had the rare opportunity to work as a designer while attending college. As an ambitious college freshman she managed to land her first summer design job with a small agency, Maya Graphics. Later she worked both as a creative for Lee Enterprises as well as a photographer for Hise Studio and the OSU Beaver Year Book. After graduating, she moved to Montana where she worked for Yellowstone National Park for a season, then landed a design job with JBD / Affiliated design, (partner of PrintingForLess) giving her the opportunity to work with many clients all over the nation. Later she moved to Bozeman where she worked for Success Communications before jumpstarting Catch & Release Graphics. Since then she has been successfully growing her business while teaching courses for Bozeman Continued Education and MSU Great Falls - College of Technology.

 

Non-conventional Bio

Where are you originally from?
I grew up on the southern Oregon coast where the air smells of salty fresh fish…it makes you think of lutefisk!

Where'd you go to school?
Oregon State University , I was a lucky small town kid to win a design scholarship. They had an amazing design program, not to mention, I always had a soft spot in my heart for the Beavers, win or lose.

Do you have a degree ?
Yes, I'm a bachelor of fine artist's (BFA) specializing in graphic design with a minor in photography .

When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
I'm not entirely sure, I've always known for as long as I can remember.

What experience do you have as a designer?
Well…that depends on how far back you want to go. But professionally it started my college freshman year when I was both ambitious and inexperienced and managed to weasel my way into a design job with a studio called Maya's Graphics. A couple years later a professor scared us, told us we better know the in's and out's of a printing press, so, I went to work as a designer for Lee Enterprises while still attending school. During that time I also worked as a photographer for Hise Studio as well as the Beaver Year Book. After graduation, I moved to Montana , worked in Yellowstone Park then landed a design job in Livingston with JBD / Affiliated Design where I had stayed for a few years. Later I moved to Bozeman, worked for Success Communications then finally decided it was time to start Catch & Release Graphics. Since then, I've been growing Catch & Release Graphics, and teaching courses through Bozeman's Continued Education and MSU Great Falls, College of Technology .

Why did you move to Montana?
While many flocked to the large agencies in Portland, I needed wilderness, wide open spaces, adventure, but most of all change. I've always loved wilderness and wide open spaces. A year prior to graduation I had visited and fallen in love with Montana , the people, the culture and the fly fishing. Once graduated, I packed my car with camping gear and a portfolio and headed to big sky country so that I could... as a favorite college professor once said... "live with the bears."

What's most rewarding about your career?
Getting paid to be creative and think up random stuff! Kidding. Actually... what I love most about what I do is turning clients idea's into reality then watching their business successfully grow.

What inspires you most?
People who are optimistic, successful, supportive, encouraging and challenging, but what really fuels my creative mind is the wilderness. There's nothing in the world that makes me feel more happy and alive then spending time in the backcountry. I always come back feeling refreshed, creative and ready to work.

Who would be your ideal mentor?
Jackson Pollock! Who else would've thought by randomly splattering paint over a huge canvas would be a means for making some serious dough?...ingenious!! Paul Rand however, is my real inspiration, a true legacy in American Design. He was married to the highly talented and skilled writer, Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged, great book).

As a designer, what color do you like most?
I'm not particularly bias, I actually love various color combinations. But if there's any color that excites me most it's definitely orange! I have yet to find a pair of orange running shoes!

What do you enjoy doing during your free time?
Free time? I didn't know there was such a thing! Actually, I enjoy spending my time outside whenever possible. I love running so I strive to get my runs in everyday. But on weekends I love to hike, backpack, camp, mt.bike, fly fish, raft, x-country ski or drive around and explore. On a more quiet note, I enjoy reading, learning, creating something, cooking, or spending quality time with good friends.

Do you have a favorite quote?
Yeah! "Even if you fall flat on your face, you're still moving forward!"

Do you prefer strawberry, chocolate or vanilla?
It's gotta be vanilla!....Though some would think of it as "boring" I see it as "diverse", you can have it with virtually anything.

If your place was burning down, what would be the one thing you'd grab?
The laptop and running shoes, life wouldn't be complete without either of them!

Do you have any pets?
I did, my goldfish Fat Alpha, but he's hanging out with the porcelain gods now.

If you had to choose one food to survive on what would it be?
Pizza, it comes in all four food groups. What could possibly be healthier than that!

If stranded, what's the one survival tool you'd have with you?
Orange duct tape. I learned long ago from my brothers you can build a fort and or survival tools with it! You can also use it to wrap injuries (blisters) or you could make a cover or even clothing to stay warm, start a fire and or bring attention to your where-abouts. It's good stuff!

If you had a choice, what critter would you be?
A Bald Eagle, though it's a bit cliché. I would love to fly and see the world below without the fear of falling. Bald Eagles are at the top of the food chain and on the endangered species list so I wouldn't have to worry about becoming prey or getting shot!

Affiliations
Montana Wilderness Association
Yellowstone Business Partnership
Bozeman Masters Swim Club
Big Sky Wind Drinkers
07 Sweet Pea Fest. - TShirt Chair
Team WINS - Woman In Sports http://www.teamwins.org/home.php
Prospera