Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Purdy
Amber, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been an artist/maker at heart, but I got my start working as a graphic designer, and through that experience I learned a lot about quality work, precision and professionalism.
About ten years ago I began designing digital collage pieces and selling them online, but I began to want to create more handmade art, so for the last four or five years, I’ve been focusing more on paper and mixed-media collage. Now I sell handmade collage and art prints through local galleries, online and occasionally in person at markets.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always gone smoothly. I struggled to find my ‘style’ for a long time – being inspired by others, but trying to make something true to myself. I found that successfully selling digital work can be more challenging than it might seem. I look back at some of my older designs and cringe a little. Also, some of my first collage commissions felt overwhelming at the time, but I have learned something helpful through each experience.
I started doing more handmade work during the pandemic, so my family and I had to juggle our workspace and all my art materials. After getting some positive feedback on my work, I started selling some of my original handmade collages on Etsy, which felt daunting at first. But I’ve slowly started to gain experience in what sells, good customer service and how the whole process works. In the last couple of years I started selling in person at markets around town and so I’ve gotten a bit of experience there as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work from my home with the support of my husband, my son and three curious cats. Part of my work involves making things physically and part of it involves the digital processes of scanning, photographing products and business/store work on my computer.
I think I have finally worked out an arrangement for my ‘studio’ in our spare room. I have a lot of old books, vintage papers, hand painted papers, bits of ephemera (old stamps, tickets, random things) and all the stuff that comes with being an artist, but I do try to keep it all fairly organized.
I usually work on a few designs at a time. I try to come up with ideas for a piece or two and then let them sit around for a bit so I can think about them before finalizing. I’m very inspired by all the random scraps and bits of paper that I have lying around and I enjoy the challenge of combining images and materials into something new and unusual, creating meaning in the disparate pieces of ephemera where there was none before. I probably work more intuitively, experimenting with the images and materials that seem to work together to tell a visual story.
I think I’m mostly known for a style of dreamy collage with nature and vintage elements. My style has always been inspired by old and vintage things as well as faces, places and bits of ephemera and, of course, the beauty in nature. I try to create enigmatic images that leave a little to the viewer’s imagination. I am proud to have had my work displayed or sold in local galleries, shops and a few boutique hotels in the last couple of years.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Those that deserve credit for helping me along are too numerous to mention. I have appreciated so many that have taken the time to comment on and encourage my work in person or online, as well as many friends that have purchased my pieces. I am also happy to have such an art-centric community here in Knoxville that provides opportunities for people like me to put their work out there in print or at galleries, markets and stores.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fieldandsky.com
- Instagram: @fieldandsky
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fieldandsky
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/fieldandsky
