We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Coelho. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’ve always been creative, but never knew how to hone my skills. I didn’t have the courage to pursue an education in the arts, so I took the practical route and studied business. After almost 8 years in business and management, I realized I was headed down the wrong path. I took an entry level job at Honest Tea, a local beverage brand whose mission and product I loved, taught myself graphic design, and became their in-house designer for over 17 years. In 2019, I left my in-house position, joined forces with a former colleague, and continue to design for food & beverage, and hospitality brands with an expertise in package design. My love for fine arts informed my work but I was always looking for other ways to express my creativity. In 2018 I had a yearning to do something away from the computer, creatively, so I began to paint. It started as a hobby, and quickly evolved into my ‘other’ career. I began to show and sell my work in 2020, and now divide my time between my computer and easel.

While it took me almost 25 years, post college, to embark on this journey, I’m not sure I’d be here today had I started in my 20s. Being an artist (both graphic and fine), requires thick skin and self awareness, both of which develop with age. I think everything happens for a reason, and timing is very much a part of the process.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For the purposes of this question, I’m going to focus mainly on my painting career. I began painting in 2018. Whether it was self discovery, self therapy, or looking for something new as my children became more independent, I knew I needed something just for me, a time and space to be alone. I had no idea where it would go, and still consider this the early stages of my journey as an artist.

I love not having rules around my subject choices. As a graphic designer, my work is dictated by the brands that I work on and their audience. I am a representational oil painter, so my subjects all have some connection to me, my past, or just bring me joy. While my paintings are solely for me, there is no greater joy than someone feeling a connection to my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist/creative is showing my children that you CAN follow your dreams. They have always known me in a career that I love. Of course there are good days and bad days, but they see me doing the hard work. They’ve watched me struggle over a project or a painting, but have also seen new products I’ve designed on the grocery store shelf, or visited art shows where my paintings are hanging. My work is very tangible, so they see all of my efforts being rewarded. My youngest son wants to go to art school for animation – whether that is a product of the home he grew up in, or he would have chosen that path no matter what, I am so proud that he has the confidence and support to follow that dream.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I wish I could say I have a good answer to this question, but my social presence is still a work in progress. I think social media is somewhat of a necessary evil in the creative world. It’s a great place to showcase your work, but hard to find the right followers, and not everyone that you want to reach is on social media. I follow so many artists and brands that are doing it so well, and so often, but I just don’t have the time (or the interest) to make social media a top priority.

The word ‘authentic’ is thrown around so much these days, but I think that social media has become less and less authentic. Even the posts or videos that are meant to be seen as ‘authentic’ are staged. So I do my best. I post when I have something to share vs. posting for the algorithm. I know this isn’t the best way gain an audience, but I also have to stay true to myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: amandacoelhoart.com
• Instagram: amandacoelhoart

Image Credits
Portrait by Hannah Krueger