Artist Residencies - Getting Real
Many of you follow my work because you are interested in my art travel residency experiences. It’s been over 16 years since I first embarked on my adventures to combine my twin loves of art and travel, and now over 35 residencies later I have a few things to say about them.
It has been one hell of a ride so far!
At The Admiral’s House, Isle of Skye, Scotland ©Amy Guion Clay
But let’s get real here - not the glammed up, Insta-worthy version. Let’s look at the good, the bad and the life changing:
WHY I DO THEM?
To combine the things I love to do the most - making art and traveling and meeting other artists. To be INSPIRED by the diverse and beautiful landscapes, peoples and cultures of the world.
Residencies can be an affordable way to travel. Some are free, some charge a reasonable fee, and others can be very expensive. The best of course are free, but they also are, understandably, much more competitive and are harder to be selected.
Korppoo, Finland - Inspiration and mixed media works. ©Amy Guion Clay
I want to see how each new environment informs, shapes, and changes the work that I do. I’m not interested in repeating the same things I could do at home. Each residency is like a pilgrimage - an opportunity to be deeply present, seeing with fresh eyes, noticing the world around me and expressing my response visually.
To always be learning and growing in this lifetime. I grow restless when things stay the same for too long, each place teaches me something new about myself and my work.
My wall collage at BigCi - Blue Mountains in NSW Australia. ©Amy Guion Clay
I love to make artist friends from around the world. Some of these have become life long friendships, and I’ve enjoyed staying and visiting with new friends in Ireland, London, Berlin, Portugal, Spain, Paris, Northern Ireland, etc. This expands my world immeasurably.
They show me how to be fluid, accepting of circumstances outside my control, and dropping into the NOW. To be strong when things sometimes go awry.
I am always reaching to become a better artist, traveler and most importantly, a better human. Going beyond my comfort zone inspires me to find the beauty everywhere and connect with the diverse community of people around the world.
Tallinn, Estonia work and inspiration. ©Amy Guion Clay
WHAT ARE THE CONS?
You never know what you will get. There are not many reviews online such as on Airbnb or hotel websites. Even when one person recommends it, it might not be right for you. I’ve been recommended residencies that didn’t work for me at all, and have suggested ones for other people that was a miss for them. It’s always a risk, although it’s rare that I haven’t been able to make a residency a positive experience.
Planning takes a lot of time and researching is a deep rabbit hole. You often have to apply well in advance under specific deadlines, and getting the timing right is often tricky, especially if you do them back to back as I often do. You also sometimes have to pay a fee to apply so that can be costly if you apply to them often.
At the Glasgow Print Studio, Scotland ©Amy Guion Clay
Residencies are not vacations - they are working creative experiences. Yes you can add on sightseeing before and after - sometimes during your residency, but consider them as YOUR time to focus on your work away from your usual life. There is a commitment you make when taking up a space that another artist could benefit from.
Keep in mind that costs can be high, not just the price of the residency and flights, but they are often in rural areas and getting there can involve overnight hotel stays along the way, as well as buses, trains, ferries and taxis. Also, even if a residency claims to be free, check the fine print - some expect you to donate a painting (one that might fetch a hefty price back home) so consider that as part of the cost of the residency.
Cill Rialaig Artist Residency, Ballinskelligs, Ireland ©Amy Guion Clay
They are constantly changing, opening and closing. They can even close when you have booked one and made all your travel arrangements. This happened to me in Spain a few years ago. And you might have no recourse to get a refund. It’s always a good idea to get travel insurance, although I rarely do!
If you are unhappy at a residency - maybe they misrepresented themselves, or it’s uninspiring and uncomfortable, no heat, bed bugs, rowdy parties in the shared house, scorpion nests in the studio (yes all of these happened to me), you might need to find somewhere else to go, as i did recently at a residency in Estonia. I left after 4 days but paid for 3 weeks. Because I was going on to further travels, I had to rent an Airbnb in the capital city of Tallinn for those weeks, incurring yet another big expense. However, I loved my time getting to know the charming medieval city of Tallinn, and set up my Airbnb with an art table and made some work that I was happy with.
Occasionally there might be a conflict with another artist or even the hosts. This is uncommon but does happen. Not everyone is going to be your best friend, and being away from home can make some feel especially vulnerable. I’ve also witnessed a host needing to ask a problematic artist to leave if they are disturbing the other artists. And in one very rare case, the artists had to ask the hosts to leave since they were the ones creating the drama! (yes that happened too!).
And finally, you can create your own “residency” by booking accommodations somewhere you want to visit, and creating a space to do some work. I always make sure there is a large enough table, and often it means eating meals surrounded by your cluttered art set up. Obviously, if you are a messy painter that might not work, but covering tables and floors with plastic can make a small space a mini studio. I’ve done that many times, in the tightest of nooks! Just always respect the space and make sure you leave it as you found it.
Brush Creek Ranch, Wyoming. This wonderful residency closed during the pandemic. ©Amy Guion Clay
All that said, my life as a traveling artist has been one of the greatest gifts and adventures I could have asked for. I hope to continue experiencing the world in this way as long as I am able. It also makes me appreciate my studios at home that much more!
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If you are wanting some help and guidance about how to find and apply to the best residency of your choice, click the button below and we can discuss in a free 15 minute coaching session to see if I can be of help.
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