I get so many questions about my work ranging from simple to philosophical, so today I thought I’d post about one of the more fun ones. Sort of a Where’s Waldo post. So some of you have asked about the models I’ve used in my paintings, which have always been varied from series to series. However, there is one model that has been used for almost every body of work. If you’ve been following my work since the early days, you probably know the answer to this. Aside from using my own face, the next cheap and readily available model I know is my husband. Depending on the painting, some are an exact resemblance, some take artistic license, and some don’t even feature his face (i.e. Everything’s Coming Up Roses). So here are some of the paintings he has appeared in some form or another:
“Zachary” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 26″w x 22″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2005; Collection of The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
“United Isolation” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 48″ w x 36″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2007; Private Collection
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 40″w x 30″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2015; Collection of The City of Slidell
“Burden to Bear” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 11″w x 14″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2010; Private Collection
“Vulnerable” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 24″w x 12″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2011
“Zachary II” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 30″w x 24″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2005
“Synergy” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 8″w x 10″h; (c) Amy Guidry 2011; Available through The Shop Gallery, New Orleans
"Survival of the Fittest" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 36"w x 18"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Excited to announce that my work has been selected for the 2012 Art Melt. The jurors for this year’s event are Franklin Sirmans (Terri and Michael Smooke Department Head and Curator of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art); Ron Platt (Hugh Kaul Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Birmingham Museum of Art); and Thomas Neff (Artist and Professor, Louisiana State University). The event will be held at the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, LA. There will be a Preview Party in which awards and a jurors’ talk will be given on July 13th from 7-11pm. The opening reception for the event will be held July 14th from 5-10pm and will remain open through August 3rd.
“One” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6″x 6″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Finally finished! I’ve just completed my painting for The Great West Coast Migration traveling exhibition. The title is One and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” The exhibition is organized by PangeaSeed and will benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and abroad. Given that so many sharks are killed for their fins (a delicacy in Japan and China), this cause was of particular interest to me not only as an artist but as a vegan as well. People often think of sharks as vicious predators, (thanks, Media!) when in fact, they do not seek out humans and only a small percentage of shark attacks occur each year. I wanted to focus on them as being part of this world and just as significant as the rest of us. I combined the human faces with the shark body to illustrate them as one, or equals. The shark body floats in the air, in keeping with many of my other paintings, but also mimicking the hunted, hanging sharks I so often see. Such a simple title- One– and such a simple concept, yet we still struggle to see our planet as something to share rather than dominate.
The exhibition will begin this summer at the following galleries:
Seattle – Roq la Rue Gallery- July 13-15
Portland – Grass Hut Co.- July 20-22
San Francisco – Spoke Art Gallery- July 27-28
Los Angeles – LeBasse Project- August 2-4
Costa Mesa – The Artery- August 10-12
San Diego – Space 4 Art- August 17-19
"Perspective" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4" x 4"; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
I’ve just added another new painting to my In Our Veins series. It is a 4″ x 4″ painting, acrylic on canvas, $100, titled Perspective. This is yet another example of why I use such tiny paintbrushes. The hare heads are about the size of a dime. The heads are representative of the typical view of animals- that they are simply a means to an end and are just parts and pieces we use or eat as opposed to sentient beings. I, however, don’t see them this way- hence the title Perspective– which is why I depict them in a manner that emphasizes the expressions of their faces or light colored, “human-looking” eyes.
"Symbiotic" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 11"w x 14"h; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Quick post today- lots going on and I’ll have plenty to share on here later so be on the lookout. The 3-person exhibition that I currently have at Barrister’s Gallery in New Orleans recently received a great write-up in the Gambit Weekly. Eric Bookhardt attended our exhibit, “Visions of the Unnatural World,” and gave us a positive review which you can check out here: www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/05/15/review-new-works-at-barristers-gallery. The show is currently up through June 2nd.
Design by PangeaSeed Creative Director - Aaron Glasson (Rah Akaishi)
I have recently been invited to participate in The Great West Coast Migration, a touring art exhibition, organized by PangeaSeed in an effort to benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and beyond. According to PangeaSeed, “We are very excited to showcase a robust fund-raising art collection featuring works contributed by more than 100 internationally renowned artists, graphic designers, filmmakers and photographers. Almost all of our globally-based artist friends will be premiering their works for the first time ever in the United States. Also a percentage of the proceeds from the summer exhibitions will also help in aiding the startup of PangeaSeed’s inaugural west coast chapter whose mission and efforts will help further fundraising to keep sharks afloat on the west coast and around the world.”
