Tarsiers sketch by Amy Guidry; 6″ wide by 8″ high; (c) Amy Guidry 2021
Sneak preview of a sketch for an upcoming painting. This piece features tarsiers which are small primates found in Southeast Asia. I did something a little different with this piece and opted to use plants that are not normally found together, just intuitively going on what I felt the piece needed regarding color and texture. This is a cropped view- the total size is 6″ wide by 8″ high.
Sketch by Amy Guidry; 5″ x 5″; (c) Amy Guidry 2020
I have a new small painting currently in the works. This is the original sketch before taking it to canvas. This piece will feature an orchid mantis- yet another species I’ve been really wanting to paint. The total size is 5″ wide by 5″ high. If you would like to know when the finished painting is online, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter which announces new works: https://amyguidry.com/contact.html. Just click on the newsletter icon.
Sketch by Amy Guidry; 5″ x 5″; (c) Amy Guidry 2019
Sketch for a new painting I’m working on for an upcoming show. Love working on these smaller beings. In this case, a privet hawk moth. Total size is 5″ wide by 5″ high. If you’d like to know when the finished painting goes online, sign up for the monthly newsletter here: https://amyguidry.com/contact.html.
Stag beetle sketch by Amy Guidry; 5″ x 5″; (c) Amy Guidry 2018
Sneak peek at a little piece in progress for an upcoming exhibition. This is the initial sketch before I take it to canvas. Full size is 5″ wide by 5″ high.
This is actually only the second time I’ve ever worked on a stag beetle. The first was in my painting Symbiotic. See if you can spot him.
“Symbiotic” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 11″w x 14″h; Sold; (c) Amy Guidry 2010
More details on the exhibit soon. In the meantime, check out the rest of the In Our Veins series here: https://amyguidry.com/gallery.html.
A few photos of my current painting in progress. Focusing on the rainforest for this one, specifically the Amazon and its flora and fauna. Also wanted to work on a larger piece, so this one is 20″ wide by 20″ high. It’s heavily detailed courtesy of all the leaves and tree branches. Not to mention full of white-faced capuchin monkeys! The sketch on paper maps everything out before I transferred it to canvas. The painting itself is an acrylic on canvas. I’m still working on the rainforest background at the moment, and the blue morpho butterflies. Butterflies may be small, but they are hugely symbolic in my work.
Preliminary sketch by Amy Guidry; 20″ x 20″; (c) Amy Guidry 2018
Painting in progress by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 20″ x 20″; (c) Amy Guidry 2018
Painting in progress (detail) by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 20″ x 20″; (c) Amy Guidry 2018
Dodo bird sketch by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2018
Close-up of the initial sketch for my upcoming painting featuring a dodo bird. The dodo became extinct around roughly 1662, and since there were no cameras then, I’ve been researching the internet to find out as much as I can via eyewitness descriptions and illustrations from that time period (assuming they’d be fairly accurate but maybe they took artistic liberties as I will be doing). I’ve also been comparing a lot of existing birds as well, ranging from parrots to vultures, and everything in-between. I should mention that I was partly inspired to paint the dodo after reading “The Song of the Dodo” by David Quammen. I highly recommend everyone read it.
Clearly an old pic from when I dyed my hair dark- working on "Food or Pet?"
One of the more popular questions I’ve been answering in interviews as of late (in one form or another) is “why do you create art?” Which I’ve always felt it would be easier to ask me why I breathe… so I would end up giving a response that would in so many words say it is innate. Which is true, of course, but not the in-depth answer they’re looking for. So I’ve been considering this question and have come up with an answer (or at least a good metaphor). When I am looking to create, I think the process is much like that of an archaeologist, or an inventor, or a scientist looking to make the next medical breakthrough. Since I’ve seen enough National Geographic and Jurassic Park to have a better understanding of archaeology, I’m going to use that as my basis. So I’m basically going on a dig- in search of ideas which are hidden well within my mind. When I come up with an idea or a concept, I rush to quickly get it down on paper- it’s like making a new discovery. Though sometimes I don’t always find what I set out to look for- it may be something else, but just as exciting. Once I hit something, I keep digging to reveal more (in my case, rapidly sketching everything before I forget). Once I’ve exhausted that area, I continue my search elsewhere to find any missing pieces or something entirely new, going in any and all directions. One idea leading to another, or maybe a slight variation of an idea, upon another variation and another, so on and so forth- the possibilities are endless.
Once I’ve made this discovery, I want to share it with the world. But it has to be presented properly (presentation is everything- they weren’t kidding)). An archaeologist wouldn’t just reveal a dirty pile of bones- they have to be cleaned, refined, and put back together. So my work has to be “cleaned” and refined as well, put together to make a whole. It takes time, effort, technique, attention to detail, and maybe even trial and error. It has to be pristine and professionally presented for the proper unveiling.
Going back to my original answer, it is innate, and as basic as it is, that may be the best explanation. However, maybe this comparison and the explanation of the creative process (at least for me) serves as a good answer in itself. The excitement of a new discovery- who wouldn’t find that addicting?
Someone recently asked if I ever post photos of my work in progress. Technically yes, but it’s usually just a snippet of a painting. So I dug through some photos for this “photo diary” post of sorts since I actually documented my work on “Untitled.” So here goes:
The initial sketch on canvas for "Untitled"
Making the first mark with paint- very rough initial layer
First layer of paint complete
Adding more layers to the sky and clouds, building it slowly
One of my helpers sleeping on the job. I inadvertently woke him up with the camera
The sky is finished at this point. More detail has been added to the ground and the cliffs.
Another helper- testing paintbrush durability
Finishing details such as rocks have been added to the background
Adding more layers and detail to the horse head and ribcage
Horse head and ribcage are finished, final details added. More layers added to carcass.
Detail shot of the finished horse head and desert cliffs
“Untitled” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 30″w x 24″h
To view this painting as well as more of my work, visit www.AmyGuidry.com. And while you are there, if you’d like to be informed about new work and upcoming events, sign up for my monthly newsletter on my contact page.
