Meet Amy Guidry

We recently connected with Amy Guidry and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I’m constantly thinking about paintings that I’m working on or wish to do in the future. I keep sketchbooks everywhere so I can do quick thumbnail sketches as they come to mind. This process also applies to any paper I can find so I’ve amassed many scraps of paper, envelopes, and loose sheets full of sketches as well. I find inspiration through books, music, movies, dreams, and even the news. Any time I’m inspired by something or come across a topic to explore, I jot down some notes and a sketch. This gives me a lot of material to work with when I’m ready to start a new painting.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a painter and my “In Our Veins” series explores our connection to nature as seen through a surreal lens. I’m inspired by the natural world, as well as Surrealism. Surrealism allows me to delve into environmental issues and animal welfare, creating strange worlds that reflect the current state of our planet. What seems illogical can come to life through a painting. Though in many ways, I feel like what I paint is a mirror-image of our reality.

Nature is a delicate balance of different species relying upon each other. If one is removed, it has a domino effect on all other species because everything is connected. Whether it’s an insect, a tree, or a human, all are connected and each have a role in nature. One cannot exist without the other, therefore it is of the utmost importance that we care for each and every living thing. Throughout the series, humans are integrated into the subject matter whether as just an eye or even as an animal hybrid to emphasize this connection. Animals may have their faces covered or void of facial features as a way to challenge our concern for only those we know or like. Trees, flowers, or clouds are often combined with each other or with animals to also convey connection.

My paintings have been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States as well as the United Kingdom. My work is currently part of the In the Garden of Blooms and Ballyhoo exhibition at Cactus Gallery in Los Angeles, CA through the end of June.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think passion, persistence, and business skills have had the most impact on my career. Art is a subjective field so it’s important to be truly passionate about your art because that’s what will keep you going no matter the obstacle. You have to truly love what you do and believe in it. Persistence goes hand-in-hand with passion because you’ll face a lot of rejection as an artist. Everyone does. You’ll have to be able to carry on and know that your art won’t be for everyone. Business skills are crucial and those can be easily learned whereas the first two qualities are more innate. I never studied business in college. It was something I learned on my own through books, podcasts, business magazines, and online articles. Learning how to operate a business will help you to be a better artist in that you’ll have a better understanding of the marketing and financial aspects and it will be useful for working with galleries to make more informed decisions.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I practice what I preach. First: breathe. Sounds simple enough, but many of us are shallow breathing, which is stress-related. Deep breathing does wonders. Next: make a list. Just writing things down can cleanse the mind, but also gives you the opportunity to turn general goals into actionable steps. Breaking down goals into a step-by-step process is much easier to handle. If you feel truly overwhelmed, step away and find something else to do. Don’t force it and do bad work. I once tried to paint while dealing with physical pain plus the downtrodden mindset that follows and ended up taking a pair of scissors to a canvas. Even if all you do is organize your studio, that would still be moving the ball forward. It’s also important to take time out for yourself and meditate, do some yoga, or go for a walk.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amyguidry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_guidry_artist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyGuidryArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyguidryartist/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AmyGuidryArtist
• Other: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/amyguidryartist.bsky.social

Image Credits

Zachary Guidry