Meet Amy Shuey: Artist & Audiologist

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

Hi Amy, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I actually didn’t set out to start my own business in the beginning but rather it came about sort of organically after I picked up digital art as a stress reliever. I was drawing more and more and experimented with doing some portrait commissions though I felt like my art style lent itself more readily to things like stickers and art prints. Even so, I wasn’t quite ready to take the plunge. I finally reached the point where people started inquiring about whether I would offer any of the artwork I posted on Instagram for sale, so I started looking at other artists I admired to see how they were turning their art into a business and made the choice to go for it. I wanted to keep my business fairly simple and manageable since I also work a full-time and have a small child so I decided to just offer some stickers, sticker sheets, and art prints – all things I could produce at home and ship fairly easily.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I used to draw a lot as a kid but it’s a hobby I had to let go of as I became more focused on academics and then later my career as an audiologist. I picked it back up again as a “quarantine hobby” in June 2020, so I am still learning and trying to grow but I do feel proud of the fact that I was able to sort of hone in on my art style fairly quickly. Obviously, I am constantly experimenting and trying new things to try to avoid things becoming stagnant but I think at its core my art is recognizably mine. There are so many amazing artists putting their work out there that it can be really challenging to stand out and build a following (especially as a relatively new and self-taught artist) so trying to stay true to my “style” and my voice feels good in itself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live just outside of Asheville, NC so my must do things are: grabbing breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe, checking out waterfalls in DuPont State Forest, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, tacos from White Duck Taco Shop, BBQ from Luella’s and/or 12 Bones, dessert from French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and checking out any of the many amazing breweries like Burial Brewing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shoutout to some of the friends I’ve found via Instagram along the way in my art journey who have been so supportive and encouraging: @eleanorabernathee, @baileychristinestudios, @amanda.laurich.art, and @avalcarart

Website: amyologistdraws.etsy.com
Instagram: @amyologistdraws
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amyologist-Draws-105714374622105