Tag, You’re It
I got an email from an artist I met through the Art Calendar magazine site, Art Scuttlebutt, saying I'd been tagged. I'm new to blogging, so I'd never heard of this before. Anyway, the tagger is Tracey Clarke, who you may recognize from my blogroll already. If you haven't, you should check out her work at http://traceyclarke.blogspot.com/. She does a lot of surrealist work with animals, which are two of my favorite things.
As for the tag "rules," here goes:
1. Put a link in your posting about the artist that tagged you.
2. Write 5 -7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 5 - 7 other bloggers and let them know.
Hmm. So now I have to share 5-7 "unusual" things. The list of ordinary things would be limited to 5-7, so that would be appropriate. However, I'll play along.
1. I'm a vegan (doesn't seem unusual to me, but living in Cajun country it is...) 2. I have nine cats (yes, I'm aware I'm only one divorce shy from being the "crazy cat lady" but I can't turn away a stray). 3. I, like Tracey, am big into running and weightlifting, although running has been my recent passion for the past year, but I've been into weightlifting since I was 11 years old. 4. I pride myself on my music collection, but I have to fess up to owning Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and Gwen Stefani cds. 5. I'm a little rusty, but I do a mean Marge Simpson impersonation (Note to Ethan: yes, I will do my Marge voice when we finally meet in Austin. Just not in front of Wally. Ha ha.)
Okay, there you have it. I may sound kooky, but I'm really not the crazy cat lady with poor music taste, who spraypaints fur-coating wearing people. (I just make snide comments behind their backs. Ha ha.)
Here are five other bloggers to check out. (I'd have more if only more of my friends had blogs!)
Ethan Diehl http://ethandiehl.blogspot.com/
Steven Walker http://www.stevenwalkerstudios.blogspot.com/
Don Michael http://www.donmichaeljr.com/blog
Jared Kelley http://www.jaredkelley.blogspot.com
Sharmon Davidson http://sharmond.blogspot.com
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
All this holiday stuff has me thinking of many things- deadlines, shopping, stress, and of course, family. For some, stress and family are interchangeable. Ha! Anyway, as promised in a previous post, I am sharing more about my artistic relatives that everyone seems to want to know so much about. So I give you my brother, Craig. Craig's work is rather detail oriented and favors the style of comic books and pop surrealism. Yes, everyone wants to know if his work is anything like mine. On the surface, no, but I guess you could draw some sort of corollary if you know us each personally. (Here he is working on his Lizard Man painting. I'm not exactly sure of the title, but that's what I always call it.)
Craig's approach is different as well in that he applies many thick layers of paint. He also does a lot of pen and ink work, which I have not done in awhile. Unfortunately, Craig does not have a website. After enough prodding, he may have one eventually, but just not right now. However, you can rest assured that I will post any information here about shows he may have coming up. His work is also a little on the dark side, as you can see by the painting at the left. And yes, that is of me. Apparently this is how my brother sees me. Or maybe I had a bad day. And apparently took it out on someone. Who knows? At any rate, it's still a good painting... and an icebreaker.
Craig also partakes of assistance. Here he is shown with his assistant, Abbie. Abbie supervises his work. She is also a lap warmer. Though they have not worked together long, they are very close. And though she may look like a cat, she is not. She's just a very small and hairy person.
So there you have it. If any other family members draw or paint, I have yet to find out about it. And if I'm related to Van Gogh or Renoir, I have no idea. I have yet to do a family tree. But I can say that I'm related to some talented (living) people. So if this has piqued your interest, and you would like to see some of my own work, you can go to my website at www.AmyGuidry.com. Happy Thanksgiving!
Here’s Somewhere Else You Can Find Me
![From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ft-introspective.jpg "\\"Introspective\\" by Amy Guidry")
My work is now online....somewhere else, that is. I recently submitted my art for review to an art and design site called Design Milk. They post all kinds of reviews (and links) to state-of-the-art furniture, industrial design, fashion, etc. And art! So my work has been posted on there amongst all the other cool stuff you can find. And they post websites where you can find everything they review and go to purchase, too, which is nice. So check out my work, and while you are there, check out all the other categories. Go to http://design-milk.com/.
