Blog — Amy Guion Clay

The heat is already bearing down, the skies hazy with drifting wildfire smoke from miles away, and my default guidance system pulls me north. Could be my genetic predisposition - 98% British Isles, Irish, French and Scandinavian. I'm not built for heat and glaring sunlight.

I did a residency in Iceland back in 2012 at Gullkistan, and wrote this passage in my sketchbook while there:

"To be in Iceland, the newest land mass on the planet - the rumbling belly of continents. Breaking, stretching, gasping open. Bleak, scoured, fertile. The clouds pan across the flatlands - spreading…

Featured Artist/Traveler: Trine Bumiller - Interview

Trine Bumiller is a Denver based painter who has a special interest in the natural world. Her oil paintings are shown around the world and she is represented by Robishchon gallery in Denver, and Zg Gallery in Chicago. She has also been to numerous artist residencies, including one in Denali National Park in Alaska.

Even though we live in neighboring cities, I first met Trine recently at a residency at Brush Creek Arts in Saratoga WY. At that time she was working on a huge project…

30 Days of Aqua - a painting challenge.

Sometimes I set myself a painting challenge, to create boundaries in the candy store that is art-making. As summer heats up, my gaze turns to the cooling effect of Aqua. Doesn't matter in what way it shows up, but in land-locked Colorado, it gives me a a sense of water, flow, diving in to something that isn't rock.
These paintings are fast and loose, pint sized and purposely affordable. I love working small - there is less…

Weekend Workshop - Courage vs. Confidence

As I prepare for my weekend workshop here in Boulder, I'm reflecting on the title and focus of this workshop. I first heard the quote "Courage is more important than Confidence" from the designer Debbie Millman. It struck me immediately that courage is the key to all creative pursuits and is critical in the broader context of ALL life choices.

There's an assumption that we must lead with confidence. That…

art classes, creative process, paintings for sale, my paintingsAmy ClayJune 13, 2018amyclayart, abstractart, amyguionclay, art classesComment

River Seeks Ocean

Many days I cycle down to Boulder Creek to sit on my certain rock, now partially submerged from the high country run-off. This morning as I watched the frothy flow of water rushing by, I felt the urgency of the river seeking the ocean. And I thought of the human condition, always seeking connection with Source. It's the PULL of the Source, and when we allow our innate guidance to raft on the stream, there's no effort, it's easy to flow, and thrilling too.

This is true in the painting practice - it is a form of meditation in that way. Deep listening to the guidance, the flow, the…

creative process, my paintings, paintings for saleAmy ClayJune 5, 2018amyclayart, art travel, amyguionclayComment

Speaking of Freedom

Freedom is my M.O. Everything I do gets run through the freedom lens. It's the pinnacle of my pyramid, the joy and challenge of my life and work, and at times, my curse to bear. I'm restless when restricted, confined or subjected to other's expectations. I rebel at the smallest fences, and the longing to head for the horizon is almost always greater than the security of staying. And it's just how I like it.

But what does freedom even mean? Your definition will most likely…

creative process, my paintings, paintings for saleAmy ClayMay 30, 2018amyclayart, abstractart, amyguionclayComment

Gaps in the Flow - Brush Creek Arts, WY

Some people are steady at the helm of their creative activity, and are regular like roughage. That's not me. Try as I might there can be long gaps between painting sessions. Such as it is now, after the solid month of painting at my residency at Brush Creek Ranch. Sometimes I return from a residency - spent. Other times, energized, but am pulled away by life's other needs.

