Life & Work with Amy Stump

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Stump.

Hi Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I knew I was destined to become an artist very early. I was 10 when I saw the National Geographic article about the Sistine Chapel and the large fold-out section of the ceiling. I was transformed. I was in awe and asked my mom if I could paint on the ceiling, and luckily, she said ok. Ever since then, I knew I was going to be an artist. I was 21 when I started selling my pencil sketch prints on the sidewalks of St Augustine, and over the years, my small side business grew larger. I took on more prints, commissions, and education and training. My training took me to Forensic reconstructive classes at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where I became a Forensic Artist in 2006 and assisted my agency and other local agencies in identifying criminals, reconstructing the deceased, and age progressing/regressing for law enforcement.

For years my art continued to progress, mediums were explored, challenges were tried, and I made new friends. I moved out of state for a job that didn’t last very long, and when I returned, I needed another job again and started to paint murals on Adirondack chairs. It grew in popularity, and I found my love of painting again. I found a new job substitute teaching in public schools where I took on many long-term art teaching positions and learned how to tame over 50 eye-rolling teenagers into complying with creative projects and adorable littles who would lick glue, color walls, and give sweet hugs. I loved every minute and had the best laughs ever! Once Covid hit, I thought everything was going to disappear. Instead, strangely, my teaching career died, and my art career flourished.

My skills have expanded in the past few years since then, and my window painting business was born out of gratitude. As I was tutoring my very last students at my friend’s art studio, it was Christmas, and as a broke artist, I wanted to thank her for letting me use her studio with some art. So I painted a few designs on her studio windows of beautiful reindeer and oversized snowflakes. I put it on Facebook, and suddenly, I asked if I could paint many windows, and I started painting windows for Amazon with their 60′ entrance and large windows inside. I’ve since collected two other Amazon clients around Jacksonville: local insurance, attorneys, and small businesses. I was amazed. My life has changed in the most wonderful ways, and I have since led a unique life, meeting many kinds and hard-working clients who have become friends who want to be seen in this busy world, creating art in amazing locations, and exploring concepts and mediums each day. It has been the most challenging job ever, but I love what each day brings.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
It has been a windy road in the beginning. I had to work with jobs I didn’t quite fit in, and I experienced financial lows and stress that would make anyone cry. However, I kept trying. You have to put yourself out there and show people what you have. Eventually, the small creative opportunities I describe as being on a rabbit trail slowly became paths that became sidewalks that have since become creative highways. I wouldn’t change a single experience. You must struggle to have the drive and passion for pushing through obstacles.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I now describe myself as a full-time artist, helping to solve creative problems so that I can do whatever creative need my client requests. I can now do a multitude of tasks: Storybook illustration, calligraphy, window painting, sketch artist, face painting, prop making, restoring furniture, painting murals, specialty signage, teaching classes, art lessons, public speaking, basic handi-woman tasks, interior decorating, specialty tiling, and currently learning how to do screenwriting, and being a storyboard artist for local film group. Whatever I don’t know how to do, I’ll find ways of learning how to do it. I am proud to be mentally strong, creatively flexible, and always strive to learn. What sets me apart? My granny told me it was my persistence.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Everyone brings something unique to the table. Mine is creativity, persistence, being unafraid to try something new, determination, and learning ancient methods so they don’t become obsolete in this new era. The creative process makes us the most human.

Pricing:

• Pricing Varies based on projects

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amyartsjax.com
• Instagram: amyartsjax
• Facebook: amyartsjax