It’s Finally Here!
The premier issue of Studio Visit Magazine has arrived...finally! After a three month delay, the copies I had pre-ordered arrived on my doorstep. My paintings "Out For a Run" and "Girl on Campus" were selected by juror Michael Lash, former director of the public art program for the City of Chicago. As I had stated a few posts ago, this is the first issue of Studio Visit, a new magazine produced by The Open Studios Press of New American Paintings fame. This time the competition was held across the country, not by region, and the work could be 2-D or 3-D, as opposed to 'NAP's' 2-D-work-only policy.
I have yet to venture out to the bookstore, but Studio Visit should be on the magazine racks by now. There are two volumes since they decided not to make one super-huge issue. I think splitting it in two is good for those with a short attention span anyway. I am featured in Volume I (see photos above). What's nice is they are in a large paperback format, so it's not so much a magazine as a good quality paperback. Overall I was impressed with the work featured. Of course there were a few I had to scratch my head over, but that's to be expected. In general, I think this is a great start for a new publication. And might I also add that this is being sent out to their prestigious list of galleries, museums, and collectors.
I had also contacted one of the writers for the Times of Acadiana about this boon to our local art community. Ashley Flanagan wrote a great piece concerning Studio Visit and the five Acadiana artists featured. You can read it online at http://www.timesofacadiana.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/NEWS01/804300307/1002/NEWS01. I will also be posting photos online from my spread in Studio Visit on my website www.AmyGuidry.com so be sure to look for those soon.
You Can’t Handle the Truth
I thought I'd surprise all my spam fans out there and write another blog. A two for one special this week, folks! And hey, thanks for the penis enlargement spam. I guess that was your two-cents on my last blog? Anyway, back to business. I thought I should take a moment to discuss my blogs in general. It was recently brought to my attention that maybe my blogs were a little too much for people to handle. I'm surprised by this because I don't think that telling it to you straight is a crime. My efforts are directed at enlightening people on the in's and out's of the art world. So many people are led to believe that art is only for the extremely wealthy or that it is only for some scholarly types with a degree in philosophy. And then there are those who are led to believe that all art is good art and never learn to distinguish between the two.
I believe in cutting out the crap and being real with people about my work. Some people like my work while others are "horrified" by it. Either way, both groups agree that my work is well-executed and professional. And I can say this because even those who straight up tell me they disagree with my work's content, still tell me they think it is well done. What I DO find frustrating is when people tell me what I should paint (no thanks, if you're so smart why don't you do it yourself?) or they expect to pay $20 (I'm not kidding) for a painting in which the canvas ALONE costs $50, nevermind all the work involved. That is why I feel the need to emphasize that if you expect to buy a large painting you can invest in, be proud of, what have you, then you should expect to pay around $2000 and know that the craftsmanship is worth every penny.
So as I write these blogs week after week, I hope that my handfull of readers find this insightful and honest. I don't want to bore anybody to death with dry art-talk that no one understands and no one finds interesting. If you wanted that, you could open any art history book. Don't get me wrong, art history is great, but none of the writing about it is ever what I consider riveting.
Let me know what you think, people! And if you have questions about art or buying art, bring them on. And it better not be spam!
I Want My MTV
![Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/united-isolation1.jpg "\\"United Isolation\\" by Amy Guidry")
Okay, so not many of you read my blog...perhaps it's because you're busy watching tv? Well, if that's the case, you should tune in to the Real World Hollywood (Season 20- yes, it's on now). Not that I'm a reality tv buff, but I want you to watch and look for my painting on the wall in their house, er, set. (They live on a movie set this season...hey, it's Hollywood.) I've only seen a few snippits online, but I've already spotted my painting many times. It's fun to look for it. You should try it. It's kind of like Where's Waldo, except without the striped shirt. (Try guy in a canoe in the middle of the ocean wearing a blue dress shirt.)
It's right outside their "telephone room" which has a window, so sometimes you can even see it from in there. And apparently the bathroom is across from there because I've also seen it in the reflection of the mirror. And if you go to their "dailies" week 2, check out the clip of Dave shaving because my painting is in the background. That's if you notice it after noticing Dave has no clothes on...
So maybe if you would like to spare yourself the drama on that show, you could just mute it and see how many times you spot my painting. Oh, and in case you were wondering, that piece has already sold. Not because of the show, although one of the crew members was interested in buying it as well. The painting is titled "United Isolation" and you can see a detailed view of it on my website www.AmyGuidry.com. For the record, there was another painting they wanted- "Complacent"- but that was already in an exhibit at the Alexandria Museum of Art during filming. And it hasn't sold...yet.
