Amy Larkin graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor Degree in Studio Art and a minor in Art History. Her artistic career began in high school under the mentorship of artist Lora Lee Crystal. During college she spent time in Italy studying the great Italian artists, concentrating on their techniques and media.

 

The current medium of choice for Ms. Larkin is oil or acrylic paint. She also continues to use pencil, charcoal, and ink on paper. Through the use of color and shape, she strives to capture the life force found in the natural world. Most of her work is larger than life to allow for a deeper inquiry and more detailed illustration of her subjects. She begins by studying the subject for their shapes, colors, markings, and imperfections- those details that create their beauty and character. Recording these aspects marks her attempt to capture the life force found in nature.

 

Beginning in 1999, Ms. Larkin has had an art show in Santa Cruz, a commission for Beach City Gas Station in Santa Cruz, as well as commissions for private individuals. She continues to study painting and drawing techniques and to experiment on her own with color, composition, and technique.