Sam and Amy Collins
Sam and Amy Collins' work will be on exhibit at Aldridge Gardens from July 15th through September 5th.
Amy's Artist Statement
Amy P. Collins has worked as a full time artist since 1982. She received her BFA at the University of Virginia, followed by a Master of Science in Medical Illustration from the Medical College of Georgia. It was a natural progression for someone with a love of art and an interest in the sciences. Amy began her professional career in Birmingham at UAB, where she worked for 10 years, providing illustration services for physicians, educators and research professionals. In 1991 she joined her husband Sam, also a medical illustrator, as a partner in their company, Art and Science. For over 30 years they have provided illustrations for healthcare professionals, publishers, advertising agencies, medical product companies, biomedical engineers and attorneys.
For the last 20 years Amy has been concentrating on oil painting. She paints what inspires her no matter the subject - a person, a still life, a place. Dividing her time between the studio and painting outdoors en plein air, she concentrates on the interplay of light and shadow and its effect on color. For Amy, there is no substitute for painting from life, as it hones one’s observation skills tremendously. “I find that oil paints possess a richness and depth that is difficult to achieve with other mediums. I try to convey energy and excitement with brushstrokes, and mark-making - putting them down and taking them off. This build-up and de-construction is becoming more instrumental in my painting process. I find it both challenging and exciting to make suggestions and not focus on detail. It adds to the mystery of the painting and, by encouraging a closer examination of the painting itself, I am asking more participation of the viewer”.
Amy has had work juried into the Oil Painters of America Salon Shows and the American Impressionist Society’s National exhibits. She is a member of the Alabama Plein Air Artists and has participated in juried plein air shows in Maryland, Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia.
Amy teaches weekly classes and workshops in her Birmingham, Alabama studio. She is represented by Canary Gallery in Birmingham. More of Amy’s work can be found on her website https://www.amypcollins.com/ or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amypcollins/.
Sam's Artist Statement
I am native of Cincinnati, Ohio. I received a BS in biology and a BFA in drawing and painting from the University of Cincinnati. I continued my studies with a Master’s of Science Degree in Medical Illustration from the Medical College of Georgia. I have spent the majority of my professional career illustrating the intricacies of the human body, creating cellular landscapes, and explaining scientific concepts through pictures. I have provided artwork for healthcare professionals, advertising agencies, publishers, and attorneys. I am a Certified Medical Illustrator and a Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
After more than thirty years of such specialized artwork, I am creating artwork that is reminiscent of days spent on family road trips when I was a kid, combining my interest in pop art with symbols of American culture. Everyday objects, signs, buildings, cars, music, advertising imagery and daily events, influence my artwork. My art focuses on the historical relevance of objects and places and how they trigger our memories and emotions. The artist should function as a conduit for ideas and concepts. I want to take something from another time and present it in a new way. My work tells stories that are bold in color and nostalgic in concept with a contemporary twist.
My artwork can be found on my website: https://samsdiner.us/.
Selected Shows/Awards:
2nd Place Award; SummerFair; Cincinnati, OH; June 2022
Merit Award; Mainsail Art Festival; St. Petersburg, FL; April 2022
2nd Place Award; SummerFair; Cincinnati, OH; June 2021
Judge’s Award; Orange Beach Festival of the Arts; Orange Beach, AL; March 2019
Award of Excellence; Ann Arbor Summer Arts Fair; Ann Arbor, MI; July 2017
Best in Show - Digital; 10th River Arts Fest; Memphis, TN; October 2016
2nd Alabama National Biennial Juried Art Exhibition; Tuscaloosa, AL; August 2016
Hoover Arts Alliance Award; 52nd Annual Bluff Park Art Show; Birmingham, AL; October 2015
First Place Award in Mixed Media; 2012 BAA Juried Show; Birmingham, AL; November 2012
“Two for One Exhibit” –(2 person show), Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL; Jan - Feb 2011
While visiting our gallery, be sure to see our special collection of Frank Fleming bronze sculptures, donated by Hoover resident Ken Jackson.
Please call us (205.739.6558) before visiting the gallery to make sure we are not hosting a luncheon or event during the time you plan to visit. The gallery is normally open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A selection of work from the exhibit is shown in the photos below.
AmFirst is Aldridge Gardens' Arts and Sculpture Corporate Sponsor
