I’ve recently finished another new painting in the In Our Veins series. It’s titled Tree of Life and it is an acrylic on canvas, 4″ wide by 6″ high. The idea for this one was from one of my earlier sketches, though I modified it a bit and added the moths. View the painting online here: www.amyguidry.com/tree-of-life.html.
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Tomorrow night is the opening of Les Bon Artiste Roule at the Zigler Art Museum in Jennings, LA. The show consists of artists from the Lafayette area that have previously exhibited at the Zigler. I have several paintings in the exhibit from my New Realm series. Artists featured are: Annette Aucoin, Vergie Banks, Charlotte Broussard, Amy Guidry, Louise Guidry, Michele Hudelot, Ann Ella Joubert, Deanna Meche, Mary Morvant, Mary Broussard Perrin, Paul Schexnayder, Patrick Soper, and Myra Winters. The opening reception will be held February 16th from 6-8pm and the exhibit will remain up through March 9th.
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I’ve added a new painting to my In Our Veins series, which also quickly found a new home after featuring it in my recent newsletter. Nurture is an acrylic on canvas, 4″ x 4.” Nurture comes from one of my original sketches for this series and was perfect for the smaller canvas size. I comb through my sketchbooks on a regular basis looking over ideas I’ve saved and reworking others. I’d say about 95% of the paintings I do come from sketches I’ve created well in advance since I typically work on one painting at a time, hence the need to save ideas in my sketchbook.
View the painting online here: http://www.amyguidry.com/nurture.html. If you would like to be updated about my next new work, sign up for my monthly newsletter here: http://www.amyguidry.com/contact.html.
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I just got my new postcards in featuring my painting Anthropomorphism. I am sending them out this week so if you’d like to receive one (as well as future cards), sign up under the postcard icon here: http://www.amyguidry.com/contact.html.
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There seems to be a common misconception among artists and even among the general public, for that matter, that I wanted to take a moment to dispel. Some are of the opinion that if they can just accomplish [insert goal here] that they will make it as an artist (although this applies to non-artists as well). The thing is, there will never be “one” gallery or “one” show or “one” award that will “make” you. I believe this misconception stems from what appears to be the overnight success of others. Anytime we hear about an artist or musician or athlete in the news for the first time (to our knowledge), we think they are an overnight success because we’ve never heard of them before and now they are famous. It wasn’t that they accomplished one particular goal and found instant fame. Sure, there is probably one particular accomplishment being highlighted in said news feature, but that’s simply because they need a hook for their story. The fact is, this person has been working their butt off “behind the scenes.” Just because we’ve never heard of them before doesn’t mean that this now-superstar wasn’t working two jobs or repeatedly getting rejected or struggling to make a name for themselves or all of the above at some point in time. I’ve heard of many artists that worked odd jobs and couldn’t get into galleries that are now successful.
In order to become a success at anything, whether you are an artist or not, is to diligently apply yourself to each opportunity. Sure, Larry Gagosian could walk into your studio, buy your work and make you a star overnight, but VERY rarely does that ever happen. And even in those instances, if you were to look backward you will see a series of small steps that led up to that moment. You have to build your career, brick by brick, layer by layer. There’s no quick-fix, magic pill, or get-rich-quick scheme that will do the work for you.
Although instant success would be nice, the good news is it’s much more realistic (and reassuring) to know that you are in control of your success. Rest assured that the steps you are taking now are improving your career rather than waiting around and just hoping for a lucky break. Take a look at what you’ve accomplished over the past year, or even over the past few years, and you will probably find that you’ve done much more than you ever thought possible. Now imagine what you could accomplish over the upcoming year, or five years from now, or ten. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” – Les Brown.
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My work was recently featured on Eclectic Living Home’s blog. Pam Battson writes, “Upon first glance these works appear to feature beautiful women with beautiful creatures until one delves deeper and discovers skeletons, animal heads, and flower sprouting skulls. Intriguing.” View the feature online here: http://eclecticlivinghome.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/amy-guidry/.
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I recently did an interview for the UK’s Rad Dad Collective. Editor Wayne Juffs wrote the article which can be found online here: http://theraddadcollective.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/off-wall.html.
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My latest painting in my In Our Veins series is now online– Anthropomorphism and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” As seen throughout the series, animal heads and limbs are representative of the viewpoint that animals are a means to an end. Instead of a jackrabbit, I chose to use a dwarf rabbit, or to some, endearingly known as a “bunny.” The “bunny,” being a popular, cute animal generates sympathy, but even more so when dressed in children’s clothing. Is there a difference between species? Is one more important than another? Why is it that when something is small or cute or childlike, we think more fondly of it? View the painting online here: http://www.amyguidry.com/anthropomorphism.html.
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I’m excited to announce my work has been selected for the Peaceable Kingdom: Animals, Real and Imagined exhibit at the Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, in Walnut Creek, California. The jurors for the exhibit were Stephanie Cannizzo, Assistant Curator of the Berkeley Art Museum and Cathy Kimball, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. The exhibit will run from March 3- May 19 with an opening reception on March 3rd from 3-5pm.
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My New Realm series was recently featured on Artsy Forager. Editor Lesley Frenz writes “…There’s been talk of women’s rights, gender equality, etc. It seems as women, we still struggle against the fairy tales we grow up with versus the reality of living as a contemporary female. In her New Realm series, Louisiana artist Amy Guidry weaves a new kind of story, as surreal as any myth yet grounded in modern strength.” View online at this direct link: http://artsyforager.com/2012/12/17/amy-guidry/.
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