An Ever-Evolving Artistic Journey

By Amy Tilton

When my friend Lisa invited me to speak for the Rye Arts Study, I was honored, and a little hesitant. Like many freelance artists, I’m privy to the ups and downs of gig work, but I also believe every creative person has a story worth sharing.

Mine begins with leaving a traditional teaching environment five years ago. During my time as an elementary art teacher, my own art practice had slowly faded under long hours and burnout. I knew my next chapter would involve teaching art, working from home, and healing my relationship with my own creativity.

That moment became Home Remedy Studio—a blank slate and a chance to teach art on my own terms. Since then, I’ve been able to bring a wide range of creative opportunities to the broader community, including classes, summer camps, senior programs, live painting events, murals, and Paint Everywhere! Watercolor Workshops at breweries and other fun locales.

What matters most to me is helping people feel emboldened to try something new or reconnect with a love for art they may have lost along the way. My classes aren’t meant to be a one-time experience, but the beginning of a sustainable and sustaining creative practice.

Speaking of sustainable, when it comes to my own art, the common thread is upcycling. I enjoy thrifting used surfaces for my oil paintings and keep all of my watercolor paints in an old cigar box. This was such an oft inquired about feature that I even started making and selling my own proprietary cigar box paint kits in 2022! Perhaps my biggest canvas of all has been our 200 year old home in Dover, which we’ve been lovingly restoring room by room (using mostly second-hand finds!).

As of September 2025, I’m also mother to a sweet baby girl named Mabel, and I’m discovering how this new chapter will reshape both my life and work. I’m reminded of a professor who once told me not to be too precious about my art—to be willing to scrape the canvas clean and begin again. That’s where I am now, and I’m looking forward to sharing my ever-evolving artistic journey with you all.

During my April talk, I’ll be discussing my own painting practice, adventures in art facilitation, travel watercolor kits, my fierce passion for upcycling, and even my part-time return to the classroom!