There are a lot of great artists in the world, many of which are living, and it seems that I meet a new one everyday. I’ve come across some new artists (or at least new to me) as of late and thought it would be fun to introduce them to everyone on here. I’ve compiled a list- some of which are not as unfamiliar to me but thought they should get their due- so here are their links to their work (in no particular order):
I received a great little review by Brad Martin of Secret Still the other day. My painting Untitled (Heads) is featured (as seen in the screen grab on the left). I was flattered that Josh Keyes came to mind when he viewed my work, as I am a fan of his as well. You can read his flattering- and humorous- review at http://www.secretstill.com/blog/2012/01/11/amy-guidry/.
I’ve added two new small works to the In Our Veins series. Both are acrylic on canvas, 4″ by 4,” and $100 each. I just had better photos taken of them, hence the late post. The first painting is titled “Interdependent” and the next one is “Untitled (Desert).” I use tiny paintbrushes on all my work, but they are especially useful for these small paintings as they consist mostly of tiny little dabs and lines of paint. The photos here are rather small, so you can view them full-size on my website at www.amyguidry.com/interdependent.html and www.amyguidry.com/untitled04.html.
“Interdependent” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD
“Untitled (Desert)” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD
I’m excited to announce the “arrival” of my new video project featuring In Our Veins. This latest video is an in-depth look into the series, discussing my thoughts behind several paintings, as well as some great closeup views of the work. The video is narrated by Cheryl Mack (she also narrated the New Realm video- many people have asked if it was me). My description does not do it justice- so be sure to check it out by clicking the image below or visiting Youtube at http://youtu.be/raQXeTBHJTQ.
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I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend! We’re actually having some nice weather here for a change after Tropical Storm Lee. Over the weekend, my work was featured on Empty Kingdom. This is actually the second time I’ve been featured. Some of my earlier work appeared there almost a year and a half ago (how time flies…). This feature includes work from my “In Our Veins” series including some of the newest paintings from that series. You can check it out online here: http://www.emptykingdom.com/main/featured/amy-guidry-revisit/.
"Sequence" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6"w x 12"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2011; SOLD
At last, I have finally finished another painting from the “In Our Veins” series. I’m always looking for ways to improve, no matter how big or small, so I really focused on the textures in this piece. Though you can’t really tell here, so be sure to go to my website for a better look, in addition to a zoom-in feature (the magnifying glass icon on the top right)- www.AmyGuidry.com/sequence.html. The title is “Sequence” and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ wide by 12″ high.
Much of this series, as stated in my artist statement (which is posted on my website), deals with the life cycle so the title is in reference to that process. Both life and death are represented, new life- plants, animals- are seen building upon each other, one leading to the next, which is also why I opted for a long, vertical composition. The animals I chose follow, for the most part, a hierarchy of sorts as seen in nature. Though it may be odd for a vegan to discuss this, but the animals depicted follow each other in the food chain (side note- as a vegan, I realize this is a fact of life, however I have a choice when it comes to what I eat). The roses were an almost subconscious choice at first, but seemed appropriate for the piece given that we use roses to celebrate life as well as to honor those that have passed.
"Symbiotic" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 11"w x 14"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2011
So excited- I came across some good news just after it was announced (apparently I was on the web at the right time…). I have been selected as one of the artists to be featured in the Brooklyn Art Project’s BAP Quarterly #1. This is their first full-color publication and will be out this summer. Featured on the left is one of my paintings to be included- “Symbiotic.” “The Wild West” has been selected as well, so my excitement is doubled. The publication was guest-curated by Samantha Levin (Anagnorisis Fine Arts, Curator for White Rabbit, NYC). 100 artists have been selected, including some of my personal faves- Carrie Ann Baade and Caitlin Hackett.
“Heads II” by Amy Guidry; 12″ x 12″; acrylic on canvas; Sold; (c) Amy Guidry 2011
My latest piece is now finished and online! I had some back problems to slow me down a bit, but managed to pull through. This is the most recent addition to my “In Our Veins” series. It is a 12″ x 12″ painting, acrylic on canvas, titled “Heads II.” It is related to a previous painting- “Untitled (Heads).” I recently discussed this one and wanted to share my thoughts behind it. The concept behind this piece, as with several of my paintings, is that of humans viewing nature as a means to an end. We view animals as pieces and parts- head, tongue, rump, rear, breast, wing, etc. If they are not referred to as parts, they are named something other than what they are- chickens are poultry, pigs are pork, cows are beef, etc. They are no longer acknowledged as animals, but as food. Others are treated as trophies to hang on a wall, or turned into “luxury items” to wear or carry things in. I see animals as sentient beings- living, breathing, thinking, with offspring of their own to care for.
While humans typically treat their fellow members of the animal kingdom as a means to an end, I depict them with personalities, or what others arrogantly deem as “human” qualities (as if only humans can express emotions). For instance, many of the animals I paint have eyes that appear “human,” in that you see the whites of the eyes, or they have lighter colored eyes and not large, dark doe eyes as typically associated with animals. Some animals are positioned in a dominant stance or their facial expression is calm and serene- again, qualities typically associated with only humans. In this painting, the animals are confident and staring directly at the viewer, demanding attention and acknowledgement.
For a larger view (much larger, thanks to my recent website redesign), visit the following link: www.AmyGuidry.com/Heads_II.html
If you live in Lafayette, Louisiana, or even in the Acadiana area, you are probably familiar with Gallery 549. Gallery 549 is one of several gallery hot-spots during Artwalk in downtown Lafayette, and one of my personal favorites to visit. So I’m happy to say that I will be showing there next month as part of the annual Spring group exhibition. I’ll be showing works from my “In Our Veins” series, all new and not previously exhibited- so this will be their debut! If you are in the area, this is your chance to see my work in person. I show all over the country, so I really love it when I have the opportunity to show in a local venue so that friends and family can attend. The opening reception will be held during the Second Saturday Artwalk in April (which will be April 9th) from 6-8pm. Hope to see you there!
Oh, and for those of you who are out of area, you can visit my work virtually at www.AmyGuidry.com.
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).
