A & J Wrought Iron
                     &               
  Smiling Goat Studio

Offering Decorative Wrought Iron, Fine Art & Welding Services

Artist: Amy Carter
I was born in Abington Pennsylvania long enough ago that I won't tell you when. As a Navy brat, I moved with my family to Jacksonville, Florida when I was too young to remember. We then moved to Southern Maryland (armpit of the world in my opinion - sorry Southern Marylanders), where my father retired from the Navy.

I have always had an interest in art, and growing up at the knee of my mother, professional artist Elizabeth Bygler, was exposed to the world of art from a young age. I have always enjoyed working with graphite, but never worked too seriously and never considered myself a true artist.

Through a long and winding road that I won't go into here, I ended up going back to school and graduated from Fairmont State in West Virginia. It was sometime later that my husband and I moved to Bedford, Virginia and I began to take my art more seriously. I have picked up working in color using color pencils and am beginning to branch into pastels.

I have come to the point in which I will acknowledge my talents and will give myself credit where deserved. I am currently applying all of the experience I have gained throughout my life, working in galleries with my mother, towards my job as Executive Director at Bower Center for the Arts and towards the pursuit of my own artistic growth.

I have a love for my animals and the natural world around me, especially the mountains near which we live. These loves serve as inspiration for much of my art. My mother also is a continuing source of inspiration and support for me in any of my pursuits. Her work may be seen at the North End Gallery in Leonardtown, Maryland. You can also click here to see some of the animals that are so much a part of my life.


 

 

I try to remember to keep a sense of light hearted fun in my work and not take things too seriously. I don't always succeed, but this drawing of a Pepsi can, drawn in Pastel on Black paper, often serves as a reminder for me. Those who know Mark and I best will understand that this just screams "MARK & AMY!"