Blank Slate: Featuring Amy Noonan
What’s true in marketing is true for our Blank Slate project: When a friend makes a recommendation, you listen to them. And boy are we thankful we listened to Kaylan Tannahill’s suggestion that we reach out to Amy Noonan to be this month’s Blank Slate artist.
With a clear passion for creation, Amy channeled her love of H-town into a Rodeo-ready mural—and sat down with us to talk her process.
Describe your style as an artist.
I can’t say I have just one style; I take pride in my ability to create work that fits its surroundings. I’m not sure I could draw or design one way for the rest of my life – or even the rest of the week! But if I had to sum up my work, I would say it’s fun, organic and balanced.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work you created for The Black Sheep Agency office? Where did you get the idea, and what do you want viewers to learn from it?
As the February artist-of-the-month at Blank Slate (and a not-so-hopeless romantic), I wanted to make something that could be a valentine to the city without being overly sweet. I moved to Houston two years ago and this time of year always reminds me of that transition and the joy I felt in my new city, so I chose to put my own spin on the “I [heart] NY” design. Even though Houston is a progressive metropolis, I love that it embraces its rodeo roots every year, so I chose a tooled leather look for my drawing. I hope it inspires viewers to reignite their love for Houston (and cowboys!).
What inspires you?
Lately, nature has been my biggest inspiration; I have been exploring my relationship with the natural world, and practicing observational drawing and painting based on my surroundings. Last September, I went on a solo 3-week road trip through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and it was full of the most inspiring scenery I’ve ever viewed. As a former New Englander, the vast open spaces of the American West are both inspiring and humbling, and I haven’t yet found a canvas large enough to paint them!
If you could be any artistic tool—pencil, crayons, oil pastels, computer, etc.—which one would you be?
Hmmm…a brush pen. The line weight can vary from thick to thin with varied pressure, and the ink is permanent so you HAVE to keep going, even if you make mistakes. Super philosophical, I know.
What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Hit snooze, snuggle my snoring boyfriend, and think about all the things I have to do that day.
What is the first thing you do when you begin a new art project?
Sketch, sketch, sketch! Everything starts as a doodle. I also like to make lists—usually word associations for what I’m preparing to work on.
Artists are notoriously weird. Prove it. (Or argue it.)
Artists are SUPER weird, thank goodness. My friends always tell me how weird I am, which I take as the highest compliment. I guess that’s what happens when you doodle food puns as a means of professional communication.
Has anyone ever said to you, “I don’t get it?” If so, how do you respond to that?
The art I’ve been creating lately isn’t for other people—it’s not for them to “get”. I spent so much time worrying and being self-conscious about whether people would like my art, and whether they would buy it, that I stopped creating. When you are concerned with the “get” factor, it can be paralyzing! So, I stopped making art for other people and started making art that made me happy. And let me tell you, it feels GREAT! If you don’t get it, that’s great too! As long as people are looking at my art, I’m happy.
Fill in the blank. “I would die without ________.”
Love. Not just romantic-people-love, but love for life and all that it is. I aim to be in love with every moment of my existence; even the hard times teach us important lessons. I KNOW, so hippy-dippy!
What advice do you have to other creatives?
CREATE. Draw, paint, write, sing, dance, act, do SOMETHING every day! And show your work—you will be amazed at the support and love you’ll get from your peers. The worst thing we can do as artists is to keep our work secretive. Show your work, tell other people you like their work, TALK about your work and the work of others. A perpetual conversation about art can only make the world a better place!
Where can people see more of your work?
I’ve been pretty consistent on social media, so my Instagram is full of some good stuff (@msamynoo, @finelinesillustration). I also have a website with some more commercial work, and I’ll be publishing a website of my fine art in May 2015 (amynoonanfineart.com).