Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Blair.
Hi Amy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Love for my craft started at a young age. I was fortunate to have parents who encouraged me to explore, create, and question the world around me. My mother was a librarian and my father an astrophysicist and they fostered a big love of learning, experimenting and awe for nature in me. When I was young, my mother set up a makeshift art studio in the laundry room and I was free to make messes and create freely. I laugh when I think of those early years in elementary school making tiny cat sculptures with polymer clay which is the same material I currently work with now as an Artist. In high school I began my obsession with making jewelry and in my senior year I decided to start my first business. Etsy was a new platform for artists to showcase their work on the internet at the time and I opened a jewelry and supply shop where I sold beads to other artists. It was actually fairly successful and I ended up keeping that shop open until college. I took some jewelry and metal smithing classes at Towson University and I loved learning new skills and spending time in the studio. However, I had this burning desire to get out into the world and connect with people through my art that I just couldn’t shake. That was when I pivoted to focus on my artwork full time and started the business I have today. I currently work as a Polymer Clay Jewelry artist and pattern designer and have done art shows big and small for over 17 years. I’ve had the amazing pleasure to work with Museum stores and shops around the country and continue to create almost everyday in my studio in Parkville, Maryland. My story of how I got to where I am today is not one of quick overnight success but a story of a steady, consistent pursuit of crafting work I am proud of and a deep passion for connecting with people through my art. My journey has been a long one and I have learned more than I’ll ever be able to write here. There have been so many people and experiences that have helped get me to where I am today. I wake up everyday eternally grateful to be a working artist making pieces I am passionate about and being able to connect with people and my community through my artwork.
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’s definitely not been smooth sailing the entire way! For one, I started my business during the 2008 housing crisis and it was difficult for everyone at that time and especially challenging to survive as an artist. I managed to make it through that era and it actually taught me to see the bigger picture and has helped me ride out the inevitable highs and lows of running a small business. Another struggle I’ve had and one I think a lot of artists can relate to is finding the right audience for your work. I spent a lot of time just trying out different markets and let me tell you, those years were difficult but also a huge learning experience. I have some darkly funny stories from those years from tents blowing away during summer storms, to a large sum of money being stolen from my booth, to going deaf working next to a main stage at a music concert, and many more odd and interesting stories. For as many hard and challenging experiences there have been just as many amazing and heart warming experiences too. Traveling around doing in person shows has allowed me to meet the most interesting and lovely people and I I have so many hilarious and wonderful memories from shows and events. I have been so fortunate to have such a supportive community in Baltimore and I have made some amazing friendships I wouldn’t trade for the world. The road has not always been easy but I would not change a thing because it has taught me to be the artist I am today and I am proud to be part of the vibrant Baltimore art community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in polymer clay and create happy colorful jewelry using patterns inspired by my travels. I use my work to explore questions I have about design and questions I have about the world around me. Patterns are what I truly love and I use them in my jewelry to express a feeling or idea or to tell a story. I sketch a lot when I travel and I am always thinking about how colors and patterns can represent people and places and how they shape our feelings. For example, one of my favorite collections was inspired by an outdoor climbing trip I went on in Chattanooga TN. It was Fall and I spent a long time drawing patterns and selecting a color palette that expressed the changing leaves, the sun hitting the rock, and the quiet freedom of moving through the forest. My jewelry often reflects a place or a time in my life that really moved me. My greatest joy comes from connecting with people through the pieces I make. Some of my favorite projects have been working with people to create something truly unique and special for their loved ones. I’ve made collections for shops around the country but the pieces that I’m most proud of are the sentimental ones: a pin for my father, a necklace for a special anniversary, custom earrings for a new mother. I’ve always believed that art is a way to connect with people and I hope my jewelry can be a bridge to human connection.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I spent equal amounts of time creating art in my basement and time outdoors. I grew up with a deep love of nature that I still have today. When I wasn’t drawing, painting or learning a new craft, I was outside playing with friends in the parks, collecting bugs, or rollerblading. Today My love of the outdoors has taken me to amazing places where I now rock climb and snowboard and bring my sketchbook to capture my experiences that I translate into my work. I always had this obsession with documenting my experiences and trying to express the feelings I had for places and people. I think using color and pattern is my way of capturing these ideas and making them into something real.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunahjewelry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunahblairjewelry
