Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda McCauley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amanda, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by continually experimenting with my craft and pushing boundaries to stay outside of my comfort zone. I work on developing the materials in new ways, and building on previous methods. For me, the creativity is found in the process of art making. So I tell myself to forge ahead. “Press On” is a phrase I use as the double meaning (pressed flowers + do your job!) always makes me smile. And the initial part of my process, the foraging and harvesting of nature’s elements, puts me outdoors in both cultivated and wild environments that are always inspired, no matter where I am. Nature is so creative if we just take a deeper look.
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?
I’m a designer & artist working on a creative process I call “botanical collage’. My works are all made using dried, pressed flowers and natural materials as my medium. Flowers, petals, stems, leaves, sticks, moss, dirt, roots are some elements that I use to design and create original works of art. I’ve been making organic “botanical collage” for 15 years, spending most of those years using natural “dried” materials. Recently, I’ve started working with fresh seaweeds and dipped my toes into the freezing tide pools and rocky shorelines along the northwest pacific ocean. I love navigating between two opposite worlds of ocean and land, and creating techniques for wet and dried materials. Bringing these elements together into an artwork creates a visual palette of “fantasy botanicals” that are both real and surreal.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Persistance, Patience, and Focus. After you’ve cultivated these qualities, all you need to do is Practice, Practice, Practice.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely ! I love working with interior designers, botanical gardens, galleries, aquariums, garden nurseries, hotels, fashion designers, garden clubs, real estate companies, craft and design fairs, bespoke boutiques, and hosting my pressed flower workshops around the globe. I’m always open to new ideas, new venues, meeting new people, and bringing folks together for a joyous experience connecting with natures’ elements.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandamccauley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandasmccauley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandasmccauleyart
Image Credits
seaweed shots by Jennifer Carr Photography
