Meet Amy Twomey | Artist, Painter
We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Twomey and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Amy, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
My ultimate dream is to find myself living in the desert—a place that holds some of my best memories—I love the dry air, vivid colors, slow paced living, and warm community spirit of New Mexico. Shared dreams with my husband of owning land that’s far from the city’s hustle yet close to a creative community align with my desire to have a huge art studio where I can create paintings daily and still do studio photography work. I envision a space where I can also host retreats, workshops, and maybe classes. This long-brewing dream feels closer to reality. While Dallas has been a great place to raise my three kids, I’m grateful for the opportunities it’s provided, from amazing schools to vibrant culture; it will always be home. The ultimate goal? Perhaps having two homes—one in Dallas and a small tiny home in the desert! Setting goals keeps me going! I also hope to showcase my paintings nationwide, while connecting with incredible individuals along the way. I’m also eagerly looking forward to creating a series of children’s books—a dream I’ve had since I was a young child. These are just glimpses of my larger goals, yet I’m fully dedicated to turning each one into a reality. The joy, journey, and forging new friendships—this is the grand adventure. I’m excited about the chapters ahead, the memories to make, and all of the wild adventures that will lead up to the dream! I guess if I were to answer this question in on simple sentence it would be….I want to be happy and full of pure JOY, following my true purpose whatever and wherever that may be.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a contemporary painter who finds her voice through mixed media, including acrylics, oil crayons, watercolors, charcoal, pencils, markers, and pastels. My art is characterized by a tapestry of symbols woven into spiritual narratives that unravel within each of my creations. My canvas of choice often stretches to 60X48, allowing ample space for depth and complexity, although I also am learning to find joy in exploring smaller pieces. My art touches on personal experiences, and unveiling vulnerability.
My creative journey is guided by inspiration drawn from the stark beauty of the desert, the stories whispered by nature, travel, and emotions. My process is driven by intuition, ever-evolving and transformative. There’s a mystery in each stroke I lay down, a journey I embark on without a predetermined destination. It’s as much a voyage of discovery for me as it is for the viewer. There are times when even I am left puzzled over what I’ve painted. LOL. My journey to this point has been a road of education, marked by stops at The Art Institute of Chicago to my graduation from the University of New Mexico with a BA in photography, and finally, my graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, where I honed my skills in photography, book arts and painting. While I treasure the knowledge these degrees gave me, I’ve also worked on the challenging task of unlearning certain preconceptions, liberating myself to forge a unique artistic path that is my own. The degrees are an important foundation, but they’ve been enriched by my commitment to discover and embrace my own artistic voice, finding my personal style.
Along the way, I’ve learned some important things: don’t take yourself too seriously, enjoy every moment, find your tribe of positive and encouraging friends who share your passion, and remember that giving back fills your heart even during the toughest times. And here’s a piece of advice, especially for the young folks reading this: follow what you’re passionate about, whether it’s getting a degree or building a career plan around what you love. When you love what you do, you’re truly living your best life!
I am excited that I have just partnered with Gallery 360 in Minneapolis. They have two of my recent paintings “The Alien Visit” and “Let’s Stay Home” for sale. Send Merry a message if you are interested in those paintings. I am also cultivating relationships with a handful of galleries I hope to be represented by in the next few months scattered across the United States! Stay tuned. I will also be having a solo exhibition at a local Dallas Gallery this Spring. Follow me on instagram for that announcement!
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.
If my best friend were visiting Dallas tomorrow–the ultimate day would start with a stop at Halcyon on Greenville Avenue. That’s my go-to spot for a perfect oat milk latte. If the weather is nice, nabbing a seat outside is pure bliss, but honestly, the cozy vibe indoors is just as charming. We’d then take a stroll through the cute shops on Greenville, soaking in the local treasures. Lunchtime calls for a choice between Rex’s Seafood at The Farmers Market for some coastal goodness or Kalachandji’s for a mood-lifting dose of vegan comfort food. After that, a bit of boutique browsing in both The Farmers Market and West Village would be in order. By this point, we might be feeling the day’s adventures, but the idea of grabbing some Asian Mint to-go for a sunset kayak on White Rock Lake could be the perfect day. Dallas has such a vibrant culture that fitting everything into one day would be a challenge. If she stayed for week, we could catch some live music under the stars at Klyde Warren Park, watch a live music show at The Kessler, spend a day exploring the Arts District, and hopefully we’d have time to hit some art openings of local artist friends and maybe even venture 40 min out of town for a peaceful hike at Cedar Ridge Preserve.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first person who profoundly shaped me into who I am today is my grandmother, lovingly known as “Balmy.” She was my anchor, and my source of endless inspiration. Balmy taught me not just about art, but how to find joy in every detail of life. Her stories of mingling with luminaries like Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dali and Audrey Hepburn while she lived in Cuba fascinated me. I loved listening to all of her stories! She had a unique ability to make everyone feel like an old friend, and her love for people and learning was infectious. Through her, I grew a deep appreciation for art at a very young age. While I miss her dearly, I carry her spirit with me as I navigate life, staying true to my passions. I know she would be proud of me today.
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Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
