Artist Statement


I create paintings by dislocating, mutating, splicing, and recombining images from the natural world to form entirely new environments that exist beyond the boundaries of nature. Source material is transformed from its original state through several different processes and may no longer resemble specific imagery from the natural world. I use a mixed media process which involves silk-screening, traced monotype, painting, drawing, and collage. Each technique allows me to record and describe my interpretations of nature in a non-representational way. I abstract and often simplify forms in an attempt to depict their most basic structures or essence. My paintings also depict transformation by using space and forms on the picture plane in such a way that the viewer can perceive multiple environments within a piece, and from several vantage points, such as frontal, aerial, microscopic, and macroscopic.

Forms, transformations, and environments within my work result from planned ideas and intuition as the piece is created. This flexibility within a framework allows for transformation to take place as the piece is being made and for multiple interpretations of the completed work. The forms within these environments achieve numerous identities through abstraction and create an environment that changes our perception about the depth of interactions that may occur. My ultimate goal is to challenge the viewer to question the different roles the forms play in each piece and how mutability and shifting perceptions allow these environments to transform and exist on multiple levels.

Resume

Education:
MFA in Painting, Illinois State University, 2008.
BFA in Fine Arts, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2001.

Selected Teaching Experience:
Adjunct Instructor, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL, 2009-Present
Teach Art Appreciation and Drawing I to undergraduate art and non-art majors, respectively

Adjunct Instructor, Richland Community College, Decatur, IL, 2010
Teach Art Appreciation to undergraduate non-art majors

Assistant Instructional Professor, Illinois State University, Normal, 2008
Taught Drawing Fundamentals to undergraduate art majors

Graduate Assistant, Illinois State University, Normal, 2005-2008
Assisted in teaching Painting I and II, Life Drawing I, and Drawing Fundamentals to undergraduate art majors. I also recruited and coordinated models (undergraduate students) for Life Drawing I and II.

Art Instructor and Studio Assistant, Creation Art Studios, Urbana, IL, 2003-2005
Taught art of all media to people aged 5-80, helped curate gallery shows, and helped organize and present art in community events.

Publications:
New American Paintings Special 15th Anniversary Edition, 2010, p. 190
Studio Visit, 2009, Volume 8:150
New American Paintings Midwest Edition, 2008, Volume 77:128-131
Studio Visit, 2008, Volume 2:165

Solo Exhibitions:

2011
“The Nature of Transformation,” Illini Union Art Gallery, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2010
“Beyond Natural Boundaries,” Montgomery Ward Gallery, University of Illinois at Chicago
“Amy Richardson,” David Erlanson Art Gallery, Richland Community College, Decatur, IL
2008
MFA exhibition, “Environments of Exchange,” University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal

Group Exhibitions:

2010
Three-Person Invitational Exhibition, Art Association of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA
Decatur Area Arts Council Gallery Walk, Theatre 7, IL
2009
National Juried Exhibition, “Multiplicity,” Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2008
Three-Person Exhibition, Springer Cultural Center, Champaign, IL
National Juried Exhibition, “Destruct/Construct,” Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Student Annual, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal
2007
Artist Invitational, “…and I am blue…,” McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
57th Annual Quad-State Juried Exhibition, Quincy Art Center, IL
Student Annual, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal
Insect Digital Image Salon, Entomological Society of America – North Central Branch, Winnipeg, Canada
2006
Small Group Exhibition, “Representation and Being,” 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, IL
“2006 MFA Biennial,” University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal
2005
National Juried Exhibition, “Inside the Box: A Shoebox Show,” Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Spring Art Exhibition, Creation Art Studio, Urbana, IL
2004
2nd Annual Juried Color International Exhibition, Period Gallery, Lincoln, NE
12th Annual Juried International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Clinton, WA
“Art Who-Ha,” Creation Art Studio, Urbana, IL
Boneyard Arts Festival, Champaign-Urbana, IL
2003
Lancaster Summer Arts Festival’s 41st Annual Open Art Award Exhibit, Museum of Art, PA
2002
10th Annual International Juried Exhibition, Laredo Center for the Arts, TX
2nd Annual, “Painting 2002” International Juried Exhibition, Period Gallery, Lincoln, NE
2001
Senior Art Exhibition, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
2000
24th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Berks Art Alliance, Reading Public Museum, PA
Juried Exhibition, “For the Love of Art,” Gallery 20, Wyomissing, PA