“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’m happy to announce that my work is currently featured on the online arts journal, Escape Into Life. They have included a lot of images, ranging from some of my older work up to my most recent paintings. And they kindly mentioned my group exhibition at Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, including a link to my work there as well, to boot. You read the feature at this direct link: www.escapeintolife.com/painting/amy-guidry/ and be sure to check out all the great art on the rest of the site while you’re there!
I’m just now getting around to posting photos from the opening reception of the 15th International Open. My painting Fleeting was selected for the exhibit at Woman Made Gallery by guest juror Linda Warren of Linda Warren Gallery, also in Chicago. Here are a few of the photos from opening night- more are on my website at www.amyguidry.com/events.html. The good news is there is still time to see it since the show is up now through April 26th.
Artist Amy Guidry with her work at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall
I decided to re-post this since it was a popular post I had done awhile back. So for those of you that are new or may have missed this, I hope you find it inspiring!
No one cares about your art more than you do. It’s true. It’s not unlike showing your vacation photos to everyone. They mean well, but after about two minutes, the enthusiasm wears off and their eyes glaze over. I was inspired to write this after going through some old art magazines to clear out the mountain of periodicals I’ve saved. I came across a rather disheartening article in a very popular magazine. The author was giving advice on how to be a successful artist. Some of the author’s tips? Paint what sells- not more “complex” paintings, don’t bother showing in libraries or university galleries since they don’t generate sales (museums usually don’t either, but I don’t know an artist alive that wouldn’t jump at the chance to show in a museum), and sell on Ebay- specifically bright, colorful, quick paintings- no drawings. I know better than this and even I found it depressing! I can only imagine what other artists must think.
So this is what leads me to my frustration. I don’t care who they are or if they mean well, no one truly cares about your art or your art career as much as you do. This is why you are the only one that can determine what your goals are and if, at the end of the day, you’ve done all that you can to achieve those goals. Don’t listen to the naysayers, the haters, the critics, the cynics, or the non-believers. What do they know anyway? Even some of the experts can’t always predict what you, personally, need to do. That’s why it’s up to you to take in all this information and filter through it and find what is applicable and toss away what’s not. You know what you need to do. You know if your work is the best it can be. You know what you should create. If you try to “paint what sells,” you’ll be chasing your tail for quite some time. Popularity changes as do marketing trends. Something that sells one day, won’t the next. That’s why there are trend analysts that make a living at this. Great work is great work and it will attract its own popularity. And while I’m at it- if you were to avoid university galleries, libraries, museums, or any other venue for fear of little to no sales, you wouldn’t be an artist, would you? I couldn’t imagine not having the experience of seeing art, especially when I was a student, at a university gallery or museum. Some of the most significant shows of our time come from these venues.
In my own personal experience, I’ve heard it all. I’ve been told what I should paint, how I should paint, and I’ve even had a drunk non-artist tell me what is and isn’t art. When I made the decision to paint and to try to get into a gallery exhibit, even one of my “good” friends told me that I couldn’t do it. It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to any of these people, otherwise I may not have even been an artist at all. Anyone listening to that kind of advice would quit before even starting. Don’t make that mistake. If you’re already a working artist, just keep on trucking. If you’re just starting out, stay focused and put your blinders on. And maybe invest in some good ear plugs.
Being a true artist takes grit. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and you’ll need to develop a thick skin. However, I can’t imagine a more rewarding experience. I always like to think of these words by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
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/
“Interconnected” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6″ x 6″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
“Full Circle” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
“Ephemeral” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 4″ x 4″; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
Three paintings from my In Our Veins series have recently found a new home in Norway! Interconnected, Full Circle, and Ephemeral are all acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6,” 4″ x 4,” and 4″ x 4,” respectively. I’m happy to have my work go abroad and to such a wonderful, thoughtful new owner as well. It means so much to me to have someone show such appreciation for my work and to know that it speaks to them in such a personal manner. No award could ever compare.
“Mushrooms” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 5″ x 5″; (c) Amy Guidry; SOLD
“Snail” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 5″ x 5″; (c) Amy Guidry; SOLD
Two more paintings from my New Realm series have recently found new homes. Both Mushrooms and Snail are acrylic on canvas, 5″ x 5″ paintings from the New Realm 5 x 5 series. The 5 x 5’s spotlighted different characters and elements from the larger paintings in the series. Both paintings were sold at the Masur Museum of Art’s Off the Wall fundraiser in which part of the proceeds benefit the museum. To view more paintings from the entire series, go to this direct link: www.amyguidry.com/beginning.html.
With all the social media sites out there- Google+, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.- it has a lot of us all wondering if we really need to be on these sites. As an artist, I have to say yes… I can hear the groans now… Does it really matter? In short, absolutely. Not that this is a popularity contest, but those likes, plus 1’s, and tweets are important. Sure, they give you a boost of confidence and let you know that someone out there is taking notice to the work you’re doing- everyone wants to have their “Sally Field moment” – you “like” me. But more importantly, it’s about trust. Social media sites, time-suckers that they are, actually help build brand trust. They allow people to get to know you, get better insight into your art, see what you are doing with your art career, and it also gives them confidence to buy your art when they can see that others like you as well. In fact, the number of fans you have on Facebook, for example, builds confidence among other fans and potential buyers. All the social media kudos you receive show that they are not alone- that others like your work and buy it, too- therefore they should join the club. Because of these sites, others are able to vouch for you.
So how to manage all these sites? And is one more important than the other? Well, I have to admit that I do have my personal preferences when it comes to social media, however, I do think it is important to be present on all of them to some extent. To keep things from getting out of control, I would recommend that you first set time limits. Don’t get distracted with reading posts and watching videos. Limit your social media time to only work-related posts and interactions when you are on the clock. You can always go back later at the end of the day to do your personal posts, etc.
I know some of you may frown upon this, but copy and paste is your best friend when it comes to posting about your art. I see no harm in replicating posts from one site to another. It will save you time while maximizing your reach. More than likely no one is going to be seeing the same posts from one site to another anyway. Not everyone is on all social media sites and even if they are, they still may not see all your posts due to their short shelf-life as well as Facebook’s use of EdgeRank (which filters out 99% of posts by friends and businesses). It really is best to cross-post in order to broaden your audience.
One last note- this may sound contradictory given your time restraints, but do try to respond to your fans’ comments in a timely manner. If you post a painting or you ask a question, people are going to respond rather quickly, so be around to give them a response as well. If you find that this is exceeding your time limit, perhaps find a way to wrap things up and exit the conversation. You could thank everyone and say that you are going back to the studio now. Or maybe entice them to come back by saying that you’re off to work on a piece and will come back with a “sneak peek” photo later. Speaking of which, I need to get back to my easel as well. If you have questions or comments concerning social media, feel free to to share them here!
"Stallions" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 6" x 6"; (c) Amy Guidry 2012
I’ve recently added a new painting to my In Our Veins series. The title is Stallions and it is a 6″ x 6,” acrylic on canvas. There are several paintings in this series which feature animals, but as heads without bodies, for example. Because the series pertains to our complex and intricate life cycle, this must also address the issue of animal welfare, as one cannot exist without the other (i.e. humans and the natural world). Many people view animals as a means to an end, therefore they are viewed as pieces and parts- head, rump, tongue, breast, wing, leg- not whole, sentient beings. I illustrate this concept while at the same time endowing each animal with emotion and personality, emphasizing qualities that we often deem as only “human.” Given that horses are such intelligent and majestic animals, I couldn’t think of a better subject. You can view a larger image of the painting on my website at this direct link: www.amyguidry.com/stallions.html.
