We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Howell Whitehurst recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Art is my joy, my challenge, my purpose. I work diligently to improve my skills and to communicate my ideas through my art. I enjoy the process of creating art and I always strive to learn and grow. I am humbled by the wonderful opportunities that have come my way, but they are not the reason why I create art. I create art because it is what I love and what gives me meaning.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As a visual artist, I enjoy exploring different media and styles to create diverse and dynamic portrayals of black women. My digital paintings, comics, and oil and acrylic art reveal the beauty, strength, confidence, and diversity of black womanhood in various contexts and expressions. I am influenced by the stories, cultures and experiences of black women from different backgrounds and walks of life. I am also delighted to be the bespoke illustrator for NPR’s “Louder Than A Riot” podcast. And don’t miss my second art book coming soon! I will also be releasing my second art book very soon!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities and skills that have helped me in my artistic journey are consistency, studying, and consistency again. Yes, consistency is that important to me. I draw every single day, no matter how big or small the project is. Even a simple sketch counts as practice. I have realized that drawing is like working out and building strength. It is how I improve and learn new techniques in my art and also discover more about myself. I used to struggle with finding my own “style”, like many new artists do. But I have learned that style comes naturally with practice and consistency. My advice to any artist who is looking for their style is to create art regularly. Study your favorite artists’ work closely. Observe how they use shapes and colors. Apply what you learn to your own work. Eventually, you will find your own voice and expression in your art. And remember, it takes time. So be patient with yourself.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the past 12 months, I have grown a lot as an artist by being more confident and adventurous with different mediums. Besides digital art on my iPad, I have also experimented with oil pastels and soft pastels to create my black women illustrations. One of my goals this year was to do more oil paintings. Other than digital art, I truly have a passion for oil painting. Digital art and oil painting are such complete opposites, although equally rewarding. A peaceful calmness and a patience come with the art of oil painting. I have overcome my fear of painting on large canvases, and even entered some of my paintings in an open call. I was honored to receive an honorable mention from a professional painter. This experience has boosted my confidence and shown me that I can do anything if I step out on faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandahowellwhitehurst.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/amacieforever
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandawhitehurst/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmacieSoChic
Image Credits
Amanda Howell Whitehurst © 2022, 2023
