Meet Amy Gann | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Gann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Initially, I worked for years as an archivist which I quite enjoyed. It took me to work in Myanmar for the United Nations, and allowed me to dig into a myriad of topics. However, even as a child, I loved to draw, and as an adult found myself sketching elaborate doodles constantly. After the pandemic hit, taking contracts that would require a lot of travel became less feasible, so my husband gifted me an easel and some stretched canvas. Although I could draw color photo realistic portraits, I had never attempted to paint. Teaching myself this new skill occupied my time when we were all in lockdown, and I found that I enjoyed it immensely. As such, I started to experiment with styles and tried to figure out my niche. Thus far, I am not entirely sure that I have a niche. I still love to try different styles and subjects, but generally fall back to some variation of portrait – whether it is wildlife (based on my own photographs as I am an avid wildlife photographer on the weekends) or people. While marketing myself is not my greatest skill, when people started asking to buy my work, and when I was offered shows in Iceland and New Mexico, I became excited at the prospect of being able to do something I enjoy, and something that takes me away from sitting at a desk on someone else’s timeframe as a career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I look at the artwork of others, I try not to compare my own work to theirs. Often my biggest motivator for painting (other than commissions which I love – my background as an archivist always allowed me to peak into the background so to speak, so when people trust me to share a moment of their life for me to capture, I feel honored) is just witnessing the natural world or people in candid moments. And each of those moments lends itself to be express in different ways – whether playing with colors or backgrounds, blending sceneries or playing with different styles, or just directly painting what was seen. I am not sure it is ever easy to take the chance on creative endeavors. I still struggle with the idea of not having a set paycheck, or living in a place that has insurance no matter what our occupation. I might have seriously considered pursuing art at a younger age if there was a bit more of a safety net in our country; I always suspect it keeps so many books, paintings, sculptures, etc. that would inspire many to never be made. People understandably pursue more secure occupations and do not find the time to create. My biggest challenge is trying to market myself; as someone that doesn’t necessarily love a lot of attention on myself (although I am always happy to have people look at my work), it is difficult to figure out how to bring attention to what I do. It is a balance I am still trying to figure out. However, I am immensely proud of myself for being such a relatively new artist, and receiving invitations to paint abroad, and show my work in galleries, and one painting receiving second place in an international contest. It can also be difficult to not get stymied by different audiences wanting you to paint different styles. Unless it is for a specific piece for a commission, I always appreciate input, but it can be easy to focus on what might sell vs what I want to paint. – which can cause the equivalent of writers block.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course. I am a bit of a homebody who just enjoys spending time outside. However, when I do decide to go out and about, I quite enjoy popping into small art galleries and shops. I don’t go to any particular ones, but there is an abundance of wonderful small businesses to visit when you walk down virtually any street. I love to support those that take the chance to create their own oasis to share with others – be it to showcase creativity, sell books or knick knacks, or run a small cafe. Rarely do I visit the same place multiple times not because they are not worth the visit, but because I want to explore the next street over or a new part of town or the state or a neighboring location. I would recommend visiting the scenic byways, go to a baseball game, visit the Art Museum and Meow Wolf and the Botanic Garden. If you see a Farmers Market, stop by for some local produce, baked goods or even entertainment. Drive around and explore the mountains, stopping to hike some trails – we are blessed by a breathtaking natural display filled with wildlife – take it all in. My biggest piece of advice and recommendation is to go where the moment takes you. Some of the best times you can have are spontaneous. Pop into a venue if you hear music playing, stop into that bakery you are strolling by if you are tempted by the smells of freshly made food. Just take it all in without a huge itinerary. You will not be disappointed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Travis Duhr, has been my biggest support and provides nonstop encouragement. Without him buying me an easel and canvas, I am not sure if I ever would have ever attempted to paint. He also goes on weekend adventures with me to photograph wildlife, and lists himself as an artist assistant as he helped me to prep for Iceland (and traveled with me), and he preps my canvases to hang regularly. He constantly shows off my work, and hearing him praise my efforts even when he does not realize I am in earshot is encouraging and motivating to keep moving forward.

Website: www.amyganncreative.com

Instagram: amy.gann.5

Facebook: Amy Gann Creative

Image Credits
The pictures of me are by Travis Duhr.