We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Marcy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

In my first year as a full-time artist, a friend of mine tagged me in an instagram comment that said, “This could use some Amy Marcy Art, just saying.” The post that he tagged me on was written by HGTV designer, Jenny Marrs with “Fixer to Fabulous”. Before I even saw he tagged me, she had sent me a DM asking to use two pieces of my artwork, from my very first collection, on Season 2 of her show. So this was a dual kindness. Because as it turns out, my friend had gone to high school with Jenny and really stuck his neck out for me. And on behalf of Jenny’s heart-warming character, she took time out of her crazy busy schedule and actually visited my instagram page. Mind you, I had less than 1k followers, didn’t have a website yet, and was working on the first art collection of my career. She really took a chance on me and inadvertently fulfilled one of my dreams as an artist–to appear on HGTV. You can see two of my ocean artworks on Season 2, Episode 2 of “Fixer to Fabulous”, show titled, “She said Yes!” They are both hanging in their living room.

Jenny went on to use some more of my artwork in Season 3 of “Rock the Block” filmed in Charleston. She made sure to get me on set so I could meet her and Dave and was more kind than I could have ever anticipated someone to be under that kind of stress. And looking back, I will just never get over it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a full-time mixed media artist–most known for my wall sculptures: sculptures of art framed and hung on the wall to resemble water, complete with vibrant color, three dimensional waves and light that refracts through the artwork.

I am inspired deeply by light that travels through water. About two years ago I set out to capture that in a way I hadn’t seen yet! I developed a technique of sculpting resin to achieve my vision. I’m incredibly proud and thankful for the work I get to do and nothing brings me more joy than to envision a future where I’m long gone and my artwork is still scattered all over the globe, a living legacy. And to add, while I’m still alive and kicking, make the world a more beautiful place.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have known to not overlook my local shipping company as one of the greatest resources of all time. I work with a local UPS and they are instrumental in my business process now that I’ve invested in personal relationships and their business. At this point, I hire them to professionally package my art, on top of shipping it. A lot of artists will hire a part-time employee to help with this, which is a great option. However, hiring out one of their employees to do it, guarantees insurance and saves me a ton of time. I now load my car full of art and deliver it to them for the full service.

They are very dedicated to me and my business and will call in advance of a collection release to make sure they have a private room and tables set up to hold all the artwork that sells from my, now very large, art releases. I can not stress enough the difference it has made in my business and ability to sell.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That art is strictly personal and not a “product”.

Don’t get me wrong!! Art is so, so personal. In so many ways, we are selling part of ourselves, versus just a standard product that doesn’t own a part of our story in some way. However, I had to unlearn the idea that production and client voice doesn’t apply to the art world. Yes, I come up with the ideas, however, all you need to do is create a collection one time that doesn’t sell and doesn’t receive good feedback before you learn that art is more than just something we want to express, that is, if it is also your full time business. So, I learned quickly from a “failed” art release (in quotations, because I don’t truly see it as a failure) that I need to listen to my clients, ESPECIALLY their silence. I adjusted, took stock, and began creating things that surely, bit by bit, lead to the art I make today. It is hugely successful and while I want to take a lot of credit for that, it is also due to the client’s likes and dislikes. I had to keep creating to find that response. Now, I’m in the production stage of art. That might sound clinical, but because I love the art I make, turning that into a type of product isn’t at all what I thought it’d be. It is quite fulfilling to be known by something specific.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amymarcyart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymarcyart

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by me, Amy Marcy, who used to be a professional photographer.