I’ve just finished another painting in the “In Our Veins” series. This one is titled “The Pack” and is an acrylic on canvas, 20″ wide by 10″ high. I took “some” photos of the painting as I was working on it from start to finish. Going through them, I just think “UGH!” I’m happy with the end result, but I have to admit that my back, neck, and shoulders took a beating after pouring long hours into this one. For a closer look at the finished piece, visit this direct link: AmyGuidry.com-The Pack.
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.
Occasionally I get asked if I ship my work, which is a common question among artists and non-artists alike. The thought of packaging an original work of art and handing it over to a carrier is scary. I will admit that it makes me anxious. However, after reviewing the methods of other shipping companies, as well as researching the internet, I have been successfully packaging my own work for transit for a few years now. I have to say that this was not only a financial decision, but also based on a bad experience in which one of my paintings was damaged by a shipping company. So here are the steps I follow when shipping my paintings:
– Wrap the front and sides of the canvas with glassine paper. This can be found online at just about any art supply shop. Be sure to tape the paper to the back, not the front of the canvas.
– Then wrap the painting front and sides with a sheet of mylar. I like Grafix Dura-Lar which you can find on Utrecht.com. This helps protect against moisture due to climate/temperature change.
– Bubble wrap the painting with large bubble wrap, covering the back as well. I like to then wrap it again with another sheet of bubble wrap. Try to limit the tape to just along the sides to help prevent someone from cutting into the painting when removing tape.
– Prep your box for transit. I like the ones offered by U-Line (uline.com) since they have boxes specifically for artwork. I suggest getting one that leaves a minimum 3 inches of space around your painting.
– Tape one end of the box together with clear packing tape, covering it horizontally and vertically as well as along the seams of the box and corners.
– While the box is empty, I like to mark it with a permanent marker, writing “Fragile” on all sides of the box and I put an “up” arrow along where the top is. Also, it helps the gallery if you write your name (I just use my last name since it’s unique enough) on the box as well. Just be sure that it is away from the “Fragile” signs to help with visibility.
– Before stuffing the box, I use a few extra sheets of cardboard to protect the “body” of the box and the painting. I like to have 2 sheets on either side of the painting, but if it’s really thick you can use one on each side. The cardboard should be cut to cover the painting but be just smaller than the inside of the box to ensure a good fit.
– When shipping a larger painting, I like to use a couple of sheets of thin wood such as luan, which I get at Home Depot. I will also add a couple of sheets of cardboard as well, if space allows.
– Line the bottom of your box with crumpled brown kraft paper or tissue paper. I advise against colored tissue paper or newspaper in case of bleeding. Magazine pages are okay, but don’t look as “professional” so maybe consider where this is going first. Pack the bottom well, especially the corners of the box.
– Place the wrapped painting in the box, between the sheets of cardboard so there are even amounts on each side. If using luan, place the painting between the luan, leaving extra cardboard evenly on each side.
– Line the sides of the box with more kraft paper or tissue paper. If the box is large, you may need a dowel or broomstick to help push the paper down the sides to ensure they are properly stuffed.
– Finish with kraft paper or tissue across the top of the painting. If including a gallery contract or other paperwork, I put that information in a 9×12 envelope and place it across the top of the painting before adding kraft paper. Then seal with clear packing tape, again going horizontally and vertically.
In cases where the work will be shipped back to me, I like to include a typed packing instruction sheet for the gallerist. Make sure your name, contact info, and the name of your painting is on the sheet as well. This way you can ensure that your painting is packaged in the same manner as it was received.
Also, I won’t promote any one carrier, but I will say that I prefer 2-day Air shipping. It can be expensive depending on the size of the piece, but it goes through the least number of hands. (Other than overnight, which is $$.)
I wanted to share one of my latest paintings from my “In Our Veins” series. The title is “Mother Nature” and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” This is one of the more overtly vegan paintings from the series. I’m disturbed by the fact that humans are willing to drink what is “breast milk” even though they are adults (and it’s not even from their own species!). Yuck. It’s no wonder so many people are lactose-intolerant… because it’s not natural! I wanted to create a piece around this concept, ironically naming it “Mother Nature” because there is nothing natural about it. That said, I have a few pics of my process to share. You can see the finished piece on my website at this link: www.AmyGuidry.com- Mother Nature.
Today marks the opening of “Insatiable: Our Rapacious Appetite for More” at the Kniznick Gallery located in the Women’s Studies Research Center of Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. I’m excited to be a part of this show as well as showing at such a prestigious university. The opening will be next month, but the exhibition is up as of today. Sometimes it’s nice just to go to a show before the opening (i.e. crowds) to get a good look at the work. This is actually a juried exhibition which was curated by Judy Haberl, Professor of Sculpture at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The show takes a look at consumerism in all forms- money, food, sex, power, etc. and the effects of such on our planet and its inhabitants. The exhibit is open now through March 15th, with the opening reception taking place on February 3, 2011 from 5-7:30pm.
