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Global Mural Conference 2016 - Mural Expo Needs Your Help

Published June 22, 2016 2503 Views

Global Mural Conference 2016 - Mural Expo Needs Your Help

One of the things I am most passionate about is "bringing art to everyone". It's my mission to make art as accessible to as many people as possible. Art is a healing force, on many physical and meta-physical levels. I believe the more art touches more souls, the better the world will be. It's bec...

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Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Highlighting Artist Chloe Smith

Published June 14, 2016 4440 Views

Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Highlighting Artist Chloe Smith

Many sincere thanks to guest blogger and superb marketing strategist Debbie Smith of Intuit Marketing for interviewing Chloe for this post! A Coach Street wall in Downtown Canandaigua will be donning a new look this summer. A mural, depicting Canandaigua's iconic imagery, is soon to be debuted fo...

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Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Highlighting Artist Melissa Newcomb

Published June 7, 2016 3877 Views

Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Highlighting Artist Melissa Newcomb

Many sincere thanks to guest blogger and superb marketing strategist Debbie Smith of Intuit Marketing for Interviewing Melissa for this post! Five local artists were selected to paint five separate components of a mural highlighting Canandaigua’s rich history and iconic imagery. The culmination o...

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Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Amy's Overview

Published May 30, 2016 3947 Views

Canandaigua's Commons Park Mural: Amy's Overview

There is a very large mural project, for which I’ve had the pleasure of acting as artistic director, which will be installed in Downtown Canandaigua (on Coach Street) very soon! Even though when it arrives on site it will appear to have developed rather quickly, the mural itself has been several mon...

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August is American Artist Appreciation Month

Published August 31, 2015 2979 Views

August is American Artist Appreciation Month

Here we are on this, the (final hours of the) final day of August, which happens to have been American Artist Appreciation Month. I was asked by fellow illustrator and artist extraordinaire Patience Brewster to join her in writing a blog post about an artist by whom I am inspired. What a f...

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Women Artists of the Finger Lakes Contemporary Show & Sale

Published May 22, 2015 2621 Views

Women Artists of the Finger Lakes Contemporary Show & Sale

The two canvas paintings I submitted to the Women Artists of the Finger Lakes Contemporary Show & Sale were accepted! First of all, I was so delighted just to have received the prospectus! I was honored to be considered for such an event. It will be the first juried exhibit of my adult...

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Illustrated Book Cover "Fracking Justice" ~ Launch Party June 2, 2015

Published May 20, 2015 2550 Views

Illustrated Book Cover "Fracking Justice" ~ Launch Party June 2, 2015

  Many times, when I tell people I am an illustrator they say, “Oh…? What books?” Well, funny thing is, I have illustrated a LOT of things in the span of my career (wall murals, advertising, portraits, signage, etc.) but only one book cover! And this book cover was j...

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Oil Painting Class

Published January 14, 2015 3297 Views

Oil Painting Class

Earlier last year, I took my very first oil painting class EVER! Believe it or not, I attended a University for four years, and received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, and I never took one oil-painting instructional class. My first oil painting since taking the class – here it is...

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Canandaigua Train Depot Mural is Complete!

Published November 15, 2014 3746 Views

Canandaigua Train Depot Mural is Complete!

Completed mural of Canandaigua’s train depot circa 1916 I really didn’t think it was possible to paint a 658 square foot exterior mural in fewer than 10 weeks, beginning in late summer in Upstate NY (where the weather is so unpredictable) but, I have pulled off the seemingly impos...

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Press Release - Local Artist Illustrates Canandaigua History in Mural

Published September 11, 2014 3310 Views

Press Release - Local Artist Illustrates Canandaigua History in Mural

Local Artist Illustrates Canandaigua History in Mural Local artist Amy Colburn has been recently commissioned to paint a rendition of the old Canandaigua train depot, circa 1916, when it was bustling with activity. The mural, which is being funded by private donors, is approximately 658 square fe...

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Jeeps on the Beach

Published April 25, 2014 2454 Views

Jeeps on the Beach

I painted a mural several years ago in a young boy’s bedroom, of a lighthouse on a beach. One edge of the mural ended at the corner of the room, and the other edge ended behind a tall, free-standing cabinet. This is how the mural looked when I finished it years ago. Well, fast-forw...

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Kitchen Chair Makeover

Published March 19, 2014 3482 Views

Kitchen Chair Makeover

Recently, I was hired to repaint some counter stool-style chairs. They accompany a kitchen island in a beautiful Rochester, NY home near Lake Ontario. This project was really fun, and I think they turned out cute. There were a couple of initial challenges, as with any custom project. I am really ple...

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Where to Find My Art ~ For Gifts This Holiday Season

Published December 4, 2013 2580 Views

Where to Find My Art ~ For Gifts This Holiday Season

There are several ways to purchase my artwork for gift-giving this Holiday season. When you are doing your Holiday Shopping, please be mindful of where you spend your money. It makes hand-made artisans, and artists, gleefully excited when you purchase from us! It is sending a great message to the re...

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A firefighter Tribute Mural for Williamson NY

Published May 2, 2013 2591 Views

A firefighter Tribute Mural for Williamson NY

It’s done! After many long months of planning, designing, constructing, painting, and installing, I have completed a new mural for the outside of the old fire station in Williamson, NY, located at 4122 East Main Street.  If you haven’t already, now would be a good time to read my...

