Life & Work with Amy Irizarry of I reside in Riverside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Irizarry

Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a proud Florida native, my artistic journey started young and has since been deeply intertwined and inspired by the vibrant colors and endless summer of the Sunshine State. I am one of six children from a blended Hispanic family that was raised before the internet. My mother retired as an educator and strongly encouraged us to earn degrees or certifications in our fields.

I am an alum of the esteemed University of North Florida, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and a minor in Communications. I also delved into the captivating realm of Arts in Medicine through the University of Florida’s program. My artistic education has taken me across the Atlantic, where I honed my skills in Italy, France, Croatia, and other European countries, further enriching my creative perspective.

I am now a visual artist for commissions and live event painting; I am also employed with a local non-profit at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Art With A Heart In Healthcare, as an Artist in Residence.

As an Artist in Residence, I’ve drawn inspiration from my diverse life experiences and artistic training abroad, channeling the worlds of art, health, and wellness. Fusing these two passions is a central theme in my Fine Art, reflecting my mission to heal and uplift through creativity.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has certainly had bumps in the road, some of which I probably created myself and others that life threw at me. However, I am so grateful for how those bumps have made me appreciate the smooth roads.
Many of my struggles were due to humble beginnings and life’s inevitable circumstances. Still, I believe it has helped me create a relatable space of empathy and compassion and helps me connect as an artist with humanity.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently building a series of historical local views of Riverside and Jacksonville as a series. I have always felt at home in Riverside, and after years of study, I want to show my relationship with our beautiful city from my perspective. I have extensive training in landscape compositions from my studies abroad and master copy courses. In the past two years, I have diligently worked to perfect my palette to create space and mood for the atmosphere of this subject.

I also have a strong love for figures and mixed-media art. I enjoy experimenting with different mediums and challenging the viewer to look closer to discover more about the piece, maybe even using a medium they would never consider “Fine Art.” The human figure has always intrigued me, and I love challenging myself to convey an emotion or something not easy to verbalize that can grab a viewer’s attention and make them dive deeper into the artwork.
As a visual artist, I believe it’s important to connect with others through imagery so they can see themselves reflected in my artwork. Art is an emotional connection that is different for everyone.

I am also doing more live painting events throughout the year. I love doing live event painting and the fun energy it brings to an event. I look forward to more opportunities for this with weddings and local events. I am most happy and proud of myself when I am painting. Painting is my passion, and painting is my love, and it will forever be my purpose to find ways to translate my love of creating with the world that views it.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I am a huge Self Care and Mental Health Care advocate, especially for those of us who are caretakers or artist empaths who tend to take on the weight of others. Having grace for yourself and taking care of your headspace is imperative. I have used several meditation apps that were very helpful as I was learning how to meditate and
I have used many Arts in Medicine UF resources that are becoming popular for Social Prescribing, which could be a great movement here in Jacksonville.
They also have a podcast and radio station dedicated to helping healthcare workers and patients with the art of music and interesting subject talks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ArtByAmy.net
• Instagram: @artbyamyi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/ZRfLFHU9rsJYha7U/?mibextid=LQQJ4d