Tag Archives: Painting

549 Exhibit

The group exhibition at Gallery 549 featuring some of my latest paintings is coming down this week. I have a few photos to share from the opening reception and there are even more on my (newly redesigned!) website at this direct link- www.amyguidry.com/events.html (Go to the album at the top left). So now I am gearing up for my next show which will be in Austin at Wally Workman Gallery. More details on that closer to time. In the meantime, check out the photos!

Interviews, websites, makeovers, Oh my!

Artist Amy Guidry discusses her work with viewers at Gallery 549

Sorry for the delayed post! I’ve had a lot going on as of late, some of which I would like to announce right now. I recently did an interview for Pop Culture Radio with Chris Wakefield. The interview is now online and has a bit of something for everyone whether you are an artist, a collector, or just an admirer of art. You can listen to the entire interview at this link: http://popcultureradio.net/radio-interview/amy-guidry/.

Also, for some even bigger news and I do mean big- if you’ve been following along you know of this several months long undertaking- my website makeover is finished and the results are now online! The overall design is a bit different (new and improved!) and there are some new added features. For one, the images are now large. And I mean large! Many of them have a zoom-in feature as well. While you are there, be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter. You can also now sign up for my quarterly postcard which features one of my latest paintings on the front and a quick list of exhibits on the back. Many people just like to collect the postcards for the paintings since they also get my newsletter. Sign up for one or for both, they’re all free. Check it out at www.AmyGuidry.com.

April Artwalk

This weekend (April 9th) is the Second Saturday Artwalk in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Galleries and business will be open after hours for this free event, officially starting at 6pm and ending at 8pm-ish. BTW, I will have work at Gallery 549 for the annual Spring Group Exhibition, so if you are in the area, be sure to check it out.

Acadiana Center for the Arts– 101 W. Vermilion St. / 337-233-7060
Main Gallery: Francis X. Pavy: Currents and Flows – now through May 7
Side Gallery: Brett Chigoy: When the Preditor has Defined our Dreams as Prey– now through May 7

Cajun Spice– 535 Jefferson St / 337-232-3061 – Cliff Broussard

Galerie Eclaireuse– 535 ½ Jefferson St. / 337-234-5492 – Melissa Bonin

Gallery 549– 549 Jefferson St. / 337-593-0796 – Spring Group Exhibition

Galerie Lafayette at The Lafayette Public Library- 538 Jefferson St. / 337-261-5775 – William H. Parr

Gallery R (at The Russo Group)- 116 E. Congress St. / 337-769-1530 – Katherine LeMoine

Sans Souci Gallery– 219 E. Vermilion St. / 337-266-7999 – Louisiana Crafts Guild- Fait a la Main

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"Sandhya" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2011

Two more of my paintings have recently found new homes. (They are my babies, so I do think of them as growing up and finding homes of their own.) Both are from my 2005-2006 series of portraits- “Sandhya” and “Man in the Park.” They are both acrylic on canvas, and the same dimensions as well- 26 inches wide by 22 inches high, framed. “Man in the Park” is actually now in the permanent collection of the Alexandria Museum of Art in Alexandria, Louisiana.

"Man in the Park" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2011

As you may know from an earlier post, my website will be getting a makeover (it’s just going on behind the scenes so my site is still currently up and running). And since my portfolio is always expanding and there are very few portraits still available, I’ve decided to remove the portraits from the new site. You will still be able to enjoy them online elsewhere, though- such as this blog as well as my Facebook Fan Page. I’ll be revealing the new look soon, but in the meantime you can still check out all of my work at www.AmyGuidry.com.

 

The Pack

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.

Original drawing on canvas for "The Pack" by Amy Guidry
Initial rough layer of paint for "The Pack"
Finished rough layer of "The Pack" by Amy Guidry
Next layer of paint is added to the sky, intensifying the color
Sky has another layer of paint added, reaching the desired hue
Clouds are finished and have their final layer of paint added to brighten the whitest areas
Next layer of paint is added to the desert sand to smooth it out
Final layer of paint added to sand to bring out the details
Finishing touches are added to the desert- small rocks are added
Initializing the next layer to the cliffs in the background, starting on the left
Still working my way across the cliffs, adding paint, and then reworking details as I go
Cliffs are now finished, now on to the wolves, going left to right again
Working on wolf #1, adding another layer of paint, then cleaning up details as I go- hair, eyes, mouth, etc.
Wolf #1 just about done, started next layer on wolf 2 before I finish the front leg of wolf 1
Final details to wolf 2 added, then finished up the leg of wolf 1 since those fine hairs need to be added
Adding next layer of paint to wolf 3, focusing on the darkest areas first to build up the colors
Built up the darkest areas, now adding details- hairs along the back- and working in lighter tones
Finished details to wolf 3, now adding next layer to wolf 4, building up dark areas
Next layer of paint on wolf 4 complete, now adding hair detail, and lighter tones
Finished the hair details to wolf 4 as well as the detail in the feet
Finally at the last wolf, adding next layer of paint, adding darker tones
Building up the tones in the last wolf, adding details as well- face, eyes, hairs
Finished piece- "The Pack" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2011

549 in April

"Synergy" by Amy Guidry, acrylic on canvas, 8" x 10", (c) Amy Guidry 2011 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.

Art in Transit

Bad example of packaging on so many levels
Bad example of packaging on so many levels

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 $$.)

Mother Nature

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.

Insatiable

"The United States of Consumerism"- Amy Guidry, acrylic on canvas, (c) Amy Guidry 2011
"The United States of Consumerism"- Amy Guidry, acrylic on canvas, (c) Amy Guidry 2011

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.

Synergy

"Synergy" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2011
"Synergy" by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; (c) Amy Guidry 2011

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.