Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Twomey.
Hi Amy , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. I’ve explored just about everything—photography, pottery, painting, printmaking—and that eventually led me to study photography at the University of New Mexico, then grad school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a year in between at the Art Institute of Chicago. I have been photographing high school seniors for 25 years, which I love, and when I’m not editing pictures, I am painting in my studio. Art has just always been the way I move through the world.
In 2018 when I was diagnosed with an incurable lymphoma. It made me look at life differently and pushed me to stop holding back creatively. I started spending more time in nature, hiking, and letting that energy flow into my work. During the pandemic, I led a group of women working through The Artist’s Way, which helped me quiet the self-doubt I’d carried and really own my voice as an artist. Since then, I’ve leaned fully into my paintings , letting my personal experiences shape the stories I paint. My work is extremely therapeutic and deeply inspired by the desert where a part of my heart will always live.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For a long time, I struggled with trusting the process and believing that I could find a style that was truly my own. I remember being woken up in the middle of the night—usually 3 a.m., over and over for years—by this strong voice telling me to paint. And every time, I ignored it because I didn’t believe I could. I was so afraid of failing that I wouldn’t even try.
What shifted for me was community. I had a group of women in my sacred circle who kept encouraging me and holding me accountable, reminding me that it was okay to lean into something that felt hard and vulnerable. Once I finally picked up the brush, it was like the fear cracked open. Painting started to pour out of me in a way I never expected—it felt almost like an out-of-body experience. That’s when I really started to trust myself, and the work began to flow in a cohesive, authentic way that felt entirely mine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer, painter, and writer, and all three are just different ways I make sense of the world and tell my stories. Photography connects me with people, painting lets me pour out what I’m feeling, and writing is where I’m exploring storytelling, healing, and the practices that help me stay balanced. I have always loved writing and art. I grew up obsessed with creative writing classes, and always said I would one day publish books. I wrote for The Dallas Morning News blog for a brief period when my kids were little, and I was a blogger for a popular food blog I started in the early 2000s called I Am A Celiac. Art and writing have always been an active part of who I am.
My painting process is intuitive. I rarely start with a plan—I just show up and let it unfold. I layer, scrape, mark, and play until something starts to emerge, and sometimes it feels almost like a spiritual meditation practice– like the work is guiding me instead of the other way around. It’s messy and unpredictable, but that’s what makes it feel alive. I love that each piece ends up being entirely its own thing, and at the same time, it all just feels like me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m excited to be part of a group art show at Art Center Waco’s Women & Their Work exhibition soon, running from September 25th through October 31st. I’ll be showing a new series of large paintings alongside Valerie Fowler, Tara Eales, Philana Oliphant, and Georgie Miller, at Art Center Waco with an opening reception on Thursday, September 25th. I would love to see you there!
If you are interested in viewing my smaller work for sale, contact Liz at thMTHRshp Gallery. I also take commissions and work with interior designers, so feel free to reach out if you’d like to collaborate. It’s always wonderful to connect with people who love art and to hear how the work resonates with them. Make sure you are following me on all socials for updated announcements and show info at @amytwomeypainter + @amytwomeyphotography
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amytwomey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amytwomeypainter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amytwomeystudio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuKXDYCoLuA9-QIVkAV_J3g
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/amytwomeyphotography/