You Oughta Be in Pictures
I thought I should try something new and share a commissioned painting I did recently. I don't have any posted here and I usually don't post them on my website anymore since my portrait section is a bit overloaded. Well, on the verge, at least. But I always keep a photo of the work I've done even if I don't have room for it on my site. So I'm taking the opportunity to post it here for the first time.
I was asked by a friend of another collector to do a painting of her three children. So she wanted to get a painting done of them at the beach. (Hence the background.) I think this was originally going to be a surprise gift, but ended up being an early gift instead. Anyway, this is a 20" x 24" painting which is more of a medium-size given the range I work with. The tutu, though challenging, was kind of fun in a sick way. I like to torment myself and fuss over every little detail, but it's usually worth it for the end result.
If you're new to my work, or just haven't seen my portraits, you can check out my Portrait section of my website at www.AmyGuidry.com. And of course you can find the rest of my work there as well.
All in the Family
![Porcelain miniature sculpture](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/d27b_12.jpg "\\"Neptune\'s Queen\\" by Loretta Norcross")
Sometimes people ask me if anyone else in my family is an artist. The answer is yes, but sometimes it's hard to give people a clear understanding of what type of art they do without any visual references. So I'm giving my blog readers an introduction to my mom's work. (Yes, my brother is an artist as well...more on that later.) My mom, Loretta Norcross, sculpts porcelain miniatures. Mostly fairies, but sometimes mermaids and angels, as well. So because they are miniature, they are basically true to size, well, in the fairies' case. And porcelain does not degrade over time, so it's a lot stronger than sculpey, etc. (Note: Peter Pan wannabes- do not carry these around in your pocket like Tinkerbell. Yes, porcelain is pretty durable, but not that durable.)
![Porcelain miniature sculpture.](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/72a6_12.jpg "\\"Neptune\'s Queen\\" by Loretta Norcross")
Anyway, Loretta, or Mom, whichever you prefer to call her, is a self-taught artist. Her experience goes back about 15 years ago working with Susan Scogin, a well-known miniature artist. She then branched out and started her own business creating miniatures. She does have a website where you can check out her work and contact information- www.SpiritWhispers.us. But in addition, she occasionally sells her work on eBay. Three of her pieces are on there right now, so you can check those out at http://http://cgi.ebay.com/Neptunes-Queen-Mermaid-Fairy-OOAK-by-Loretta-Norcross_W0QQitemZ140281213874QQihZ004QQcategoryZ84626QQssPageNameZWD4VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em124_trksidZp1638Q2em124. (The other two can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this listing and clicking on other items she's selling.)
BTW, Neptune's Queen is one of my favorites. There's a lot of detail that goes into these pieces and the fact that they are so small (fits perfectly in your bare curio cabinet...hint, hint) is amazing. She's just under 5 inches tall!! (Note to pervs- Those are seashells, not boobs!) So even if you miss the ebay auction, you should check out her website. And for future reference, you can always search the Art category of ebay for "Loretta Norcross" and you will find her listings.
Upcoming Events for This Year and 2009!
![From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/freedom.jpg "\\"Freedom\\" by Amy Guidry")
"Upcoming Shows:
My "New Realm" series will be featured at the Schepis Museum in Columbia, LA in the Spring of 2009. This will be a solo exhibit and will be on display as of March 3rd and will run through the end of April.
On December 10th, my work will be featured in the "Learn Promote Defend" exhibit and silent auction. The event is sponsored by the Center for Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with a 10-day program, "60 Years of Progress...10 Days of Recognition." The exhibit will be held at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA.
As mentioned in previous blogs, I was asked to participate in “Twelve,” a group show of twelve artists represented by Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX. The show will open Saturday, December 6th, 2008 with an opening reception from 6-8pm.