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An Afternoon in Venice

Published February 10, 2013 37678 Views

An Afternoon in Venice

Recently, I had the opportunity to paint one of the most challenging murals of my career. It is a scene from Venice which originated as a photograph that the homeowners had taken on their recent journey abroad to Italy. The photograph was taken overlooking a small “street” (waterway) in...

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Whimsical Mural for a Peace-Loving Girl

Published February 1, 2013 2520 Views

Whimsical Mural for a Peace-Loving Girl

There are some universal symbols which young girls seem to gravitate towards: hearts, peace signs, flowers, swirls. I can’t explain this phenomenon, I just know it exists. I can recall when I was eight years old, possessing a shiny Trapper Keeper donned with heart bubbles, rainbows, and lots o...

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Clockwork

Published October 18, 2012 2796 Views

Clockwork

I am occasionally hired by local interior designer and furniture refinishing guru Furniture Doctor to replicate hand-painting on pieces of antique furnishings. For over two decades, I have been hired by Furniture Doctor to hand-paint a myriad of items such as lampshades, chairs, trunks, ta...

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My "Not-So-Insta" Grams

Published September 27, 2012 3876 Views

My "Not-So-Insta" Grams

You will not see me in line for the new iPhone 5 this week. I do not own an iPhone. In fact, I don’t even own a phone with a keypad. Yes ~ in keeping with true Amy Colburn Style, one could easily make the argument that even my cell phone is “vintage”! (Vintage is so much...

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Firefighter Photo Session

Published September 12, 2012 2567 Views

Firefighter Photo Session

Just about two years ago, I was asked to submit a proposal to the Williamson (New York) Charrette Committee. The proposal was for a large exterior mural that was to depict the history of the three area fire departments: Williamson, Pultneyville and East Williamson. After a looooong selection process...

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My Biggest (littlest) Distraction

Published July 28, 2012 2529 Views

My Biggest (littlest) Distraction

I have two school-age children. It is summer. This poses a special challenge when you are self-employed and working from home. Also, I am filled with love and admiration for them. They intrigue me and inspire me. Here’s my son, being himself…

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Streamline Marketing Interviews Me About Pinterest

Published July 12, 2012 2599 Views

Streamline Marketing Interviews Me About Pinterest

I wanted to let you know that Erin Howard of Streamline Marketing has written an article about the “business” use of Pinterest, a web site designed for users to collect images from the Internet and place them onto categorized virtual bulletin boards. This is a screen shot...

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Her's Yer Sign!

Published May 10, 2012 2414 Views

Her's Yer Sign!

Yesterday, I finished and delivered a hand-painted sign for my dear friend Erin who has aReiki and wellness studio in her home. She needed a way for her clients to be able to find the door to her studio, especially since the studio is adjacent to her home’s main living space, but has a se...

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Transofrmations

Published April 12, 2012 2406 Views

Transofrmations

A friend recently brought up an interesting point, during a conversation we were having about home decorating. She was asking why it is that we own things that we had once loved and desired so much that we purchased it, brought it home, and displayed it prominently, only to – years later &nd...

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Wip it, and Wip it Good!

Published February 12, 2012 7168 Views

Wip it, and Wip it Good!

Now I’m sure that DEVO, the 70’s punk/new age rock band did not have custom party decorations, hand-painted furnishings and mural proposals in mind when they wrote that song. But now that it’s stuck in your head… let’s “Go forward. Move ahead. Try to detect it. I...

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Gift-Buying, De-Mystified

Published December 14, 2011 3015 Views

Gift-Buying, De-Mystified

There are lots of Gift Guides out there! So, why, might you ask, am I compelled to add another one to your “bookmark” list? Because many lists I’ve seen are driven by either the recipient (best gifts for kids, best gifts for men, etc.) or price (under $100, under $25, etc.). Two ve...

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Photo Shoot for Where Women Create Magazine

Published November 29, 2011 2793 Views

Photo Shoot for Where Women Create Magazine

So the Tiny Studio got some big excitement a couple of weeks ago! I had the delightful pleasure of hosting Jo Packham and Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon, who shot photos of me and my studio for a magazine called Where Women Create. Allow me to introduce them to you! Jo Packham, me, and Tiffany Kirchner...

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Great Grape Pick-a-rama

Published October 11, 2011 2610 Views

Great Grape Pick-a-rama

When I received an e-vite last week from my friends at Finger Lakes Distilling asking me to come to their “Great Grape Pick-a-rama” to be held 10/10 (today – Columbus Day), three thoughts came to mind: 1. The kids are off of school that day, and it would be a wonderful opportuni...

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Flashback Friday / Gratitude

Published September 30, 2011 2539 Views

Flashback Friday / Gratitude

Flashback Friday! Bringing back a piece from my past to share! This is an illustration that I painted in acrylics that was used for my wedding invitation, program, thank you notes, etc. This piece is proof that no one can accuse me of leaving off details. (Pun intended!) Autumn leaf, acrylic...

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The Creative Connection Event 2011

Published September 22, 2011 2495 Views

The Creative Connection Event 2011

There are so many opportunities I have been blessed with on my path to the things I want to accomplish professionally. One of the most influential ones was being able to attend The Creative Connection Event this year in St. Paul, MN, from September 15th – 17th. Myself, Tamara St...

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Day One

Published September 8, 2011 2542 Views

Day One

Today was the first day of school for my kiddos! Not to diminish the significance of this day normally, because in our family, it’s generally a pretty big deal. But this year, it’s really BIG. Both my kids are in the same school, riding the same bus, at the same time, for the w...

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