Meet Amanda Walls

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Walls a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

You look at your life backwards, and ask, What activities made me feel most alive and fulfilled, even as a kid? I’ve always been a creative. As a kid, I’d draw for hours, animals, people, little scenes from my imagination. I didn’t know it then, but I was building a language, a way to speak when words didn’t work. I’d draw how I felt. How I wanted to feel. What I missed. What I dreamed of.

When people ask how I found my purpose, I don’t have a one-moment epiphany to share. No lightning strike. No loud voice from above. It was more like quiet breadcrumbs along a winding path, scattered in sketchbooks, smeared in paint, tucked in memories, and carried in paw prints.

Still, something was holding me back, and I didn’t fully realize what it was until I caught myself constantly saying:
“I’ll never draw like that.”
“Their work is so much better.”
“What’s the point if I can’t reach that level?”
That mindset was a cage. And the day I decided to break out of it, to stop comparing, and start creating from where I was, as who I was, everything changed.

But it wasn’t until I lost my German Shepherd that the dots started to connect. He wasn’t just a dog. He was family, a protector, a soft place to land on hard days. After he passed, I started drawing him, not for anyone else, just for me. Drawing him let me grieve, honor, and remember. That’s when something clicked: this wasn’t just art. It was healing. Not long after, I started sharing my drawings, first with friends, then strangers. People cried. They hugged me. They told me that the portraits I created gave them something they didn’t know they needed: peace, closure, a memory made visible. And that’s when I realized, this is what I’m here for.

But my purpose didn’t stop at pet portraits. It spilled into everything I touched:
~ Illustrating children’s books that help little hearts feel seen.
~ Designing drink branding that tells a story.
~ Crafting skateboards that become identity pieces for those who ride them.
~ Building an app to support people with disordered eating, not because it’s trendy, but because I’ve been there and know how alone that road can feel.
~ Graphic Design, the scariest, most challenging pursuit yet. However, I have the pleasure of bringing visions to life, designs that tell a business’s story.

Five years in college, working toward that graphic design degree. At first, I wanted no part of digital art. I was a traditionalist, pencil, paint, paper, and texture. The screen felt cold. Impersonal. Too far from the soul of what I loved about creating. But slowly, through late nights, open critiques, and learning how to layer meaning into visuals, I started to see the magic. Digital art wasn’t replacing my traditional roots; it was expanding them. I could merge the personal touch of hand-drawn lines with the limitless possibilities of design. I could take my graphite portraits and make them dance with color, layout, and typography. I realized my creativity wasn’t being boxed in; it was being given wings.

My purpose isn’t a job title. It’s not even just “art.” It’s this: to turn emotion into something tangible. To create visual stories that help people remember who they are, what they love, and what they’ve survived. To make beauty out of the messy, honest parts of life. I found my purpose by listening to grief, to joy, to others, to myself. And every time I pick up a pencil or a mouse in my hand, I find it all over again. I found my purpose not in a moment, but in a process, through grief and growth, paper and pixels, resistance and revelation. And every time I create, I find it all over again.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Hi! I’m Amanda Walls, an illustrator, graphic designer, and founder of Adroitella Art & Design. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, emotion, and visual connection. Whether I’m creating a hand-drawn pet portrait, designing a children’s book, illustrating a dreamlike landscape, or branding a product, my mission is the same:

To turn feeling into something you can see, hold, and remember.

My journey started traditionally, with pencil, paint, and paper. For a long time, I didn’t want anything to do with digital art. But during my five years in college working toward a degree in graphic design, I slowly realized that digital media wasn’t replacing what I loved; it was enhancing it. Now, I blend traditional and digital styles in a way that keeps the soul of handmade art alive, while embracing all the possibilities of modern design.

What makes my work special, I believe, is the heart behind it. I don’t just create for aesthetics, I create for connection. My art has helped people heal from loss, commemorate love, celebrate milestones, and express parts of themselves that are hard to put into words. That’s the kind of impact I strive for in everything I do.

~ What I’m Focused on Now
I’m currently building several branches of my creative business:

Pet Portraits – Honoring beloved animals (living or passed) through hand-drawn memorials full of personality and emotion.

Children’s Book Illustration – Bringing stories to life with whimsy, warmth, and layered meaning.

Skateboard & Longboard Designs – Launching a line of original decks that fuse surrealism, urban culture, and emotional storytelling.

