Creating Your Visual Story

Every painting we make , whether representational or abstract, is a visual narrative of our unique personal story.

Memories, dreams, places we’ve imagined and explored, all find their way into our work when we allow our authentic expression to become visible.

“Santiago Dreams” Acrylic, toner on panel 2025 ©Amy Guion Clay

This doesn’t mean it is has to be literal. I consider all of my paintings evidence of my journeys, maps that are representative of exploring the wilderness of my creative process.

More abstract metaphor than literal representation of people, places, things.

For those of us who feel compelled to express what we are visually made of - beyond words, identities, definitions - painting is a playful, glorious, and rewarding place to enter into.

“Manifesting Freedom” Acrylic, toner on panel. 18” x 18” x 2” 2025 ©Amy Guion Clay

Each one of my paintings evokes memories of where I was both physically on the planet and in my life’s journey. I remember the bold and tentative steps I took to create each piece. The months and years of buried marks and emotions - the rich history of each artwork - hold the weight of countless explorations.

And more often than not, they are completely invisible to the viewer. My hidden secrets and mysteries are known only by me as visual memoirs.

But I do believe the rich history, the weight of the choices and decisions made, are somehow FELT by the observer, consciously or otherwise in some

The point is to know and honor ourselves more deeply through creating and allowing ourselves to be seen.

This alone is good enough reason to begin the visual storytelling.