"Adaptation" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series; Copyright Amy Guidry 2009
I’ve been away for a little while from my blog. Hopefully you’ve noticed. 😉 I’m working on a new body of work and am deeply involved in sketching out all the new ideas I have. Okay, so enough excuses. Here’s one new piece of information. If you haven’t read about it by now, my work has been featured in three volumes of Studio Visit Magazine. Studio Visit is the sister publication to New American Paintings and is published by The Open Studios Press. So now in addition to having my work in their publication, they have also featured me on their website. All past volumes of Studio Visit Magazine are now shown on the website and the winning artists from each issue are listed as well. In addition, those artists that have websites have a link to their site via StudioVisitMagazine.com. So if you’d like to check out the volumes that I’m in, go to www.studiovisitmagazine.com/volumes.html and click on an issue to see the artists. And if you’d like to view more of my work, be sure to check out my website at www.AmyGuidry.com.
"Tranquility" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2009
Okay, so this won’t be the next upcoming 2nd Saturday Artwalk, but it will be a 2nd Saturday in the future… October, that is. So here in Lafayette, Louisiana, we have a 2nd Saturday Artwalk each month in the downtown area. All of the galleries are open late, usually until 8 or 9 pm depending on the crowd. So I will be having a solo exhibition at Galerie Lafayette, which is located in Jefferson St. Market this coming October. This will actually be the second solo show I’ve had at Galerie Lafayette. I will have all new work for this exhibit! The opening reception will be held during the Artwalk, which will be October 10th from 6-8pm. More details about the show will follow closer to time. In the meantime, you can view my work at www.AmyGuidry.com.
"Transcendence" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2009
I will be participating in the LPB Art and Travel Auction, which supports Louisiana Public Broadcasting. I was asked to participate as a representing artist for the Oak Street Gallery in Hammond, LA. So I did a small piece, 6″ x 6″, wood-cradled panel, titled “Transcendence.” This piece is an extension of my New Realm series and features the red and black butterflies seen throughout the series. I also added some of the flowers and blue swirls seen in a few of the other paintings in New Realm.
Aside from being part of the live auction on LPB during primetime, my painting is included in an exhibition of all the art up for auction at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. The exhibit will be on display through May 18th. On-air coverage will be during primetime on June 7th at 6pm. You can also bid online at http://auction.lpb.org/. Just look under Gallery 17 Oak Street and you’ll find my work listed there!
If you’d like to see more of my work, or my entire New Realm series, go to my website at www.AmyGuidry.com. And if you’re a regular, check out my new home page design!
Okay, 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!
Studio Visit Volume 5 Cover "Adaptation" by Amy Guidry ; Painting by Amy Guidry, featured in Studio Visit Magazine Vol. 5
The latest volume of Studio Visit Magazine has arrived! I just got my copy the other day. It’s Volume 5, the Spring 2009 edition. My work was selected (again…yea!) for inclusion. My painting, “Adaptation,” from my “New Realm” series is featured.
The juror for the Spring 2009 issue was Michael Klein, an independent curator and private art dealer. He was the former Director of the International Sculpture Center and former Curator of the Microsoft Art Collection. Studio Visit is published by the Open Studios Press.
Studio Visit is the new sister publication to New American Paintings. In contrast to New American Paintings, Studio Visit Magazine is an internationally juried publication featuring 2-D and 3-D artwork. Featured jurors are internationally recognized professionals in the art industry.
My painting “Adaptation” was accepted for inclusion. (See photo on the top right.) It is from my “New Realm” series and is currently at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX, which is one of my representing galleries.
To view more of my work, or a larger image of “Adaptation” visit my website at www.AmyGuidry.com.
Yes, rejection from a gallery stinks. So I thought I’d post some ideas on what to do about it that don’t involve burning down the gallery or hate mail. I should preface this by saying I got the idea for this post from Art Calendar magazine. Jack White wrote an article called “Rejection Hurts” for the May issue. While I sometimes disagree with Mr. White’s ideas, I did find this article to be “spot on.” I would like to give my own two cents, though, so that’s the great thing about having one’s own blog. 😉
Okay, so you get a rejection from a gallery or a museum. Now what? Well, as Mr. White stated, it’s best to build a thick skin. True, but also look at this as an opportunity to get a referral. If a gallery rejects you, fine. Ask them if they can recommend a gallery that would suit your work. They may know of a new space opening up that is looking for artists. Or they may just give your name to another gallery themselves. (Yes, hard to believe, but that has happened for me.) It’s no skin off their nose to give you another name. In addition, you can then contact said gallery and use the name game to your advantage by saying ‘so and so from Gallery XYZ recommended your space to me and thought my work would fit your gallery.’
As far as reasons behind the rejection go, one of the more common reasons that Mr. White does not mention is that gallery’s have, in general, 12 exhibits a year. So that usually boils down to only 12 of their artists being shown in one year (except in a group show, of course). So it is not surprising that galleries, museums, and art centers usually have a full calendar for two years in advance. Sometimes 3 years. Just because a gallery isn’t interested at the time, doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. Perhaps they will keep your information on file. Perhaps they would like to stay in touch with you. It would be wise to maintain some type of relationship with these people. If you truly love the space, then it’s worth the time and effort. Not that you should do this anyway, but if you are randomly sending your work to any and every gallery, then it’s impossible to maintain relationships with all of these people. But if there are a few spaces you would give your left arm to be in, it would be in your best interest to stay in touch. And I don’t mean in a looking-to-get-a-restraining-order sort of way, either. Just get to know everyone on a personal basis. Learn their names. Go to their exhibits. Show a true interest in their artists’ work. THEN you can fill them in on what you’ve been doing.