Branding & Graphic Design – Helping other creatives and small businesses shape their visual identity in ways that feel authentic and inspired.

Drink Line Concept – Developing a line of animal-themed beverages (non-alcoholic, sodas, and wine) that are as fun and bold as the illustrations on the label.

I’m also working on an app that supports people with eating disorders, body dysphoria, and mental health struggles. This is deeply personal work for me, aimed at giving others the support and sense of belonging I needed at certain times in my own life. My struggles with eating disorders, my journey all these years, and my healing need to be shared in hopes I can help one person, if not many.

~ What’s New & Coming Soon
I’m illustrating a new children’s book series that explores emotion, wonder, and healing through characters and dreamy landscapes.

The skateboard and longboard collection will debut later this year, featuring limited-edition boards and prints.

I’ll be expanding into teaching classes so that those who wish to learn and explore different mediums of art will have that opportunity.

Drink Line Launch: I’m working on branding and development for a new line of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), each named with playful sophistication and animal-themed storytelling. Think wine meets design meets emotion.

And I’m in the early stages of creating a personal art book, showcasing some of my most meaningful works with the stories behind them.

At the heart of it all, my work is about more than visuals. It’s about feeling. About helping people remember who they are, what they love, and where they’ve been, through artwork that speaks without needing to explain itself.

If you’ve ever had a pet that changed your life, a dream you couldn’t describe in words, or a part of you that felt forgotten, my art was made for you.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three key things shaped my journey as an artist and creative entrepreneur, none of which came easily, and all of which are still evolving with me:

1. Resilience
There were so many moments I wanted to give up, when comparison drowned my confidence, when creative blocks lasted weeks, or when I doubted if this path would ever become sustainable, or the lack of a support system. But I keep going. I learned that resilience isn’t about never feeling stuck; it’s about choosing to keep creating even when no one’s clapping yet.

2. Openness to Growth
When I first started, I didn’t want to work digitally at all. I was firmly rooted in traditional art, and thought digital design would strip the soul out of my work. But after college and hours of uncomfortable learning, I saw it differently. Digital tools weren’t replacing my hand-drawn work; they were expanding it. That mindset shift opened doors I didn’t even know existed. AI has been the newest shift for me, while I am still hesitant to utilize it, I am keeping an open mind, and will eventually incorporate it.

3. Emotional Awareness
My most meaningful work has always come from emotional places, grief, joy, nostalgia, and healing. Losing my German Shepherd and drawing him opened up a path I never saw coming: creating pet portraits that help others grieve and celebrate their animals. Once I allowed myself to create from feeling, my work gained a new level of depth, and people connected to it in a real way.

Final Thoughts and Advice:
Build a practice of showing up for yourself. Even if it’s a five-minute sketch, a half-formed idea, or a failed attempt, do it anyway. The act of continuing will shape you more than any breakthrough ever will.

Stay open, even to the things you swore you’d never do. Sometimes the growth you’re resisting is the very thing that will elevate your art and your confidence. Try everything. Let discomfort teach you something new.

Don’t be afraid to bring your heart into your work. Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s the bridge between your story and someone else’s. Your unique experiences are what will make your art undeniably yours.

You don’t need to be the “best” to be impactful. You just need to be honest, consistent, and willing to grow. Trust your path. Take the long way. And keep creating from a place that’s real.

You’ll find your voice there, and maybe even your purpose, too.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who values connection, storytelling, and meaning just as much as aesthetics. Whether they’re coming to me for a hand-drawn pet portrait, a brand identity, a children’s book illustration, or something unexpected, they’re not just looking for “pretty art.” They’re looking for art that feels like them.
They appreciate thoughtful detail, emotional nuance, and the magic of visual storytelling. They trust the creative process and come in with openness, honesty, and a willingness to collaborate.

Ideal clients often:
~ Want their stories, memories, or message turned into something visual and tangible.
~ Respect the value of handmade or emotionally driven work.
~ Understand that meaningful art takes time, care, and depth.
~ Come with an idea, emotion, or vibe, but trust me to bring it to life in a way they may not have imagined.
~ They are kind, communicative, and excited to create something one-of-a-kind.

Whether they’re grieving a pet, building a brand, launching a product, or writing a story, they’re looking for more than just a service. They’re looking for someone who will listen deeply, create intentionally, and deliver something that reflects their heart.

The best collaborations happen when there’s mutual trust, creative chemistry, and shared purpose.
That’s when the work stops being just a project and becomes something transformative.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your