"Fragility" by Amy Guidry, acrylic on canvas, (c) Amy Guidry 2011
Lots going on as of late. I will be revealing a new painting pretty soon. My website is currently getting a makeover which will be unveiled soon, hopefully. And I’ve had shows coming down and new ones about to go up. Recently my painting “Fragility” was sold and has found a new home in NYC. This is one from my latest series of work “In Our Veins.” It’s a 6″ x 6″, acrylic on canvas. I will miss him… “Fragility” was also featured recently on Beautiful Decay along with several other paintings from the series, which you can view at http://beautifuldecay.com/2011/02/21/amy-guidry/.
Occasionally I get asked if I ship my work, which is a common question among artists and non-artists alike. The thought of packaging an original work of art and handing it over to a carrier is scary. I will admit that it makes me anxious. However, after reviewing the methods of other shipping companies, as well as researching the internet, I have been successfully packaging my own work for transit for a few years now. I have to say that this was not only a financial decision, but also based on a bad experience in which one of my paintings was damaged by a shipping company. So here are the steps I follow when shipping my paintings:
– Wrap the front and sides of the canvas with glassine paper. This can be found online at just about any art supply shop. Be sure to tape the paper to the back, not the front of the canvas.
– Then wrap the painting front and sides with a sheet of mylar. I like Grafix Dura-Lar which you can find on Utrecht.com. This helps protect against moisture due to climate/temperature change.
– Bubble wrap the painting with large bubble wrap, covering the back as well. I like to then wrap it again with another sheet of bubble wrap. Try to limit the tape to just along the sides to help prevent someone from cutting into the painting when removing tape.
– Prep your box for transit. I like the ones offered by U-Line (uline.com) since they have boxes specifically for artwork. I suggest getting one that leaves a minimum 3 inches of space around your painting.
– Tape one end of the box together with clear packing tape, covering it horizontally and vertically as well as along the seams of the box and corners.
– While the box is empty, I like to mark it with a permanent marker, writing “Fragile” on all sides of the box and I put an “up” arrow along where the top is. Also, it helps the gallery if you write your name (I just use my last name since it’s unique enough) on the box as well. Just be sure that it is away from the “Fragile” signs to help with visibility.
– Before stuffing the box, I use a few extra sheets of cardboard to protect the “body” of the box and the painting. I like to have 2 sheets on either side of the painting, but if it’s really thick you can use one on each side. The cardboard should be cut to cover the painting but be just smaller than the inside of the box to ensure a good fit.
– When shipping a larger painting, I like to use a couple of sheets of thin wood such as luan, which I get at Home Depot. I will also add a couple of sheets of cardboard as well, if space allows.
– Line the bottom of your box with crumpled brown kraft paper or tissue paper. I advise against colored tissue paper or newspaper in case of bleeding. Magazine pages are okay, but don’t look as “professional” so maybe consider where this is going first. Pack the bottom well, especially the corners of the box.
– Place the wrapped painting in the box, between the sheets of cardboard so there are even amounts on each side. If using luan, place the painting between the luan, leaving extra cardboard evenly on each side.
– Line the sides of the box with more kraft paper or tissue paper. If the box is large, you may need a dowel or broomstick to help push the paper down the sides to ensure they are properly stuffed.
– Finish with kraft paper or tissue across the top of the painting. If including a gallery contract or other paperwork, I put that information in a 9×12 envelope and place it across the top of the painting before adding kraft paper. Then seal with clear packing tape, again going horizontally and vertically.
In cases where the work will be shipped back to me, I like to include a typed packing instruction sheet for the gallerist. Make sure your name, contact info, and the name of your painting is on the sheet as well. This way you can ensure that your painting is packaged in the same manner as it was received.
Also, I won’t promote any one carrier, but I will say that I prefer 2-day Air shipping. It can be expensive depending on the size of the piece, but it goes through the least number of hands. (Other than overnight, which is $$.)
Artist Amy Guidry discussing her work with reporter Kevin Chiri
First, I must point out that this is my own personal account regarding my efforts to market my art, so bear in mind that some things may work better for others. That said, I’ve done a lot of research over the years regarding the business side of art. All of these accounts are from others’ own personal dealings as well, so I like to rely on a broad spectrum of sources. So enough blabbing, here’s the gist of it:
I’ve been tracking my website (www.AmyGuidry.com) stats for years, which is the only way I can know (other than someone telling me personally) that someone has been checking out my work. I’ve noticed that some sources that once were good generators of publicity, have fallen by the wayside a bit. I’m almost certain that this (yes, I hate to say it) is because as soon as the economy took a dive, many people were dropping their subscriptions and I think some were just less interested in purchasing artwork, therefore not looking it up on the internet so much, either. For instance, when I would have a feature article about my work in a magazine, I’d see a huge spike in my website stats. Now, not so much.
