It is said that the eyes are the windows of the soul. But what of the hands? When the hands hold the ability to create, they are surely as important in understanding a person and their creation. To Amy Walker, one of Mansfield's young and gifted artists, those hands are indeed the best vantage point from which to explore the artist."I love being able to express my thoughts and visions through my hands. I believe that God gave me the ability to talk without speaking." That is to say, when words are insufficient to convey real truth, close your mouth and let your hands do the talking.
The following Images are all my artwork. Anything you see here is either painted or sculpted by me. Yes, even the "clothing" and "costumes" on the beautiful people featured here.
Amy was born on an Air Force base in Germany. It was her experience in Europe as well as her mother's own artistic inclinations that first drew Amy to art. "My father was an Army man. . .[but] my mother was not going to let her homesickness limit her from experiencing a once in a lifetime chance. She packed me up and took me to castles, museums and all over. I think it was this early exposure to the way other parts of the world work that has helped develop such an open mind in me. I don't think I look at things the way the rest of the world does."The open mind that was born in Amy during her childhood has been a force in her work as well. "Everything, everywhere can be an inspiring thought," Amy replied when asked of her inspirations, "You just have to look through eyes that aren't shallow or trained to see the way the world tells you [that] you should. At times, it's like I have a need to paint or sculpt. It's something in me that speaks to me, and, to take it a step further, even the canvas will call me and tell me what to paint." .
While Amy's dedication and respect of her art for it's own sake is clear, she also paints and sculpts for clients. Her work is displayed in local businesses and homes, and she was also commissioned to work on the Lane Frost project in Wyoming. On this project she was involved in creating a three times life size casting of the famous bull rider with artist Chris Navarro.Amy also participated in the Celebration of the Arts in Midland three times, where she won the Sidewalk Art Competition all three years in a row, and the Body Art Ball in Dallas four years running. She was first published at age 16.
Amy credits Salvador Dali and Walt Disney as her favorite artists. This may seem odd at first, considering the rift between the work of each artist, but Amy goes on, "It's not necessarily the styles or techniques that I love, it's the courage it took for them to stand up and say, what is the norm of art, and where are the limitations? Who says when enough is enough? Push the limits, and set new boundaries only to break them."The frontiers discovered and explored by both artists are reflective of the fearlessness that made them respected and prodigious talents. Like Dali, Amy works in all mediums, and like Disney her art began generating income at a young age. She began painting murals for paying clients at thirteen. When asked her favorite thing about her art Amy replied "letting someone see through my eyes. Letting them, for one moment, for however long, see something in a way that they aren't used to."
In the works Amy creates for others her strategy is nearly opposite, or at the very least it must also consider the experience of her client. She must attach herself to their viewpoint in order to make the piece as individual to their wants as possible. "I am usually trying to capture the moment that is most important to my client. If they are satisfied with the work, then I was able to see through their eyes, like the three men at ground zero that I painted for Trios in Mansfield. Brian told me what he wanted and through a few hours of dedication I was able to deliver that image to the rest of the community for him." Anyone who has seen the piece at Trio's Pizza and Pasta will agree that she has done just that. Her rendering of the emotional scene in which three New York City firefighters raise the flag over ground zero captures the essence of that moment.A moment in which strength and tenacity are proudly displayed against the backdrop of chaos, and, in an instant, a nation takes its first step on the journey of recovery. Matt Lanning- Dallas Observer 2007
The following files are my favorite movie, The Boondock Saints in it's entirety. Enjoy, but be warned, there is violence, and a lot of cussing. They're Irish, what can I say?!HAHahahahHAHha!!!!They shouldn't have changed this!!!