Fire Sky Painting

Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1972 with congenital cataracts, her lenses were removed when she was a few months old, leaving her legally blind. Her parents, who are also legally blind and artists, saw great promise in Amy’s creative endeavors very early on and encouraged her with great enthusiasm. “Blindness is an inconvenience, not a tragedy”, this lesson was imparted to Amy by her parents every day growing up. They taught her to believe that when an individual is disabled in one area of their existence they are not necessarily left at a considerable disadvantage; that having a disability should never be perceived as being inadequate. She graduated with Honors from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art. Amy moved to Minnesota in 1996, working in the fine art and custom framing industry. She has always been very determined to pursue a career in the arts and until recently, she enjoyed working as a Merchandising Manager for one of Minneapolis; top art consulting firms. In mid 2006 Amy was diagnosed with early onset open-angle glaucoma and often struggles to keep her sight and to paint as long as possible. She lives a life filled with Irony as a blind visual artist, perceiving the world from a truly unique perspective. She understands and accepts these circumstances and the challenges that have assisted in shaping her own philosophy. She enjoys the exploration, not only as a personal journey but as an art movement in itself. It is her goal as a legally blind artist and an advocate to create art that is accessible, to assist others in understanding the importance of experiencing art and the role it can play in the lives of every person. She is currently a full time artist enjoying the freedom and creativity of working in her Honolulu studio and inspired by the light and colors found in the Hawaiian islands. She has shown and sold work at many art galleries in Minneapolis as well as through national exhibits. Her work is included in many corporate and private collections throughout the United States.