Interview by Jimon

1-Amy Stone, one word to describe him?  HER.

2-Where do you currently live and create?  I live in Seattle, WA and work out of my home garage turned studio.

3-Your first experience with art as a child:  I used to paint with my grandpa all the time. He was a fantastic artist. When I was six my mom signed me up for painting classes after school in this woman’s home. Mrs. Rostann was her name and I still have some of the paintings I made in her classes.

4-What book/film/work of art most recently captured your attention and why?  I just finished Chalk, a book by Joshua Rivkin that through research and interviews, weaves together the life of Cy Twombly and Rivkin’s own journey in researching and writing the book. It was a good read and an interesting take on Twombly’s life and work.

5-The future is ____ Now, Scary, Exciting!

6-What is your thought on the following statement; Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable!  I am so over this line. Can’t we just say, “Art should make you feel something.” That feeling doesn’t always need to be comfort or disturbance.

7-You have a million dollars to spend on art, you buy?  A lot of art by a lot of living artists. A few new guitars for my husband. If I could find a little piece by Joan Mitchell and a small Picasso figurative sketch from unknown sellers, I would take those, and spend the rest of my money on paint. Probably over a million by now, but a girl can dream.

8-How do you pick the colors in your paintings?  I don’t know! Sometimes it’s planned out, but generally it’s instinctive as to how I am feeling in the moment and what works together (in my mind). I LOVE color, and love finding new ways to combine palettes. The only consistent comment I ever received from past art instructors was that I had an incredible and unique use of color. I have always been affected by color and the way it makes me feel, and generally my palettes make me, and hopefully the viewer, feel a sense of safety.

9-Did you have any training for art or is it inherent?  I have a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado with a focus on drawing and painting and have taken a few other classes here and there. Until about two and a half years ago I hadn’t painted in about twelve years. In this short time my work has matured in a way it would not have had if I continued to paint for all those years. So, I think my answer is both. I do have a technical background, but I think in the case of abstraction it is inherent.

10-Do you remember the first piece of art that you created?  No, not the first, but I do remember the first piece where my parents and I were both like “oh, that’s actually pretty good.”

11-How would you like to be seen as an artist years from now?  Honestly, I am just happy that I made my way back to art and had enough courage and support to take this leap. I don’t need to be seen as anything; I just hope to inspire people to also follow their passion.

12-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  Not really. I have been asked many times what inspires me and my work. My answer is everything and nothing. As a mom of two young boys I am constantly drawing inspiration from the mundane. Things that happen in our daily lives that may seem inconsequential to some, are teaching me important life lessons and translating into expressionist works of art.

13-If you could have dinner with 3 artists living/dead who would be at your table?  This question is so difficult. There are so many scenarios that would work for me, but in the end if I had to choose three, they would be Joan Mitchell, Leonardo Da Vinci and Banksy. I feel like that would make for a truly interesting evening. Hopefully Banksy won’t be offended by me disagreeing with his “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable comment!” I don’t want to be thrown in the shredder.

14-Name three things you can’t live without in your studio?  Music, any one of my palette knives and a graphite pencil.

15-How would someone find you on social media?  Instagram @amystoneart and Facebook @amystoneart

16-Anything else you’d like to mention that I didn’t ask?  I’m often asked about advice for people just starting out in making a career out of art. I have mentioned this before. Joan Rivers once said, “I was smart enough to go through any door that opened,” and since I have read this it really stuck with me. We all need reminders that everything is trial and error, and you never know where opportunity will find you, and vice versa. Don’t be afraid or feel like you are too good for something. We all need to start somewhere.