2024 Review - Residencies and more
Shetland Island: June/July, The Booth Artist Residency - Scalloway, Scotland
This residency had been a long time coming. In my quest to keep going north, I had longed to visit the Shetland Islands for years. It so happened, my month long stay at The Booth residency also straddled the summer solstice, which meant that my days there were the longest ones of the year. This allowed my working days to be extended into the short nights.
I was the only artist in my cozy cottage on the water, and that was just fine with me. My long days were perfect for extended explorations in and out of the studio. I especially loved my visits to the many sea bird colonies on the island - Sumburgh Head and the Isle of Noss. And really, who doesn’t love a Puffin!
The view flying into Sumburgh Airport on Shetland Island. ©Amy Guion Clay
The view across Scalloway Bay to the Booth residency in blue with red shutters.
“Cliffs of Sumburgh Head” A painting reflecting the many cliff walks I did while on Shetland Island. It’s all about the ocean and the coastline on this island in the North Sea. ©Amy Guion Clay
“Scalloway Days” Acrylic on paper. ©Amy Guion Clay
After spending hours at Sumburgh Head watching the cliff side puffin colonies, I returned to the studio, and the painting to the left was made. Little did I realize, the orange stripes must have been indirectly inspired by the orange stripes of the Puffin’s beak.©Amy Guion Clay
Glasgow Print Studio - 2 week residency - Glasgow Scotland. July 2024
There is never enough time when I work at the Glasgow Print Studio - this was my 3rd time at GPS, and I long for a fully equipped print studio like this in my town of Boulder, CO. My work this time was mostly experimental. I combined my photopolymer etchings with monotypes, then I incorporated the gel prints I did in Shetland by chine collé - a process that adheres the collage elements while the paper is going through the press. I couldn’t get enough of layering the different kinds of prints and images to create something new.
Glasgow Print Studio - with many of my photopolymer/chine collé prints. ©Amy Guion Clay 2024
Cill Rialaig Artist Retreat - Ballenskelligs, Ireland. August 2024
This was now my 4th time at Cill Rialaig Artist Retreat in far southwest Ireland. My last visit here was in 2016, but it felt like no time had passed at all since then. Even in August the weather was cool and blustery, as the Atlantic winds pounded my little cottage without obstruction from New York to Ballinskelligs. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I continued experimenting with the gel prints, and was so inspired by the local fauna, especially the prolific and ubiquitous ferns and castor oil leaves, that they became the main source material in my series of Irish botanical prints.
My cottage on the western cliffs of Bolus Head.
One of many fern prints.
Some of the botanical prints I made at Cill Rialaig.
2 of my fellow artists being swallowed by the prolific ferns!
Summer blooming heather and gorse bushes in magenta and golden yellow. ©Amy Guion Clay
Fabulous workshop at Roussillon in Provence
This was my first time teaching a painting workshop abroad, and I couldn’t be happier with our beautiful villa in Roussillon, Provence. The fabulous and brave women in the workshop were delightful and eager in their creativity, and our excursions to the nearby villages and markets were great for gathering inspiration for our mixed media art works. Stay tuned for information on upcoming workshops in 2025!
Our beautiful home La Madone in Roussillon, France. Morning view. ©Amy Guion Clay
Our fabulous group of women at Il Sur la Sorgue for the Sunday market to forage for inspiration. ©Amy Guion Clay
Al fresco dining at the Villa, with our own custom meal plans by our personal Chef Mark! ©Amy Guion Clay
The gorgeous raw pigments at the Roussillon pigment factory in Roussillon, France. ©Amy Guion Clay
Open Studios Boulder, CO - October 2024
And finally, another fantastic Open Studios in North Boulder. Thank you to all my wonderful new and old friends and collectors who come year after year! I’m so thankful for your ongoing support and I look forward to seeing you in 2025!