Also at Wally Workman Gallery is the upcoming group exhibition, “Grand Affair.” I will also be showing as part of the represented artists. The exhibit will open in January 2009. More details soon.
I will be showing at Galerie Lafayette in Lafayette, LA for a second solo exhibit. My show in 2007 was a huge success, and now I will be showing my "New Realm" series there for the first time at that venue. The show is scheduled for the month of October in 2009. More details to follow.
Publications:
As part of my recent attainment of representation by the Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX, my work will be featured in the upcoming edition of "Art Galleries & Artists of the South" Magazine.
My work was recently selected for the fall edition of "Studio Visit" Magazine. The juror was Carl Belz, Director Emeritus of The Rose Art Museum of Brandeis University. The magazine will be on newsstands later this month and is published by The Open Studios Press. The first copies are being sent to the publisher's mailing list of national galleries and museums this week!
The winter edition of "Studio Visit" Magazine will also feature my work in early 2009. I was selected by Michael Klein, curator and private art dealer. He is also the former Director of the International Sculpture Center and former Curator of the Microsoft Collection. I received notification yesterday that the magazine is slated to be out mid-March of 2009. So be on the lookout.
If you'd like to see more of my work, aside from this blog, you can check out my online gallery at www.AmyGuidry.com. You can also find my work at www.WallyWorkmanGallery.com. To get monthly updates and show invitations, sign up for my newsletter under the contact page of my website.
Learn Promote Defend
![Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/justice.jpg "\")
Weird title for my post, right? It's actually the title of an exhibition and silent auction that my work will be in next month. I just got the great news this weekend. I submitted my work back in September and just hoped for the best. Apparently it worked... Anyway, the show is called Learn Promote Defend and is sponsored by the Center for Civil and Human Rights. That's a mouthful, so I'll go by CCHR for short. The CCHR is located in Atlanta, GA and is having the exhibit/auction in conjunction with a 10-day program called 60 Years of Progress...10 Days of Recognition.
Learn Promote Defend will take place on December 10th at 7 pm at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta. All three of my paintings (which is the max submission limit!) will be in the show. The jury selecting works consisted of Sylvie Fortin, Executive Director/Editor of Art Papers magazine; Christopher Hauck, Atlanta-based painter, installation and multi-media artist; Jodi Hauptman, Curator of Drawings of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), and Louise E. Shaw, Curator of the Global Health Museum, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
![Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/choices.jpg "\")
The paintings that I will be exhibiting are: Choices, Everything's Coming Up Roses, and And Justice For All. Void Where Prohibited. These paintings are from my social commentary series. All three relate to different articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of them overlap and relate to more than one article, but all three had to relate to the UDHR in at least one article.
If you'd like to get a better look at these paintings (aside from attending the exhibit), you can also view them on my website www.AmyGuidry.com.![Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/everythings.jpg "\")
By the way, two of these paintings may look familiar to you... they were also featured on Juxtapoz Art and Culture's website. You can find out more under the Press section of my website.
An Oldie But a Goodie
![Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/consumerism.jpg "\")
Given the state of our economy these days, I thought it would be appropriate to re-post an older blog I did earlier this year. It may seem impossible, but yes, there are people out there still buying art (I can hear the sighs of relief...). Art is a solid investment that always increases in value as opposed to wishy-washy real estate or the stock market. So for all of you who missed this post (from the early days...), here's what to look for:
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; and it will never pass into nothingness."- John Keats
I wanted to expand upon my last entry on the investment potential of art. So, for anyone who actually read my last entry, you might enjoy this. Unfortunately, I think I am only providing entertainment for spammers. (For all you spammers, I appreciate your efforts to spice up my blog with your sex comments, but I am not interested in viagra, porn, or your other offers.) Anyway, for all (6?) of my readers, forget investing in the sex industry. Invest in art. How, you may ask? Well, according to "Art Dealer's Field Guide," you should "consider starting with at least $2,500 or $3,500, better yet $5,000, $10,000, or more." Anyone just entering the art investment world should plan on spending at least $2,000 on a painting. You should plan on keeping your painting for about 5-7 years before selling to cover for the economic cycle (once it peaks again) and for your painting to yield maximum profit.
