Amy Rice :: Artist Interview

Wings are pretty by Amy Rice

tandem by Amy Rice

Amy grew these flowers

The beautiful and talented Amy Rice was kind enough to take a moment out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions of mine for us to all enjoy. Amy Rice is such a huge talent, with thousands of fans and right now a large body of work here at our gallery under $100. Her positive attitude and cheery spirit radiate from her work and it's just simply wonderful to see the transformation the gallery took on with this show. It hits everyone when they come in!

So, here we go with the Amy Rice interview -- all images by Amy Rice.

1. What is your earliest memory of art making?

I specifically remember my Grandma teaching me how to embroider and the "a-ha" moment when I got it. She left me alone for a minute and I embroidered grass on the bottom of the piece and she was so proud. I was two.

2. What is your medium of choice?

My hand-cut stencils used in conjunction with spray paint are the mediums I am best known for and use the most. I love my gocco machine and can only wish on every falling star that someone, somewhere would start making new screens and bulbs and ink for it so that I can continue to explore and grow in my gocco art.

3. What are your greatest inspirations for your work?

So many things inspire me. I love old printed fabric, vintage prints and dresses, my garden, my memories of growing up on a midwestern farm, and the urban environment I live in now. My sweet old dog Ella. The extreme seasonal changes one experiences living in the Midwest.

4. Who was the most influential person in your early art career?

There were some artists early on that really influenced me. Jennifer Davis, Chris Stain and Terrence Payne all are artists that deserve a nod for their inspiration and influence. The artists of the nonprofit arts organization I manage (Spectrum ArtWorks) have been hugely motivating. To be around so many talented artists as they discover their potential has been life changing and has encouraged me at every stage of my career.

http://www.jenniferdavisart.com

http://www.chrisstain.com

http://www.terrencepayne.com

http://spectrumartworks.blogspot.com

5. What is a good art making day look like for you?

I work best in the evening when I have nothing to do the next day. I love staying up all night making art and going to bed at sunrise exhausted and full of paint.

6. Who are your favorite artists - living and dead

Well, the artists I named earlier as influences of course along with:

Johan Vermeer, Mary Cassatt, Swoon, Seonna Hong, Keegan Wenkman, Allen Brewer, Hokusai Katsushika, Henri Rousseau, André Derain, Camilla Engman, Know Hope, Lena Revenko...there are so many

7. Words of wisdom that you would like to pass along?

Grow Flowers, Ride a Bike, Love an Animal, Try Something New, Find Your Wings, Make Art of it All

8. What art do you find really exciting right now?

Know Hope/ This is Limbo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisislimbo

9. Where do you see yourself with your art 5 years from now?

I hope I have a few new tricks up my sleeve, knowledge of some mediums and methods I have yet to experience.

10. Tell us a little about the process of your art.

I use nontraditional printmaking methods such as hand-cut stencils and gocco as my starting point for original mixed-media pieces. My main images come from my sketchbook, from found photos and photos I take. I feel very free as an artist to use whatever material I want, be it fine art supplies or glue and glitter. I am never sure where a stenciled or gocco printed image will take me when I first begin. My worktable always has: scissors, mod podge, acrylic, gouache, ink pens, colored pencils, x-acto knife, random scarps of pretty, found paper and caffeine.