The longing to get back at it is a blessing and a curse at times…

ARTSYSHARK.com Featured Artist Article

Thank you to Artsyshark.com for their feature artist article - you can read more on their site. Click the image:

"In life and art, I long for the horizon. There is an invisible tether that pulls me toward the unknown, and this is reflected in the artwork that I do. Even in my purely abstract paintings, it’s always about a mythical journey of discovery. I always want to know…”

artist residencies, art travel, art classes, creative processAmy ClayMay 20, 2018amyguionclay, amyclayartComment

Waning days at Brush Creek Ranch Artist Residency, WY

Just a few days left of our residency here at Brush Creek Ranch. Time stands still and whizzes by, simultaneously. This vast landscape inspires and intimidates at times, even being from Colorado. Our daily hikes have added dimension to our isolated camp, and from the high perches, there is a sense of scale and orientation, sometimes missing from the low valleys.

art travel, artist residenciesAmy ClayApril 24, 2018amyclayart, amyguionclay, artist residenciesComment

The Creative Pit

I've noticed a pattern while at a month long residency, that almost without fail repeats itself. Currently I'm at the midpoint, where I feel that nothing is working, and I can't paint!

The first week is full of vim and vigor, as all the artists get to know each other, we set up our studios and get cracking. The second week builds on that momentum and the studio begins to fill up with, at least, works in process. Then the midway point happens - suddenly

artist residencies, art travel, creative processAmy ClayApril 16, 2018amyclayart, amyguionclay, artist residenciesComment

My online course about Artist Residencies is now open!

All about ARTIST RESIDENCIES - how to find the right one for you,create a compelling application and become an artist in residence. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

For those who are creative and love to travel, artist residencies are the Holy Grail. From Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and everywhere between, artist residencies are dedicated places for creatives to focus on their work, travel to cool places and

art classes, art travel, artist residenciesamyApril 14, 2018artist residencies, art travel, art classes, abstractartComment

Horizons Everywhere

Something about the horizon line keeps showing up in my work out here in the wide open spaces of Wyoming. This is not the first time - the horizon is a composition I naturally gravitate to, in many ways - literally and metaphorically. There is an invisible tether that pulls, and sometimes yanks me toward the horizon, ever longing for the unknown.

This I think is partly the human condition, to be

art travel, artist residencies, my paintings, paintings for saleAmy ClayApril 9, 2018Comment

Artist in Residence at Brush Creek Ranch, WY

"Warning - extreme blowover danger!" The flashing signs crossing Wyoming on HWY 80 meant business. The 65mph + winds rattled and rocked my little Mini Cooper Clubman. But she held steady, helped I presume by the weight of 10 heavy panels for painting and a few hundred pounds of art supplies and other stuff. Art saves lives!

I was met by my host at the gates to this 15,000 acre luxury working cattle ranch in the

artist residencies, art travelAmy ClayApril 4, 2018amyguionclay, artist travelers, art travel, artist residenciesComment

Solar plate etching monotype at London Print Studio

One of my favorite of the etchings I did at London Print Studio last month. I layered a gestural painting I did with my drawing of water to create the etching plate, then rolled layers of ink on the surface of the plate for the color. Each print is unique in that way. Finished image is 10" x 8" on Fabriano archival paper.

artist residencies, printmakingamyJune 21, 2017Comment

Solo Exhibition - "Bear Me Across the Sky" Art and Soul Gallery

Join me for my solo show at Art and Soul Gallery in Boulder, CO April 29, 2016

1615 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302 Opening reception April 29, 5-8pm

my exhibitionsAmy ClayApril 13, 2016

Cill Rialaig Artist Retreat

art travel, artist residenciesAmy ClayOctober 19, 2015artist residencies, kerry ireland, art travel Comment

Printmaking Residency in Spain

printmaking, artist residencies, art travelAmy ClayOctober 5, 2015printmaking, collagraphs, carborundumComment

"Raising Waves on a Windless Sea" solo exhibition

my exhibitionsamyOctober 8, 2014Comment

my solo exhibition, london, england

my exhibitions, art travel, my paintingsamyJanuary 22, 2013Comment

London Diaries

While London is not a residency for me, it is my soul home in a way, and has been ever since first coming here as a wide-eyed 20 year old art student. By some invisible tether i am drawn back here again and again, and thus I find myself living here now, testing the limits of UK immigration and soaking up the dynamic thrill of this favorite city of mine. Alas, without a studio, I am confined to one small desk, so am simply cutting, pasting and drawing in my journal pages - calling this series of collages my "London Diaries" - as they reflect…

art travel, my journal pages, my paintingsamyclayOctober 1, 2012Comment

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