“Revival” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016“Emergence” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
In the midst of some other projects I have going on, I managed to finish a couple of small paintings in my In Our Veins series. These are part of a sub-series of 4″ x 4″ paintings. Revival and Emergence are both acrylic on canvas, 4″ by 4.” View these and two other available small paintings here:
“Rebirth” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016“Spring” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
I’ve just finished a couple of new paintings in my In Our Veins series. These are part of the subset of smaller paintings in the series, both acrylic on canvas, 4″ by 4.” Both paintings refer to our connection to nature, with Spring linking flora and fauna and Rebirth referring to the life cycle. View them online here: http://amyguidry.com/rebirth.html and here: http://amyguidry.com/spring.html.
Cover of The Journal featuring “Vital” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 12″w x 6″h
My work was recently published on the cover and inside The Journal literary magazine. My painting Vital is wrapped around the front and back cover while several other paintings from my In Our Veins series are inside. In addition, there is an interview in which I’d like to share just one of the questions because I think it’s an important one:
SS: Is there anything you can tell me about this work that someone who doesn’t have expertise might not see or appreciate?
AG: I think people need to realize this: they are much more astute when it comes to art than they give themselves credit for. True art will elicit an emotional response from someone, whether it’s a positive or negative reaction. For those that enjoy my work, they often tell me that something resonates with them. It may not be exactly what I expect the viewer to respond to, but it’s in the ballpark. There have been times when someone finds my work “dark” and therefore they are unsure of it. I would still consider that an accurate response because I deal with some tough issues in my work. Animals are beautiful, nature is beautiful, and I’m trying to create something that is beautiful but at the same time sends a message. Either way, I want to draw attention to these issues and inspire others to take action, even if it’s just small changes because every little bit helps. That’s the takeaway I hope for when anyone looks at my work, whether they have an art degree or not.
Painting in progress by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 20″w x 10″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
I’ve been diligently working on a new painting in my In Our Veins series. I have not decided on a name yet, but it is a representation of the connection of all life to the natural world. The first layer of paint has been roughed in and I’m currently working on the horse, adding color, depth, and detail to the muscles and veins. It is an acrylic on canvas, 20″ wide by 10″ high. View more from this series here.
This is a 30-second clip from my Artist Talk at LeMieux Galleries in New Orleans. No matter how many times I have to speak in public, it’s always terrifying. Which is why I often think that the things I don’t want to do, are probably the things that I should do. Side note: this Saturday (Sept. 24th) is the last day to catch this exhibit!
Installation view of paintings “Anonymous,” “Ascension,” and “On the Rise” all by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
This week is the last week of my exhibit at LeMieux Galleries in New Orleans. My series, In Our Veins, is on view in the Main Gallery of LeMieux now through September 24th. You can also catch Lee Deigaard’s series, Near and Far.
I’ve had some great response to this body of work, including a feature in American Art Collector Magazine’s September 2016 issue. And Paul Bentley of the New Orleans magazine, Where Y’At, gave me a great review stating: “…Her dreamlike landscapes with animal, human, and natural forms mixing and dancing with each other create beautiful images that seem to be more than just a mere neo-surrealist tribute to Dali or O’Keefe. Her paintings create a dialogue with her obvious predecessors and influences, but they retain an original, calming, eerie, and downright intelligent attitude to them.”
More information on this exhibit can be found on LeMieux’s website.
“Preservation” by Amy Guidry on the cover of the Denver Quarterly, Vol. 50 No. 4, 2016
My painting Preservation is featured on the current cover of the Denver Quarterly. Aside from being on the cover, I’m also happy to have another opportunity to get the message out regarding animal and ecological welfare. The circle of leaves was an image that came to mind before falling asleep, and I made note of it in my sketchbook. Using the leaves to replace the head (which is in keeping with some recent paintings where I use landscapes or trees in place of heads), represents the connection of all life forms. Nature is so much a part of us that I freely use trees or landscapes in place of heads or limbs, just to emphasize that connection and significance.
