Tag Archives: Amy Guidry

How To Be an Art Star 2.0

Recognize this blouse?  Answer at www.AmyGuidry.comOkay, that may be misleading since this is not the second edition, but a second time around for this class. For those of you who are not familiar with my Art Marketing class from last fall, this is your opportunity to to take part. As part of Frederick l’Ecole des Arts in Arnaudville, LA, I will be teaching another Art Marketing and Self-Promotion course. The first class was quite a success and a great, interactive opportunity to get together with aritists and gallery owners. In addition to my course outline, we had a group session covering individual questions and sharing ideas.

So if you missed out the first time, or are new to this blog and will be in the area, please sign up for Art Marketing and Self-Promotion. The class will be May 2nd (a Saturday) from 10AM-12Noon. Of course we did stay late last time because people had lots of questions and ideas to share, but if you need to leave at noon, feel free to do so.

To give you an idea of what the class is about, here is a general course outline. Overview: Risk assessment; getting out of your comfort zone. Changing your mindset. Goal-setting. Portfolio Development. Gallery submissions and approaching galleries. Alternative exhibition opportunities and juried shows. Marketing Materials. Pricing. Sales. Some of the additional topics discussed included shipping work, Ebay, vanity galleries (just stay away- that’s a free tip you can get from me right now!), and what else, but blogging, of course.

Some of these are very basic principles, and some of it boils down to good old-fashioned common sense, but for many artists, their expertise is in their medium and not in marketing. Unfortunately marketing is not a course requirement when getting your art degree, and quite frankly, it’s just plain scary to people (not just artists!). In addition, to succeed at ANYthing requires goals, planning, and organization. All skills that most people don’t think of or skip when trying to succeed at anything. How many people do you know who blame things on bad luck or lack of luck? Or think the only way they can do what they truly love is if they “win the lottery?” I can think of many.

Okay, ready to sign up yet? Go to http://frederickarts.homestead.com/Classes.html to register for Art Marketing and Self-Promotion. Sign up early to ensure your spot in the class. And it doesn’t matter if you are in high school and planning on your future career as an artist or if you’ve been an artist all your life. If you want to improve your marketing skills, ask questions, or take your career to the next level, this is your opportunity. And meet some great people, too!

www.AmyGuidry.com

Studio Visit Volume 3! FINALLY!

Studio Visit Volume 3 Cover

Well it’s FINALLY here! Studio Visit Magazine arrived the other day. Apparently I was the last to receive a copy since mine got lost in the mail. (Hope my mail carrier is enjoying it…) So I just got my replacement copy. So here it is, I know you’ve been waiting forever. I know I have. My work is featured in Volume 3, the Fall 2008 issue. (Too bad I received it in 2009…)

As in the first issue, they split the accepted submissions into two volumes. Close to 1,000 entries were received and about 300 artists were accepted. And as with New American Paintings, the sister publication by The Open Studios Press, this is a juried competition. The juror was Carl Belz, Director Emeritus, The Rose Art Museum of Brandeis University. However, Studio Visit is an international competition, whereas New American Paintings is by region.

Both paintings I submitted were selected, so I have a two-page spread in this issue. Yea! They are from my New Realm series, which is my latest series. “Adaptation” is 48″ x 36″ and “Metamorphosis” is 40″ x 30.”

Studio Visit Magazine Volume 3, pages 78-79

Both are currently at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX. If you’d like to see larger images of these paintings, or the rest of my work, you can go to my website www.AmyGuidry.com.

Smile For the Camera

Amy Guidry and George Marks at the Fire and Water Festival

I thought it’s only right to post some photos of my events and exhibits since I talk about them enough. So I’ve taken a few photos from the recent Fire and Water Festival and posted them here. (By the way, you can see a slideshow of all the photos from the event on my website www.AmyGuidry.com.) The festival was last weekend, but my artwork will be up through December 21st. Take a gander over to NuNu’s when you’re out doing your holiday shopping in Arnaudville, LA and see my work in person.

The show’s curator, and organizer of the entire event for that matter, is George Marks. George is an artist and also has work up in the gallery. (That’s him in the photo with me.) The installation photo is of my paintings from my New Realm series. While viewing my slideshow on my website (hint, hint), you should can check out the entire series while you are there.

Amy Guidry with her artwork at the Fire and Water Festival

In addition to the artwork, there was also plenty of music for the entire 3-day event. There are a few pictures of the band The Figs which were playing on Friday night when I was in attendance. And, of course, some bonfire photos. (Not that I really want to partake in bonfires, given the environmental impact they have and all, however, seeing as it was freezing out, the bonfire was greatly appreciated.) Sorry, no water photos. Maybe next year. But I’m sure you’ll be entertained by all the other photos- http://www.amyguidry.com/events.html.

New Painting

"Acceptance" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008

This is going to be a quick post as I am busy with holiday preparations in addition to painting. Aside from all the holiday madness, I am uber-excited about my latest painting. The title is “Acceptance” and it is yet another addition to my New Realm series. This is a large piece, 48 inches wide and 36 inches high, so obviously you don’t get the full feel of it from just a tiny little jpeg. Which is all the more reason to check it out on my website www.AmyGuidry.com, under the Gallery section.

The boar/fish creature featured is another character from the surreal forest which the heroine encounters. Every hair and scale is painted in detail on this, so you can imagine how time consuming this was. I think I’m a masochist… At any rate, I am happy to say this piece is finally finished.

I will be showing this piece in my upcoming solo exhibition at the Schepis Museum in Columbia, LA in March 2009. Of course there will be other pieces from my New Realm series, including more new paintings, so be sure to attend if you are in the area. More details will follow soon.

