P eggi: Describe how art is important to society.
It seems they are endless which makes me SO happy!) I am still a bit dumbfounded if I am being honest, but I can’t help but think that if it is this easy, I must be on the right track. I love this community so so much and am endlessly grateful that they’ve been so supportive and encouraging.
Amanda: On a broad level, I think art is important, societally, because it helps people make sense of complex topics. It is universal and unique in its ability to evoke emotion across cultures and languages. On a smaller scale, I simply think it’s important for us, as people, to create. Whether we find value in the outcome of our creative pursuits or not, the actual process of creating and expressing ourselves is one that protects and bolsters our mental well-being, one that adds value to our lives, and, if we’re lucky, beauty to the world.
Peggi: Where do you find inspiration?
Amanda: Nature. Always. As someone who is often lost in her own mind, I am inspired by anything that helps to take me out of my head and into the present moment, and nothing is as effective as a raw, beautiful setting. If I am ever at a loss for what to do, or how to move forward, I read Mary Oliver poetry (which is like being in nature without leaving bed) and somehow it all makes sense.
Peggi: What motivates you to create?
Amanda: More than anything, I want my kids to see the value in living a creative life, to see that it is okay to put yourself out there. I have an eight- year-old daughter who is so fun and creative and has such a bright little light. I feel like it is my job to push through my insecurities and continue to try new things, to flail and flounder and show her that it is all okay and part of the creative process. On a personal level, I feel like my life makes the most sense when I allow myself the time and space to create. I am only growing more and more comfortable with being bad at new things, which honestly makes me super proud. Macrame? Terrible. But will I still make you an ugly plant hanger? Yes. Painting? I basically get lost after mixing pretty colors, but will I still take my little watercolors out on my hikes and create hideous renditions of the beautiful views? Oh, definitely. Playing and practicing and risking feeling inept is the only way I know to find what creative projects feel good and right. Creativity is a process of trial and error, and in sobriety, I feel myself embracing those errors even more fully. Peggi: I noticed you don’t do exclusively “sober” illustrations – what other topics/people do you illustrate? Amanda: Sober voices have been the primary focus of this project, at some point I realized that it’s important for me to speak up about things that matter to me; things like mental health, reproductive rights, gun control and my solidarity with the LGBTQIA community. I think the more open we are about what we stand for, the safer the world becomes for those who are most vulnerable.
Peggi: When is your favorite time of day to create?
Amanda: Illustrating is the only thing I’ve done that I feel inspired to do all of the time in any moment I can find. I do have a particular love for the early morning hours, before the sun comes up, when it feels like the day is still mine. P eggi: How do you balance your time with family and your art? Amanda: I tend to think of balance as some sort of fallacy like we’re all just vacillating between extremes and over-correcting as necessary. (But maybe that’s just because the balance has always been difficult for me to attain!) That being said, early mornings are my secret weapon. I am generally up working between 5 am and 8 am and I think it’s the most magical time of day. As a homeschooling mom, I find that sneaking in my work hours before the world has woken up is the most effective way to capitalize on my limited time. I genuinely want to be there and available for my kids, and have discovered, through trial and error, that the easiest way to do this is by pouring into myself first. If I am not working on a project I am passionate about I find it hard to show up in an authentic way for my kids. Because I know that I tend to allow guilt and overwhelm to overtake me, it’s important that I set realistic expectations for myself. I can now accept that I am never going to get all of this “right”. I’m just trying to be nice to myself as I fumble my way through.
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