The exhibition tour will take place at the following:
Seattle – Roq la Rue Gallery- July 13-15
Portland – Grass Hut Co.- July 20-22
San Francisco – Spoke Art Gallery- July 27-28
Los Angeles – LeBasse Project- August 2-4
Costa Mesa – The Artery- August 10-12
San Diego – Space 4 Art- August 17-19
Participating artists include: Dave Kinsey, Mike Stilkey, Brad Klausen, Yoram Benz, Skinner, Gale Hart, Shark Toof, Bwana Spoons, Craig Tapecat McCudden, Bigfoot, Danny Miller, Rah Akaishi, Justin Lovato, Lindsey Carr, Serge Gay Jr., Brett Amory, Robert Bowen, Ryan Maguire, MCA, Mario Wagner, John Fellows, Ronzo, Sylvia Ji, Toshikazu Nozaka, Michael Alm, Lindsey Way, Remo Camerota, Cometdebris (Koji Harmon), Gargamel, Blunt Graffix (Matt Dye), Samuel Rodriguez, Aaron De La Cruz, Ben Tour, Linnea Strid, Crajes, Becky and Louise, Max Dalton, Olek, Caitlin Hackett, Derek Nobbs, Jeni Yang, Scott Belcastro, Yoh Nagao, Joshua Petker, Flick Ford, Lisa Congdon, Josie Morway, Luciano Scherer, Scott Hove, Tati Suarez, Tugboat Printers, Victor Castillo, Peap Tarr, Meg Adamson, SHERYO, Aidan Monahan, The Yok, Spencer Keeton Cunningham, Cinzah Merkins, Nao Harada, Sage Vaughn, Adam Wallacavage, Erik Otto, Mr. Jango, P Williams, Morgan Slade, Jasper Wong, Flavien Demarigny, Laura Ball, Courtney Mattison, La Pandilla, Sam Rulz, Casey Grey, Greg Simkins, Jim Phillips, Nathan Spoor, Kid Creature, Ransom and Mitchell, Cupco (Luke Temby), Kelly Allen, Sean Tuttle, Amy Guidry, Kozyndan, Rhys Cooper, John Stuart Berger, Bruce Gossett, Sandra Cappelletti, Michael King, Carbon, Kim Scott, Ashley Suzanne Taylor, Mika Tenekoon, Pascal Lecocq, APAK, Asher Jay, Trip Airways, Kaoru Sakai, Jim Mazza, Winnie McDonald, Rob Mack, Jeremy Pruitt, Rick Rietveld, Ben Brough, Caspian de Looze, Nathan Paul Gibbs, Thaddeus Strode, Paul Kaiju, Le Merde, Vexta, Kool Kid Kreyola, Foerdl Scheichenost
I’ll be posting my finished piece for the exhibit here (and the links below) so be on the lookout.
Bizarre Beyond Belief- Amy Guidry In Our Veins feature
My work was recently featured on Bizarre Beyond Belief, a site that is “dedicated to the brilliant, beautiful and bizarre.” Several works from my latest series In Our Veins are featured. Check it out here: http://bizarrebeyondbelief.com/2012/04/27/amy-guidry-in-our-veins/.
“The Sum of Its Parts” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 11″w x 14″h; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
I have finally finished the painting that I mentioned last week. I’m excited to reveal my latest work in the In Our Veins series titled The Sum of Its Parts. It is 11″ wide by 14″ high and an acrylic on canvas. I think I set a record for going through the most paintbrushes in one painting. I took artistic liberties with the size and placement of the stag’s heart to emphasize its significance and to center it up with the animals falling out. Without being too graphic, I wanted to illustrate when one species dies, many other species are affected. Each animal serves a role in the life cycle, together forming the delicate balance of nature. The trees not only close in the composition, but connect with the animals via the roots seen at the bottom and illustrate the role of plant life and the Earth. The butterflies, which are often seen throughout this series, serve as metaphors for life and beautiful little reminders of our short existence in the scheme of things. A larger view of the painting can be seen here: www.amyguidry.com/sum-of-its-parts.html.
"Wolfpack" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 12" x 12"; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
It’s been an insanely busy week, hence my lack of posting sooner. The good news is I will be revealing a new painting I’ve been slaving over for quite some time, so be on the lookout for it. I also have an upcoming show which is just a couple of weeks away. I will be in a 3-person exhibit at Barrister’s Gallery in New Orleans next month with Nikki Crook and Monique Ligons. I’ll be showing works from my In Our Veins series, my most recent body of work. This should be a really fun show and opening night will also be held in conjunction with the SCAD Artwalk, May 12th from 6-9pm. For those of you that would like to get a sneak preview, you can check it out here: www.barristersgallery.com/upcoming.html.
I just discovered that the latest issue of Catapult magazine is out and it features several of my paintings from the In Our Veins series. My work was recently selected for publication (the competition for this thing is fierce, by the way). I have a two-page spread on pages 26 and 27 of the current issue, Issue 8, March 2012. You can now view it online as well and check out the entire issue at this direct link: http://catapult-mag.com/