So what does this mean? Well, for starters, now is the time for artists to up their efforts (if you haven’t already) when it comes to marketing your work. Studies have shown that those who keep marketing despite an economic depression, thrive later on because they have maintained their brand status while those that didn’t tend to lose customers in the long run. They appear less successful because they couldn’t “afford” (though you can market your work for free thanks to the internet) to advertise their product or services. And they were more likely to be forgotten because their name/brand was not being repeated. Also good to note here that it takes an estimated seven times for an ad to sink in to its viewers. So a one-time ad is most certainly not enough.
Back to my personal findings- what has worked according to my stats is #1 Direct traffic. Which is great and should be your main effort because it means people are directly going to your site. You stand out to them, you are the authority to refer to, your art is memorable, etc. So this means that handing out those business cards is working. #2 is Google. Yes, it is “the” search engine according to my stats. I know that this is due to my web ranking. If you look up my name, my website is at the top. Not Facebook. This is good because you want your site to be the place people go to find you. Those social media sites are great, but again, you have to stay ahead of them in your rankings. That said, the rest of my referrals come from a mix of social media sites, blogs, websites, and emails (which may be direct traffic, basically, since I like to put my website at the bottom of my emails). I can’t say one is better than the other since they vary from month to month and even day to day. However, the good news is they are all free advertising. So there’s no cost to you (other than your studio time- so be careful) to “advertise” through all of them.
Before I forget, I should clarify that this doesn’t mean I think you should abandon other marketing sources such as magazines, radio, newspapers, etc. I would advise using that time and money (if you are buying ads) wisely and pick and choose the ones that best suit your work and reach your target audience.
I wanted to share one of my latest paintings from my “In Our Veins” series. The title is “Mother Nature” and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” This is one of the more overtly vegan paintings from the series. I’m disturbed by the fact that humans are willing to drink what is “breast milk” even though they are adults (and it’s not even from their own species!). Yuck. It’s no wonder so many people are lactose-intolerant… because it’s not natural! I wanted to create a piece around this concept, ironically naming it “Mother Nature” because there is nothing natural about it. That said, I have a few pics of my process to share. You can see the finished piece on my website at this link: www.AmyGuidry.com- Mother Nature.
Initial drawing and start of rough layer of paint for “Mother Nature”
Intial rough layer of paint complete
Another rough layer of paint for the field and sky
The sky is now complete after adding another good layer of paint
Details are added to the grassy field
Detailed grass in the field is now finished; On to the cow next
Calf details such as tufts of hair are added and dark and light values developed
The Prospect New Orleans Benefit- Throwdown.1.5- last Saturday was a big hit. Many people were in attendance after the Julia St. Artwalk in New Orleans. My painting “Kerry” now has a new home (see previous post). And I met some other exhibiting artists as well. So if you missed the event, here are a few photos to enjoy the event vicariously. You can see more at this direct link: www.amyguidry.com/events.html.
Artist Amy Guidry with Dan Cameron, Founder/Director of Prospect New Orleans Biennial
Guests at the Throwdown.1.5 auction, New Orleans
Exhibiting artists Wayne Ditch, Amy Guidry, and Jessica Goldfinch
This weekend I will be one of the artists featured in the Throwdown.1.5 auction to benefit the Prospect New Orleans Biennial. It’s for a great cause and it’s in New Orleans, so all the more reason to go! I am honored to be included amongst such great artists, some of which are from my own area. My painting “Kerry” from my 2005/2006 series will be up for auction. It is an acrylic on canvas, framed, and total size dimensions are 16″w x 13″h (view more of my work at www.AmyGuidry.com). The event will be held at Stage 3, Secondline Stages in New Orleans this Saturday, February 5th from 8-11pm. So if you are out and about for the artwalk, stop by afterwards. Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/146659.
