Amy Lay’s fine art from rural roots

Autumn in Northeastern Oregon shows up in the muted gray-green vista of Ponderosa pine and sagebrush, blended with the golds of dry grass and tamarack turning. The air is crisp and has what long-time resident Amy Lay calls “a magical snap to it.” Other than a two-lane road winding through it, the wide-open landscape that Lay calls home shows no trace of civilization.

“We’re just inside Union County. Baker County line is just on the other side of this hill, in the Wallowa Mountains,” explains Lay.

She stands in a corral, nuzzled by horses as tame as house pets and eagerly trailed by a dusty dog called “Bear.” It’s a little hard to imagine that such a quiet, remote place would be home to a highly successful contemporary wildlife artist. But then again, it might be the perfect spot for one.

“I think isolation can be a wonderful thing for creativity,” says Lay.

Lay’s great-grandparents homesteaded here, returning at the beginning of the 20th century after following the Oregon Trail all the way to the Willamette Valley. It was an unusual move.

“They actually made it to Oregon City and came back to Eastern Oregon because I think they saw this spot on the way,” she says.