In 24 Hours (and 49 minutes…)

"Everything's Coming Up Roses" by Amy Guidry; Copyright Amy Guidry 2008

I had a call from a writer recently regarding my work in the upcoming Learn Promote Defend exhibit. Patricia Ress, a writer for the Acadiana Gazette, has covered a couple of events and shows I’ve had in the past, so she did a phone interview with me about this upcoming show. She’s always very enthusiastic about my work, so I was happy to have her cover the Learn Promote Defend exhibit. So even though the show is in Atlanta, at least I am the one Louisiana artist (the other artists are from elsewhere in the U.S. and world, for that matter) to be included. I will have three paintings in the exhibit to benefit the Center for Civil and Human Rights. And this is a one-night only event so it will take place tomorrow (!), December 10th at 7 pm at Mason Murer Fine Art. The entire program of events, however, lasts for 10 days throughout the city of Atlanta, as part of 60 Years of Progress… 10 Days of Recognition.

The three paintings I will have in the exhibit are “Choices,” “And Justice for All. Void Where Prohibited,” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” All can be found on my website www.AmyGuidry.com. And if you’d like to check out Patricia Ress’s article, you can read it at http://http://www.acadianagazette.com/main.php?id=archives/volume4/issue46/around/46aca.htm.

What About Earth and Wind?

"Metamorphosis" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008

Yes, I come up with some weird titles…  I was thinking of earth, wind, fire, and water since the Fire and Water Festival is coming up, and as you can see by the name, it is sans earth and wind.  Okay, enough rambling.  The Fire and Water Festival is a 3-day event to be held in Arnaudville, LA.  Yes, this may sound familiar to you since I taught a class in- say it with me- Arnaudville- just a couple of months ago.  Arnaudville has quite the arts community going on thanks to George Marks.  (I’m sure there are others involved, but unfortunately I don’t know everyone behind the scenes, so much appreciation goes to those folks as well.)  Anyway, George is an artist as well, and  asked me to participate.  I was excited to be asked since it was looking like there would not be a big group exhibit this year, but turns out there will be one afterall.  Yea!  

And yes, I will be in attendance on Saturday, December 13th.  The show will be up as of Friday the 12th for the start of the festival and will end the following Sunday.  So despite all the holiday parties, get-togethers, etc., I will be there (and my artwork, of course).  If you need to get rid of some holiday stress (And you know it exists, don’t pretend it doesn’t.  It’s okay to admit you’re not always holly and jolly.), then come to Arnaudville to enjoy great art and great company.  Never a dull moment. 

Oh, and I should also give you the actual name of the event.  Many people know it as “Le Feu et l’Eau Rural Arts Celebration,” but for those of us who are not Cajun (i.e. me), it’s perfectly fine to call it the Fire and Water Festival.  Here’s a list of some of the participating artists: Kelly Guidry, Hope Hebert, Julie Breaux, Lue Svendson, Jill Hackney, Scott Finch, Damond, Lisa DiStefano, George Marks, Amy Guidry, Vincent Darby, JD Schall, Gerilyn LaVergne, Rene & Iggy Landry, Alvin “Pem” Broussard, Hogie Siebert, Daryl Harwood, William Lewis, Florine Robin, Brian Thibodeaux, Michelle Fontenot, Michel Hudelot, Gerald Judice,Lori Henderson, Missy Maloney, Scott DiStefano, Noonsie Morrough, Bryan LaFaye, Michel Brault, Pierre Perrault, Mario Doucette, Matt Doucet, Jay Miller, Eric Breaux, Pat Mire, Dicky Landry,Jillian Johnson, Megan Barra, Lucius Fontenot, Philip Gould, Francis X Pavy, Elemore Morgan, Jr., Kent Hustler, Toby Rodriguez, Zachary Richard, Guy Arsenault, Andre’-Alan Phelps, Sylvain Cousineau, Francis Coutellier, Paul E. Bourque, Pete Goguen, Paul Bosse’, Herme’ne’gilde Chiasson, Natalie Morin, Jean-Denis Boudreau, Erik Miklos, Moncton-Sable, Paul Bosse, Yvon Gallant, George Blanchette, Anne-Marie Sirois, Jennifer Be’llanger, Marc Xavier LeBlanc, Pavel Skalnik, Dano LeBlanc, Michel Brault, Pierre Perrault, Mario Doucette, and more…  

The event will be held December 12-14, Friday, 4pm-Midnight; Saturday, 9am-Midnight; Sunday, 10am-5pm at the Junction of LA 93/31, Arnaudville, LA.  See you there!

Oh, and if you’d like to see more of my work, go to http://www.AmyGuidry.com   

 

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Craig working on his Lizard Man paintingAll 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.)

Yes, it\'s meCraig’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 is trying to finish a drawing.  Abbie decided to join him.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

"Introspective" by Amy Guidry; SOLD; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008

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/.

I’d Like to Be Louisiana’s Spokes-Artist

Atlanta exhibit and auction featuring Amy Guidry\'s work.As you may already know, assuming you read this blog on a regular basis (fingers crossed), my work was recently selected for the Learn Promote Defend exhibition and silent auction to be held December 10th in Atlanta. I recently got a preview of the promotional material for the show, which is the image I’ve posted to the left. Anyway, I’ve also discovered that this was an international call for entries. Aside from being introduced to work from other parts of the world, this is exciting to know since it means the odds of getting chosen were even greater due to the volume of submissions. And wouldn’t you know it, but I am the only artist from Louisiana in the show. (Not that I assume tons of Louisiana artists are doing work pertaining to civil rights necessarily, but I do feel good knowing that I get to represent my state in this exhibit. Especially since Louisiana is not usually the first to come to mind when thinking of art, so I’d like to help change that. Someday. Hopefully…)

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.

You Oughta Be in Pictures

Recent commissioned painting. Copyright Amy Guidry 2008

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.