And here is a list of participating artists: Edie Bresler, Donna Catanzaro, Marie Picard Craig, Marli Diestel, Anthony Fisher, Virginia Fitzgerald, Karen Frostig, Katerie Gladdys, Justin Goodall, Amy Guidry, Hope Hardesty, Max Heller, Rachael Jablo, Lauren Kalman, Sam Keller, Minsung Keyoung, Kirstin Lamb, Anne Lambert, Yvonne Love & Gabrielle Russomagno, So Yoon Lym, Leslie Macklin, Monika Malewska, Elizabeth Michelman, Mitzi Lynn Mize, Morrix, Nancy Morrow, Kathleen O’Hara, Anne Percoco, Rachel Bee Porter, Nina Prader, Gina Randazzo, Kayla Risko, Andrea Rosenthal, Alison Safford, Rosalie Ripaldi Shane, Kirsten Rae Simonsen, Gulin Sungur, Douglas Tausik,Dylan Vitone, Callie Wile, and April Wood
My painting, “The United States of Consumerism,” as seen above, will be part of the exhibition. For more of my recent work, please visit www.AmyGuidry.com.
Another addition to the “In Our Veins” series! I’ve recently completed “Synergy” and it is now online. This is an acrylic on canvas, 8″ wide by 10″ high. These paintings have been smaller than some of my past works due to the detail. I spend so much time on them as it is, for me to go any larger would require several months just to finish one. That said, I’ve been working as large as needed for all the “visual information.” This is another piece pertaining to the life cycle- something I am fascinated with- and the original concept was something I visualized in that half asleep/half awake state after going to bed. This is why I keep a sketchbook (and pen) on my bedside table.
To view the painting (at a much larger size) as well as the rest of the series, visit my website at this direct link: AmyGuidry.com- Synergy.
Another “New Realm” painting has found a new home! This piece is titled “The Red Dress” and is a spotlight piece, so to speak, based on a larger painting, “Dawning.” This is another 5″ x 5″ painting from my “New Realm” series. The series is my own modern interpretation of fairytales in which the woman in the story is the heroine, not the victim. The red dress seen in this painting, as well as in “Dawning,” was inspired by a fashion shoot in Vogue magazine depicting a model in a childlike pose, wearing a red babydoll dress. This imagery further perpetuates the idea of women as fragile, young, naive, in need of protection. It’s the perfect concept to include in my series empowering women. To view the “New Realm” series, as well as larger images, visit my website at this direct link: www.AmyGuidry.com.
I’ve had three more New Realm 5 x 5 paintings find new homes. This series is shrinking quickly thanks to the holiday season. “Butterfly,” “Ladybug,” and “Dreaming” have all sold and are from my 5″ x 5″ series which “spotlights” different characters and scenes from “New Realm.” All are acrylic on canvas. To view more of this series as well as the larger “New Realm” paintings, visit my website at this direct link: AmyGuidry.com New Realm.
Also, be sure to go to the Contact page of my website to enter to win your own 5″ x 5″ painting. One of the first 200 people to enter will win! www.amyguidry.com/contact.htm.
I nearly forgot to post photos for the exhibition I have going on right now… the opening reception was in November, but the exhibit is currently open through December 30th. (So there’s still time to see it even if you are stuck in a shopping mall somewhere until the 25th.) I have a few photos to share from opening night for “Like a Prayer: Reflections on the 21st C Feminine” at Barrister’s Gallery in New Orleans, LA. More photos are on my website under Events- www.AmyGuidry.com. The show was curated by Martina Batan, Director of Ronald Feldman Fine Art, New York. There was a great crowd and in conjunction with the St. Claude Arts District (SCAD) 2nd Saturday Artwalk, the Multispecies Salon 3 was also open. Very busy night! If you missed out, you can still see “Like a Prayer” at Barrister’s, now through Dec. 30th.
Another sold painting! “Journey” has found a new home and is amongst a great art collection. This is from my “New Realm 5×5 series” which consists of 5″ x 5″ paintings, each spotlighting different characters and scenes from the “New Realm” series. It is an acrylic on canvas and completed in 2009. There are several others still available ($150-$200), and there are still a couple of days left to purchase and get one shipped out for Christmas! View more paintings at this direct link: AmyGuidry.com New Realm series.
Contact for purchase at http://www.amyguidry.com/contact.htm. While you are there, enter to win an original 5″ x 5″ painting from the “New Realm” series!