The small lot of land the deer stands on is in reference to our dire need to conserve wild land and forests. The natural space is shrinking due to deforestation. All the more reason to plant trees and support organizations that preserve natural habitats.
In many of my paintings, I use the eyes and facial expressions of animals to convey a sense of connection and relatability, but lately I’ve been doing the opposite and feature animals without faces or covered faces. I’ve been exploring the idea of Anonymity vs. Connection- without seeing their faces, does that make them any less personable or meaningful? And how does this apply on a global scale?
“Mother Nature” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 6″ x 6″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
Well, this is it. This is the last time Mother Nature will be on view to the public. It is currently on exhibit in the “Animus” exhibit in London, and afterwards will have its permanent home in London. This painting has been an important piece for me since it is the only painting I’ve done directly dealing with dairy:
Our use of animals and the environment has led to practices that could be considered a bizarre perversion of nature. From our everyday use to the most complex scientific discoveries, we have created a new world far removed from that of our original planet. Our food is no longer something we grow or find ourselves, but prepackaged, processed, and mass-produced. ‘Natural’ has become unnatural. We consider it eccentric or bohemian. We, as adults, drink what is essentially breast milk from an entirely different species, yet scoff at the idea of a woman breastfeeding her infant in public. In Mother Nature a calf is seen nursing from a human breast, calling to question our double standards- if this is bizarre, then why is it not when the roles are reversed?
“On the Rise” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 10″w x 20″h; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016“Arise” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6″ x 6″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016“Stem” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
I’ve finally finished my large painting as well as a couple of smaller pieces. All three are the latest in my In Our Veins series. The first is titled On the Rise and is an acrylic on canvas, 10″ wide by 20″ high. This piece was created in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of animals in the Arctic. Next is Arise, also an acrylic on canvas, 6″ by 6″ square. The skull serves as a landscape for wild horses, linking humans and animals. Lastly is the latest addition to the smaller paintings, Stem, which is 4″ by 4.” The deer wears a wreath of roses, representing their connection to each other and all of nature. View all three paintings online here: On the Rise, Arise, and Stem.
“Food or Pet? How Do You Decide?” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 40″w x 30″h; Sold; (c) Amy Guidry 2016
I’m a vegan artist living in “Sportsman’s Paradise.” For those that don’t know, that would be Louisiana. Not exactly a pleasant state nickname if you are a vegan. Nevertheless, I’ve managed to live a vegan lifestyle here and have even made a niche for myself as an artist. And I actually like living here… though I could do without the humidity. So how is this possible, you may ask.
For starters, being a vegan, environmental artist is no harder than any other artist. Art is supposed to make a statement, and it’s not going to be something everyone necessarily agrees with. So the fact that my work is influenced by my personal beliefs, is not any different than any other artist creating work about what matters most to them. And galleries are choosy about what they show regardless, so again, it doesn’t matter if you’re a vegan artist or not.
Louisiana is known for it’s food, unfortunately none of that involves tofu. Yet. So, yes, that is bothersome for me, but it doesn’t stop me from living here. If anything, it just gives me more reason to keep doing what I do. Add to that the BP oil spill, hurricanes, and wetland loss, I have even more reason to be here and speak up for our animals and our environment.
I have met some resistance, but I don’t know any vegan that hasn’t, so I wouldn’t say that’s exclusive to Louisiana. Usually it comes from older family members that have no filter. A lot of people seem to be coming around, while others tolerate it but don’t understand it. I’ve been a vegan for 17 years now and have seen a definite shift in the mindset of the general population. For starters, most people now know how to correctly pronounce vegan and might know someone that is. A lot are open to at least trying vegan recipes. (Everyone loves my dinner parties!) And some are starting to become aware of the huge environmental impact that factory farming has on our planet.
Overall, I’ve had a very positive response to my art, both in and outside of Louisiana, which is promising for many reasons. I would love to see more vegans here, but I’m sure a lot of people would say the same about where they live, too. In the meantime, I’m going to keep doing what I do. With every painting, I have another opportunity to reach out to the world, and inspire them to do more for animals and the planet. And on that note, it’s time to get back to the studio.