Artists featured in the auction include: Wayne Amedee, Luis Cruz Azaceta, Kathleen Banton, Mark Bercier, Tim Best, Brice Bischoff, Jessica Bizer, Ralph Bourque, Hannah Chalew, Stephen Collier, Beth Dary, Luke Dubois, Aubrey Edwards, Lin Emery, Amy Guidry, Brian Guidry, Sally Heller, Chris Jahncke, Dick Johnson, Rachel Jones, Krista Jurisich, Les Lawrence, Charles Lovell, Sophie Lvoff, Carolyn McAdams, Natalie McLaurin, Michael Pajon, Francis X. Pavy, Mary Jane Parker, Stephanie Patton, Anastasia Pelias, Emily Sartor, Kate Samworth, Karoline Schleh, Regina Scully, Elizabeth Shannon, Dan Tague, Steven Tetters, Michel Varisco, and Monica Zeringue
Artist Amy Guidry with her paintings at Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX
I don’t know anybody growing up who didn’t wish they were in the “cool” crowd. Well, unless you already were in the cool crowd… So, better late than never, I think I finally reached “cool” status since I’m now featured on Vegans Are Cool. The name implies you’re cool, so I’m going with it. Silliness aside, I’m honored to be one of the featured interviews and to represent those vegans in the creative field. And it’s nice to get into some more personal aspects of my work since those opportunities don’t happen if your work is on a gallery wall and there’s no one around to explain it. So for a little more insight into my world- art, veganism, etc.- check out my interview at www.vegansarecool.com (also under the category- vegan creatives).
"The United States of Consumerism"- Amy Guidry, acrylic on canvas, (c) Amy Guidry 2011
Today marks the opening of “Insatiable: Our Rapacious Appetite for More” at the Kniznick Gallery located in the Women’s Studies Research Center of Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. I’m excited to be a part of this show as well as showing at such a prestigious university. The opening will be next month, but the exhibition is up as of today. Sometimes it’s nice just to go to a show before the opening (i.e. crowds) to get a good look at the work. This is actually a juried exhibition which was curated by Judy Haberl, Professor of Sculpture at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The show takes a look at consumerism in all forms- money, food, sex, power, etc. and the effects of such on our planet and its inhabitants. The exhibit is open now through March 15th, with the opening reception taking place on February 3, 2011 from 5-7:30pm.
And here is a list of participating artists: Edie Bresler, Donna Catanzaro, Marie Picard Craig, Marli Diestel, Anthony Fisher, Virginia Fitzgerald, Karen Frostig, Katerie Gladdys, Justin Goodall, Amy Guidry, Hope Hardesty, Max Heller, Rachael Jablo, Lauren Kalman, Sam Keller, Minsung Keyoung, Kirstin Lamb, Anne Lambert, Yvonne Love & Gabrielle Russomagno, So Yoon Lym, Leslie Macklin, Monika Malewska, Elizabeth Michelman, Mitzi Lynn Mize, Morrix, Nancy Morrow, Kathleen O’Hara, Anne Percoco, Rachel Bee Porter, Nina Prader, Gina Randazzo, Kayla Risko, Andrea Rosenthal, Alison Safford, Rosalie Ripaldi Shane, Kirsten Rae Simonsen, Gulin Sungur, Douglas Tausik,Dylan Vitone, Callie Wile, and April Wood
My painting, “The United States of Consumerism,” as seen above, will be part of the exhibition. For more of my recent work, please visit www.AmyGuidry.com.
I happen to have two shows going on this week, well opening that is. As you may recall, my work was selected for the MYSELF exhibition at the Sheppard Fine Art Gallery of the University of Nevada, Reno. I posted about this months ago, but the time has come and the opening will be taking place this Thursday, January 20th. The reception will take place from 5:30-8pm, with a panel discussion including some of the participating artists during the first hour. The exhibition officially opens today and will remain up through February 18th. The photo on the left is of the cover of the exhibition catalogue, which includes essays by Joy Garnett and Mira Schor.
The second opening is for the 26th Annual International Exhibition taking place at the Meadows Gallery of the University of Texas at Tyler. The opening reception is taking place this evening (!!) so if you are in the Texas area, be sure to stop by. The reception will be held from 6-7:30pm, with the exhibit remaining up through March 4th. The juror for the exhibit is renowned artist Cotter Luppi.
If you would like a concise list of my upcoming exhibits as well as goings-on in my career, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.amyguidry.com/contact.html.
"Synergy" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2011
Another addition to the “In Our Veins” series! I’ve recently completed “Synergy” and it is now online. This is an acrylic on canvas, 8″ wide by 10″ high. These paintings have been smaller than some of my past works due to the detail. I spend so much time on them as it is, for me to go any larger would require several months just to finish one. That said, I’ve been working as large as needed for all the “visual information.” This is another piece pertaining to the life cycle- something I am fascinated with- and the original concept was something I visualized in that half asleep/half awake state after going to bed. This is why I keep a sketchbook (and pen) on my bedside table.
To view the painting (at a much larger size) as well as the rest of the series, visit my website at this direct link: AmyGuidry.com- Synergy.