I liked that Mr. White ended with saying to use rejection as a motivation to move forward. Aside from moving on, though, look for ways to turn rejection around into something positive. There may be another opportunity there, you just have to dig a little.
"Journey" by Amy Guidry; SOLD; From the New Realm series. Copyright Amy Guidry 2009.
Here is the latest painting from my “New Realm” series. The title is “Journey” and is part of the “New Realm 5 x 5’s.” This has been a popular size for me as it is relatively easy to find a space for a small painting, plus they are budget-friendly for just about anybody looking to add to or start an art collection. “Journey” features one of the symbolic red and black butterflies as seen throughout “New Realm” as well as the heroine of the series.
If you are in the southwestern Louisiana area, you can pick up a copy of the May 1st edition of “Lagniappe.” My painting will be featured in the Up Front column as well as an article about my upcoming shows. Just look for the article titled, “Fish, Feathers, and Royalty” by Brad Goins. And if you’d like to see more of my work, go to www.AmyGuidry.com.
"Metamorphosis" by Amy Guidry; Copyright Amy Guidry 2009.
Current Shows:
My work is currently showing in the “Hope” exhibit at R. Coury Fine Art Gallery in Savage, MD as part of Pinkapalooza. This event benefits the Blossoms of Hope Foundation which helps families coping with cancer. Half of the proceeds are donated to the Blossoms of Hope Foundation.
Upcoming Shows:
My “New Realm” series will be featured at the Schepis Museum in Columbia, LA in the Spring of 2009. The solo exhibition will open after museum renovations are complete. Details to follow soon.
The Oak Street Gallery in Hammond, LA will feature my work in a solo exhibition this August. I will be showing the “New Realm” series, featuring many pieces that are new to the exhibition.
I will also serve as a representing artist for the Oak Street Gallery in the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Art & Travel Exhibit. The exhibit will take place at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge, LA from April 25th to May 18th, with an opening reception May on 2nd. The auction will air June 7th on LPB.
Also showing later this month is the GreenScape exhibit at the Cotton Shed Gallery in Savage, MD. I will be a featured artist as part of the R. Coury Fine Art Gallery. The exhibit will open April 15th and close with a reception on May 3rd.
I will be showing at Galerie Lafayette in Lafayette, LA for a second solo exhibit. I will show the “New Realm” series for the first time in this venue. The show is scheduled for the month of October in 2009.
The Alexandria Museum of Art in Alexandria, LA has recently invited me to have a solo exhibition. I will exhibit my “New Realm” series at the museum in 2010.
Also scheduled for 2010, I will also be showing in downtown Lafayette, LA at Gallery 549. The exhibit will feature six local women artists. More details to follow soon.
Gallery Representation:
I am now represented by the Oak Street Gallery in Hammond, LA. I have also recently attained representation at the R. Coury Fine Art Gallery in Savage, MD.
Lectures:
I will be teaching my course, Art Marketing and Self-Promotion, at Frederick l’Ecole des Arts in Arnaudville, LA again this May. The class will be May 2nd (a Saturday) from 10AM-12Noon. Go to http://frederickarts.homestead.com/Registrationforms/GuidryAmyartmarketingregistrationform.html to register for Art Marketing and Self-Promotion. Sign up early to ensure your spot in the class. Registration is $30. The only supplies needed are a legal pad or notebook and pen for note-taking.
Video:
The first video of my work is now online. This preview video features my “New Realm” series and spotlights some of the paintings, providing commentary about each piece. You can view the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uL3H_rKW1k or at www.AmyGuidry.com. The video can also be found at Daily Motion, Veoh, and BlipTv.
Publications:
The next edition of Studio Visit Magazine will feature my work in early 2009. My paintings were 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. The magazine is scheduled for shipment April 15th, and should be in stores by April 30th.
I have been recently selected for the 2010 publication in Marquis Who’s Who in America. The next edition will be published in October of 2009.
"Wisdom" by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series; Copyright Amy Guidry 2009
I recently received a letter from the Marquis Who’s Who committee inviting me to be in the next edition of Who’s Who in America. Actually, they just needed me to update my biographical information since they already have that in their database, but I was honored, nonetheless. I’m currently published in the Marquis Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who in the World. So now I get to be in the 2010 edition of Who’s Who in America. It will be published in October of this year.
And in case you can’t make it to the library and look up this publication, you can always check out my biography (and my artwork!) at www.AmyGuidry.com.
“Beginning” by Amy Guidry; From the New Realm series; SOLD; Copyright Amy Guidry 2009
I came across Sadie Valeri’s blog yesterday and what a great blog it is. Women Painting Women is entirely devoted to women artists and features paintings of women by women. I love the concept because, not that I think we need to distinguish between the two, but female artists often do not get the recognition that male artists do. There are many ideas as to why this is, which I won’t get into all that since I’m not looking to stand on my soapbox, just laud a fellow blogger. Anyway, I was struck by the images on her blog. The only information given is the title and size (and artist, of course), but that’s all you need, really, because it’s so moving just to look at the paintings alone. And I am thrilled to say that Sadie so kindly added my work to her blog. She chose “Beginning” from the New Realm series, which I find appropriate given the premise of the series. (You can find out more from my artist statement on my website www.AmyGuidry.com.) So check out Sadie’s blog…I’m sure you will be as excited to find it as I was.
