Tag Archives: “Art Calendar”

Professional Artist Magazine Feature

Professional Artist Magazine, Dec/Jan 2012 issue

I’m excited to announce that I’m currently featured in Professional Artist Magazine (formerly Art Calendar Magazine) as part of their December/January issue.  The article is titled “Communicating Social Messages through Art, Partnership and Publicity” and was written by Renee Phillips, aka The Artrepreneur Coach.  I am honored to be a featured artist and to have had the opportunity to share some insight in this article.  If you’ve been following my work, you know that art is my passion but reaching people through my work is also incredibly important.  I strive to inspire others as well as get them thinking, talking, and acting upon issues that are of personal as well as social importance.  In addition, Renee makes a great point that it is up to the artists, no matter what their subject matter, to be proactive about getting their work out there.  I strongly agree and if you’ve checked out my previous posts on press releases, you understand why.  I can’t post the actual article but if you would like to read a modified version of it, you can check it out on Renee’s site at www.manhattanarts.com/readingroom/ezine/CareerBusiness/Renee_Social-Issues.htm.

If you’d like to view my latest work and news, sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.amyguidry.com/contact.html and “like” my Facebook Fan Page for my updates.

Giving Thanks

This will be a short post today, but a fun one.  With Thanksgiving on my mind, I started thinking of things to give thanks to and wanted to share them with you.  In the spirit of this blog, I will keep them art related.  Okay, so let’s start:

Alyson Stanfield’s advice:  Though I am sad that her podcast is ending, I am thankful for her newsletters.  She has inspired, enlightened, and informed me (as well as countless other artists)- Art Biz Coach

Art Calendar Magazine:  I’ve been reading this magazine for art business professionals since I first became a professional artist.  It has truly shaped my career- Art Calendar

Sales Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips podcasts:  The name says it all- I can’t find a more concise resource to listen to weekly- Quick and Dirty Tips

Michaels art supplies stores: When I need a synthetic 00 round paintbrush (for those who don’t know- they are SUPER tiny brushes) and let’s face it, I go through one of those in a matter of days, it’s nice to be able to show up at 8:50pm and get a paintbrush (and they offer coupons!)- Michaels

I’m thankful to everyone that has been/is so supportive and encouraging of my art career.  I’m thankful to everyone that is a “fan” (or “like”- Facebook keeps changing it) on my Facebook Fanpage.  Your support has kept me going over the years and continues to do so.  THANK YOU!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Next Stop

"Freedom" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010
"Freedom" by Amy Guidry; (c) Amy Guidry 2010

If you’ve been following my blog, you may recall awhile back that I was to have a show at the Schepis Museum in Columbia, LA. Well, since that show had been planned a year in advance, and a lot can happen in the meantime, there were renovations being made that turned into a bigger project than expected. So my show had to be postponed. Well, I am happy to say that the time has come and my exhibit will open next month at the Schepis. This will be a solo exhibition of my New Realm series. This series has been in several locations in Louisiana, as well as Austin and Las Vegas. No two shows have ever been the same since works are sold and replaced or new work has been added by the time another show opens. So on and so forth.

The exhibit will open next month- May- and be open through the end of June. With a two-month display time, this should give many of you a chance to see the work in person. I can’t stress enough that I have to use low-res, small images on the web (thanks to copyright infringement), so seeing my paintings in person is a whole other experience. The opening reception will be held on Sunday, May 30th from 2-4 pm.

Many works from the New Realm series can be seen online at www.AmyGuidry.com. While you are there, be sure to check out my Press section for an article in the current issue of Art Calendar Magazine about New Realm.

Rejection Stinks- Here’s What You Can Do About It

Amy Guidry with her work at the Acadiana Center for the ArtsYes, 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.

www.AmyGuidry.com