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

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve taken many big risks in my life, because when I know that something bigger is calling me, I can’t NOT heed that call. Even when it’s really hard. Here are 2 of the biggest risks I’ve taken:

In my 20’s I was a fashion designer in NYC, climbing my way up the corporate ladder, with all the trappings and promise of “success”. After 5 years it became clear that this was not my future. I needed a more soulful, creative and adventurous life. So I bought a one way ticket to Australia, and a new life began, one that I never could have predicted. A life that would bring me around the world by bicycle, a life that would transform my future on every level.

After that transformative experience, I eventually ended up in Boulder, CO, and that’s when my art life really began to grow. I learned to paint from a deeper intuitive place, and I found my creative voice.

Many years later, after raising a family, it was time to go back out into the world. I knew that I had to let go of so many things to make that happen – my home, my car, my domestic life. So I took that leap because I knew it was the right thing to do, although very scary! I wanted to combine my love of art and travel, so I spent the next few years going to artist residencies, back to back. It has become a way of life for me that feels the most true to who I really am. An explorer, a nomad, and one who never wants to stop growing and experiencing life in all it’s amazing diversity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a child, I was always drawing and painting. By the time I was in art school at Syracuse University, I had decided to major in fashion design as a practical application of my BFA. This took me to New York and London for many years where I pursued a career in fashion, as I mentioned earlier. It wasn’t until my early 30’s that I came back to fine arts and really committed to my life as an artist.

After taking some painting classes at Naropa University, which focuses on contemplative practices in all fields of study, I learned to listen to and trust my deeper intuitive voice. This was a revelation and I have never looked back. I continue to paint today with that same level of presence and authenticity.

My work is all about the Epic Quest, the heroic journey we are all traveling on. I am obsessed with the longing to go beyond what I know, to push myself further into discovery. All of my paintings are like a travelogue of the journey every day in the studio. They are maps to places that do and don’t exist.

I love to teach others about finding their own creative voice. I hold several weekend workshops in the Boulder area a few times a year, and I love to witness other artists’ growth and exploration, watching them find themselves in a new way.

Also, many people ask me about my experiences at artist residencies, so I also created an online course that goes over all the things you need to know to attend one. You can find it on my website under Ecourse: https://www.amyclay.com/ecourse

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. I believe we all have a yearning to be our best, most creative selves. That means taking the risks necessary to be fully authentic. Finding our fullest, unique voice is what our journey on this planet is about.

This belief drives my own life, my creative process and ways that I can help others on that journey. I write a blog on my website that explores further the challenges of what it means to be an artist, face your own inner critics and bring your gifts to the world.

And my own artwork is a reflection of all those things, having the courage to show up authentically.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Most of all, it’s not really a choice. So the reward is simply showing up in the studio and making the work! I think that if you are inclined to be an artist, but don’t act on it, you can really suffer internally. We humans need to express ourselves, so giving yourself the time and resources you need to create is the biggest reward.

I can’t imagine living any other way, for better or worse!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amyclay.com
• Instagram: @amyclayart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amygclay/
• Other: My online course on artist residencies: https://www.amyclay.com/ecourse My blog: https://www.amyclay.com/amy-guion-clay