We’ve long been a fan of Amanda and her unparalleled use of color!! If you don’t already know, Amanda was raised in the beautiful coastal town of Fairhope, Alabama. She was born with the desire to create but living in a town of artists and patrons of the arts, she says definitely further encouraged and ignited her passion. She graduated from The University of Alabama in 2011 with a degree in Studio Art and a concentration in painting. Following her graduation, she studied for a year in the graduate painting program at The Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. She currently resides in Birmingham with her husband and sweet baby boy. Amanda works in an abstract expressionistic style and she “lets paint, be paint.” And now, we are so grateful to have her works as ours. We recently chatted with Amanda, took a peek inside her studio, and altogether got even more excited about her launch with Well + Wonder! Read her answers to our rapid-fire interview questions below and be sure to shop her big release on Monday morning at 11 AM EST/10 AM CST!
What is currently on your nightstand?
Devotional, Bible, gratitudes journal and chapstick.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
I really try to stay in my own lane as an artist. I feel encouraged and inspired when artists that I know and follow have success. I truly believe that there is enough goodness to go around. If someone has a solo show or collaborates with a brand it’s exciting to me that art is thriving!
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
I grew up in the most magical place. Fairhope, Alabama. It is a quaint little town on Mobile bay. It is beautiful. There are flowers everywhere, even on top of the trash cans. My color palette is directly inspired by the coastal colors I grew up surrounded by. Sunsets in Fairhope are so vibrant. People take time to stop and watch the sun go down over the bay. Families stroll down to the water’s edge just to watch the day fade away. Fairhope is home to many artists and writers. Life is slower there and inspiration is endless.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
MOMA. I’ve been once before but I could spend a month there. I minored in art history with a heavy emphasis on modern art. It was surreal to view paintings and sculptures in person that I had studied.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
The Grand Hotel in Fairhope, Alabama. This hotel is so special to me. I grew up attending events there. The hotel sits on Mobile Bay. Every Christmas as a child I would go to breakfast with Santa at the Grand. We went to Easter brunch every spring. We watched 4th of July fireworks over the bay at The Grand every year. We grew up swimming in the pool every day of the summer. I had birthday parties there. When my husband and I got married many of our guests stayed at the Grand and it was special for me to get to share that part of Fairhope with them. The views are incredible, the spa is amazing if you’ve never been- I highly recommend it!
If you were a lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
Clear. I so rarely put on makeup. I’m normally covered in paint at the studio or chasing my toddler, so lipstick just doesn’t happen very often.
I can never get on a plane without….
My legs and arms being fully covered. Planes are so gross and cold.
What do you do to relax?
A hot bath. Meditation. A walk. Devotional. I’ve found that taking time to rest and recover is essential to my productivity.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
Normally when I am forced to be away from the studio. I find it healthy to be interrupted (due to picking up my baby from school) and have the desire to get back into working. Leaving the studio with the itch to get back really fuels me. In this current season of life, it’s very rare that I get to complete a task. Learning to embrace the interruptions is really helpful for driving my creative energy.
Prediction for the Color of 2018?
I have no clue. But my favorite color is a light turquoise more green than blue but not too minty. I’d love for it to be the color of the year just because I enjoy seeing it and that color truly makes me happy. It is directly connected to my love of growing up on the coast.
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
My ideal date night is going to a nice restaurant that takes reservations (I do not love waiting for a table now that a babysitter is on the clock). Enjoy a nice cocktail or glass of red wine and take our time eating dinner and enjoying each other's company.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
It is essential that you have some form of a connection to it. Maybe it makes you feel a certain way or the colors make you happy. Anything that connects you to it.
