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Artist Amy Radford |
Artwork
Artist Statement
Growing up in the tree-lined enclave of Lake Bluff, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan, I often wondered about what it was like on the other side of the lake. With my mother's encouragement I started painting as a preschooler. After winning a scholarship for painting in high school, I graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, and began an exciting career in advertising and marketing in the DFW Metroplex working with the most talented creatives. When my two beautiful daughters were very young I spent two inspired years painting murals. Later as a single parent I rejoined the workforce, but still pursued my passion for painting whenever I found "spare time". It is with great joy and gratitude that I was finally able to fully discover the beauty of what was across the lake when I moved here in 2014 and realized "Amy's Dream"!
Living in Leelanau County and working professionally as an artist has been my dream for many years since my earliest memories of vacationing with my family. Every day I am grateful for the opportunity to be here, and am inspired to paint beautiful scenes of nature, with vivid hues, to share and encourage the joy within the beauty of God's creation. I choose bright colors that are stimulating, vibrant, and uplifting. I love art that makes you feel happy.
It is wonderful to be a part of this community of artists. I can't imagine a more fulfilling place to live, paint, garden, swim, and dream. This is a blessed place of beauty and filled with many genuine, gracious, and kind people.
Living in Leelanau County and working professionally as an artist has been my dream for many years since my earliest memories of vacationing with my family. Every day I am grateful for the opportunity to be here, and am inspired to paint beautiful scenes of nature, with vivid hues, to share and encourage the joy within the beauty of God's creation. I choose bright colors that are stimulating, vibrant, and uplifting. I love art that makes you feel happy.
It is wonderful to be a part of this community of artists. I can't imagine a more fulfilling place to live, paint, garden, swim, and dream. This is a blessed place of beauty and filled with many genuine, gracious, and kind people.
Artist Interview
Q. What was your first memorable experience with art?
A. A pastel painting of a favorite crabapple tree in my backyard when I was 6. This was meaningful for the accomplishment, and for the memorable experience of marking my appreciation of the beauty of nature and capturing it with art. I still remember sitting under that tree and the sweet fragrance of the bright pink blossoms that covered me. To this day, I still smell every crabapple tree I come upon, and have not found one that smells that sweet.
Q. Can you explain when you wanted to become an artist? What turned you onto art?
A. My mother was an elementary teacher and she was a key encourager for me. She read to me her treasured original collection of Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann books circa 1940-1950. These are among my most prized possessions. These stories of fairies and fantasy transported us to a unique place of imagination and wonder. Most specially, Gruelle's colorful, fanciful illustrations originated my desire to be a painter.
Q. Is there a single piece of artwork that impacted you?
A. Living just north of Chicago, our frequent trips to the Art Institute, and the internationally renowned Impressionist Collection, took this desire to the next level. One painting in particularly captivated me at the age of 10, "On the Terrace," by Renoir, features two sisters. Their bright hats made an unforgettable impression with vivid color, the serenity of the setting on the water, the blushing beauty of the girls faces, and sensual brush strokes captivated me, and I stood for what seemed like hours, studying the painting each time I visited.
Q. What artists influenced you the most?
A. Renoir, was my earliest favorite. I identify most with Monet as he spent many of his hours in his garden as I do, and am inspired by creating art forms with landscape material, as well as painting it. As I develop, I become more appreciative of Van Gogh and more abstract impressionism. I also wish to note the wealth of talented local artists here in Leelanau County that share their talent through workshops at Interlochen, Glen Arbor Arts Association, and the Old Arts Building in Leland. These local artists have hugely affected my growth and development by sharing their talent and providing an environment that nurtures creativity and a strong art community,
A. A pastel painting of a favorite crabapple tree in my backyard when I was 6. This was meaningful for the accomplishment, and for the memorable experience of marking my appreciation of the beauty of nature and capturing it with art. I still remember sitting under that tree and the sweet fragrance of the bright pink blossoms that covered me. To this day, I still smell every crabapple tree I come upon, and have not found one that smells that sweet.
Q. Can you explain when you wanted to become an artist? What turned you onto art?
A. My mother was an elementary teacher and she was a key encourager for me. She read to me her treasured original collection of Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann books circa 1940-1950. These are among my most prized possessions. These stories of fairies and fantasy transported us to a unique place of imagination and wonder. Most specially, Gruelle's colorful, fanciful illustrations originated my desire to be a painter.
Q. Is there a single piece of artwork that impacted you?
A. Living just north of Chicago, our frequent trips to the Art Institute, and the internationally renowned Impressionist Collection, took this desire to the next level. One painting in particularly captivated me at the age of 10, "On the Terrace," by Renoir, features two sisters. Their bright hats made an unforgettable impression with vivid color, the serenity of the setting on the water, the blushing beauty of the girls faces, and sensual brush strokes captivated me, and I stood for what seemed like hours, studying the painting each time I visited.
Q. What artists influenced you the most?
A. Renoir, was my earliest favorite. I identify most with Monet as he spent many of his hours in his garden as I do, and am inspired by creating art forms with landscape material, as well as painting it. As I develop, I become more appreciative of Van Gogh and more abstract impressionism. I also wish to note the wealth of talented local artists here in Leelanau County that share their talent through workshops at Interlochen, Glen Arbor Arts Association, and the Old Arts Building in Leland. These local artists have hugely affected my growth and development by sharing their talent and providing an environment that nurtures creativity and a strong art community,