Amy Bruce

INTRODUCTION

I was always an artistic kid and loved to draw and make things along with the rest of my family. My brother was a photographer and had a darkroom in the basement, so I was hooked early. I was fortunate enough to have a strong art program in my hometown and eventually went to art school where I received a dual degree in Printmaking and Art Education. I received my Masters in Photography and Digital Art while teaching and after 31 years I retired in 2023. I now have a studio at the Workhouse Art Center in Lorton, Virginia and specialize in Experimental Photography & Mixed Media.

FORMAT & PROCESS

What draws you to the formats and processes you work with?

I am drawn to recording the mood or energy of what I see and sense and depending on what the moment demands I pick the format based on that. I always have my iPhone on me, within that camera I choose different apps, settings to shoot and process the images & go from there. Sometimes I capture an image that's complete, while other times it's an image capture that is meant to be part of a whole like a texture, a blur or other composition. If I'm shooting in black and white I do my absolute best to fully compose in-camera so little post is needed while other shots are in a way sketches for future images to be completed with specific editing or a mixed media treatment.

CURRENT WORK

Can you tell us about what you're currently working on or a recent project you've developed?

At my studio we have a front gallery space that each building artist uses for a Solo Featured Artist Show every month. My solo show is in May of 2026 and I'm working on printing a series of landscapes and trees either onto Vellum or another translucent substrate, playing with how the layers react to one another. I've worked with digital composites a lot with previous pieces layering images with painted textures I've made and scanned so I really want to create these manually.

CREATIVE VISION

How do you choose and work with your tools and what role do they play in your creative process?

While I love experimenting with different cameras and techniques of which there are many, it can get expensive, so I have to plan for that. When shooting day to day I tend to go back to the things that are reliable and known entities for now, like my iPhone, my old Nikons, both SLR and DSLR, my laptop, iPad and a collection of specific art materials. I have found my workflow has become more consistent combining digital and analog methods so the more outrageous technology gets I am happily at my ceiling. I want a more hands on experience now.

COMMUNITY

What role does community play in your practice?

Since retiring from teaching I will admit my transition to the studio that is fully public-facing was hard for me. I was burnt out and very tired and just wanted a quiet space to think and make art. I gradually found a balance at this studio and became very aware of how important a community is. As an introvert I'm working on how to build a community around my work and have been pushing myself out of my comfort zone which has totally been worth it. It's amazing how people can surprise you with their support when you're not expecting it!

INSPIRATION

Where do you find inspiration or what keeps you motivated to create?

I love the way light changes throughout the day & how we measure time by it. So no matter what's going on with me if I can get out of my head and either journal or go shoot & play with images I get ideas & a direction. I have to keep mentally greasing the wheel, manage my screen time and move my body too. All these things add up to a healthy rhythm that keeps me balanced which is key.

ADVICE

What advice would you give to someone just starting to explore the medium you use?

Play. See what happens when you do this, or this. Yes, learn how your camera works but being too caught up about the technical rights and wrongs I think makes people rigid and closed off to amazing accidents. Also, stay organized. I've got a busy January ahead of me because I've slipped a bit on my file organization so create a system and be consistent with it.

FUTURE DREAMS

Where do you see your practice going? Any dreams or directions for the future?

Man, so many avenues of interest but I'd love to be able to get my work into a few brick & mortar locations/galleries as well as have some of my imagery interpreted as textiles. I love the idea of my work being functional, so fabric really interests me. Ideally the goal is to grow some passive income streams that would allow me to travel & go on shoots with different cameras and create more art.

QUICK FIRE

Tea or coffee?

Definitely coffee! Although Pukka Mint Licorice is a new fave.

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl but I'm trying to change my ways unsuccessfully.

Analog or digital?

I utilize both but prefer analog yet with no darkroom currently I'm leaning into what I've got access to.

Music or silence while you work?

Music, love a soundtrack, ambient or chill mixes.

One book everyone should read?

I aspire to read more but the one I crack open often is The Creative Act: A way of being by Rick Rubin

Best place you've ever worked/created?

Residency in the mountains of Southern France...insane.

A NOTE FROM LENS PUNK

I've been following Amy's work for quite some time on Instagram, yet I've only seen glimpses of it. Speaking with her and learning more about her practice reminds me why I started this scrapbook.

Her layered, translucent images live in that wonderful space between what we see and what we imagine - she captures light and atmosphere, then transforms it into something beyond what the camera alone could capture. There's a beautiful freedom in using photography for its strengths while refusing to be limited by it too.

What struck me most was her honesty about the transition from teaching to full-time practice, and the challenge of building community as an introvert. The work demands solitude, but it also needs to be seen and supported by others who understand what we're trying to do. Amy's finding that balance at the Workhouse Art Center, and I'm grateful she's part of this community.

Looking forward to her May 2026 solo show, and curious to see how her interest in textiles finds its way into the work. Thank you for being part of this.