Cohabit

“Cohabit” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6″w x 12’h; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012

I’ve recently finished another painting in my In Our Veins series.  Cohabit is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ wide by 12″ high.  In keeping with the series, there are various animals and insects, some being just heads or a bust, as well as those that are alive and some that are not, representing the stages of the life cycle.  The cutaway view of the tunnel serves two purposes.  One, it illustrates how various species often share dwellings such as tunnels (which is why destroying animal habitats has such a huge impact on the ecosystem).  And secondly, it is a reminder that organisms underground- both living and not- affect everything living above ground.

View the painting online here: http://www.amyguidry.com/cohabit.html.

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Panel Discussion

Louisiana Voices installation view, Paul & Lulu Hilliard Art Museum; Scultpure- Lisa Osborn, Paintings (left)- Linda Dautreuil, (center and right)- Amy Guidry

If you’ve ever wanted to pick an artist’s brain about their work, this weekend will be the perfect opportunity.  As part of the Louisiana Voices: Six Artists Speak to Us exhibition, there will be a panel discussion this Saturday, September 29th, from 2-4pm.  Five of the artists featured will be present to discuss their work with the public as well as their influence as an artist working in Louisiana.  Panel artists are Melissa Bonin, Linda Trappey Dautreuil, Troy Dugas, Amy Guidry, and Lisa Osborn.  The event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette.

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Quail Bell

Quail Bell Magazine- Interview with Artist Amy Guidry

I recently did an interview for Quail Bell Magazine which is now online.  Editor Christine Stoddard wrote the article, “Vegan in Sportsman’s Paradise: Surrealist Animal Artist, Amy Guidry” which you can read online here: http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/3/post/2012/08/interview-artist-amy-guidry.html.  Also be on the lookout for my painting The Wild West in their print issue!

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Opening Night: Louisiana Voices

I still can’t get over the amazing turnout at the Hilliard Museum the other night.  The opening reception for Louisiana Voices: Six Artists Speak to Us was this past Friday.  The exhibit looks great and I will be going back just to finish looking at everything.  It was so busy and packed that I did not get to check out all the art.  I do have photos to share of the event opening and will be posting more to my website soon.  The exhibit is up now through December 8th at the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, LA.  Also of note: an exhibition panel discussion will be held on September 29th from 2-4pm.

 

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Summer Show

Given that it is September, I think just by the title alone everyone can surmise that I am a little late in posting this.  Nevertheless, I wanted to share some photos from the closing reception of the 47th National Juried Exhibition- “The Summer Show” held by the St. Tammany Art Association at The Art House in Covington, LA.  It was a really strong show, saw several pieces I’d like to own, and a nice turnout.  The show was juried by Miranda Lash, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art for the New Orleans Museum of Art.  View more photos here: www.amyguidry.com/events.html.

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Perceptions

As an artist, therefore business owner, I can tell you it takes a lot of work to do what I do.  Which is why it is always surprising to me when people are confused by the amount of time I spend marketing my work.  Someone once said that it must be “relaxing” and so nice to “just paint all day.”  HA!  That is clearly not the case.  Artists know this but many still struggle with the idea of taking time away from the easel to market their work.

The thing is no one cares about our work as much as we do.  It may seem that if you have gained the coveted gallery representation that you are able to just paint all day, but that is not the case.  Why else do you see so many artists with representation with various galleries, myself included?  I can tell you, and even the gallery owners will tell you, that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.  Galleries are dealing with multiple artists and also multiple tastes and preferences.  You are not their only artist and they can’t possibly devote all their time and energy solely into your work.

It is up to you to grow your business, get your work seen, show in different galleries in different cities or even different countries, and meet people.  If you want people to know your art even exists, you will have to learn to market it and make the time to do so.  If you’re still reading this, clearly you’re serious about your work but I’m sure some of you are groaning at the thought.  But hear me out.  I have artists from all over email me and ask me how I did this, that, and the other.  Some of them assume that I “knew someone” or I was “lucky” but (though I haven’t done any actual math on this) I would say that 99% of what I’ve accomplished is a direct, or sometimes indirect result, of my actions.  If you want it done, you need to do it yourself.  Call that gallery, email that magazine, write that press release.  Whatever you are looking to gain, you will have to take the steps to make that happen.  It won’t just fall into your lap.  Very rarely does that ever happen.

Make time to work in the studio, but plan to spend a good portion of your day or week marketing as well.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

Update your website

Attend gallery openings

Send out a press release

Create a Fan Page for your art on Facebook

Hand out business cards

Send an email newsletter

Give a talk about your art

Read a marketing book!

These are just a few examples.  Think big.  Whatever you want to accomplish with your art- do it.  Make a list and take action.

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Sold

"Perspective" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4" x 4"; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012

My painting Perspective has found a new home.  Perspective is another painting from my In Our Veins series and is a 4″ x 4″ acrylic on canvas.  These tiny hare heads required some tiny brushes with barely there bristles.  I always like a challenge, though- it keeps me on my toes.  If you’ve been following my work, you may have come to that conclusion…  So if you are new, this series deals with the connections between all life forms and our role in the life cycle.  I feel that environmental issues as well as animal welfare are a large part of that discussion as they go hand-in-hand.  With this in mind, many of the animals in In Our Veins are depicted as just heads or limbs, such as the hares in Perspective.  While thinking of animals as simply parts and a means to an end is a common view, I see them as sentient beings and a significant part of the world we live in.  While I depict them as ‘missing pieces,’ I focus on the expressiveness of their eyes and faces to relay their importance.  You can learn more about the series as well as view the paintings at this direct link: www.amyguidry.com/wild_west.html.

Also of note: if you are in the Lafayette area or planning a visit, you can see works from my In Our Veins series in person at the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum starting September 15th through December 8th.

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Louisiana Voices: More Info

"The Pack" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 20"w x 10"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2012

Quick post today:  As you may know, the Hilliard Museum exhibit that I will be in opens on the evening of the 14th.  There is a press release online which gives a bit more information about the artists and the show itself which I thought everyone might enjoy.  You can read the article at: http://museum.louisiana.edu/news/Louisiana-Voices-Six-Artists-Speak-to-Us.  The exhibition runs September 15th through December 8th at the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, LA.

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