If you are still unsure if you want to give up viagra or fake Rolexes just yet, consider this: even after one year, an investor can sell a painting and yield a profit. Albeit, a smaller profit than if you wait 5 years to sell, but a profit nonetheless.
So what do you look for in art? Well, as stated in "Art Dealer's Field Guide," it is "better to buy the best quality of second-tier artists than poor quality of first-tier artists." So, instead of buying Monet's dogs playing poker paintings (I'm sure they exist, we'll just never see them because they would tarnish his reputation), you would be better off buying a fabu piece by a lesser known artist...oh, I don't know, say like me! (Amy Guidry, Fake Rolex guy! Pay attention!) You should also look for "works with excellent physical and artistic characteristics such as high quality workmanship (check!), condition that is very good to excellent (check!), and full size, 24" x 36"- big is better than small, generally (check! No jokes, Penis Enlargement Spammer!) So what this all boils down to is: BUY MY WORK! Seriously, though, my work more than meets all these requirements. I have the resume and exhibition history to prove it.
Hey, all you spammers are trying to sell me something, it's only right that I can sell you on my work while I'm here.
Drumroll Please….
![From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008](http://www.artistcommentary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ft-lightness.jpg "\")
Apparently it doesn't take more than one comment on here to get me to do something. Which is why I am posting my new painting. Yes, as mentioned before, this is a new piece that I will be showing at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX next month. I was invited to participate in the exhibition since I am one of their newly represented artists. The show is titled "Twelve," and there are twelve artists and it will be held in the twelfth month. In case you hadn't noticed, there's a theme going here.... So amongst all the artists in this gallery, I was asked to show and was thrilled to participate.
So here is the big reveal! My painting is called "Lightness" and is 24 inches wide by 48 inches high. Kind of a different format for me, but it suited the composition the best. And these dimensions are divisible by....twelve. Anyway, in keeping with the theme, I used twelve butterflies in the piece. This is open to interpretation. For me, the butterflies represent change and metamorphosis, and represent the subject's metamorphosis as well. This could involve twelve steps, twelve months, however you want to view the process of change. Regardless, this piece is another installement to my New Realm series, so again you see the heroine of my "story" in this painting as well.
Aside from the photo here, you can also view the piece on my website www.AmyGuidry.com. And if you're new to this blog, you might want to check out the rest of my work while you are there! Just a thought....
I’d Like to Be Louisiana’s Spokes-Artist
I also found out who the other artists are, so assuming no one minds any free publicity, I'm posting their names here (and locations since this is world-wide). They are: Eugene Abrams, Canada; Turi Aksdal, Norway; Richard Booker, GA; Eugene Campbell, GA; COOPER, FL; Katharine Dahl, GA; Joseph Dreher, GA; Melanie Ebenhardt, GA; Laura Elkins, DC; Susanna Green, GA; Amy Guidry, LA; Mona Hakimi-Schuler, Germany; Brandt Hardin, TN; Reeta Hiltunen, Helsinki; Annie Hogan, NC; Jessey Jansen, IL; Nolan Lee, CO; Builder Levy, NY; Jeanette Martone, NY; Janet McKenzie, VT; Tracey Moore, TX; Owen Mundy, FL; Phil Napalala, VA; Lazarus Nazario, NJ; Jason Nousin, CT; Judith Peck, VA; Jason Reblando, IL; Silvia Ross, FL; Ron Sherman, GA; David Swann, GA; Lisa Tuttle, GA; Cherie Tymkiw, IL; Betsy VanDie, IL; George Van Dreal, CA; Brian Walker, GA; Sandra Weinstein, CA; Elizabeth White, CT.
The exhibit and auction will be held at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA on December 10th from 7-9pm. Sales of art benefit the artists and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The exhibit is part of a 10-day, city-wide program of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Univeral Declaration of Human Rights.
If you'd like to see my selected works or different series, check out my website at www.AmyGuidry.com.