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

Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

I am very grateful for my friends and family who show up and I have grace for the ones who phase in and out. I think asking questions and seeking acknowledgment is appropriate, but having expectations tied to a connection of that relationship is not.

Before, I used to feel that it should be automatic that your friends and family support your business, because to me they should want the best for you and all your ventures. As I matured I learned that everyone around me is their own person coming from their own trial and tribulations, so some people may not have the capacity to show up how you would like

I have put the work in to gain stability in my career and I have people around who seen it all and understand while others who have seen it as well and choose to have a disconnect. I think its imperative to hand the ladder down to give opportunity to take another path and create space to teach. Yet, it is still up to that person to want to learn, be accountable, and to simply care. It can’t be forced, but the effort on your end has to be there.

There has been times where I have encountered broken promises, lack of support, or misunderstandings with family members or friends and those moments led to disappointments. However, I try my best to create space to communicate to a common page as well as be quick to grace. I try my best to work in real time to transmute all energy.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an oil pastel painter and creative consultant, working from the Bay Area, CA and Los Angeles, CA.

I am known for my visually intense depictions on wood with precision to specific details. My visuals range from imagery of my dreams, passed down stories from my grandparents to my intimate life. I am inspired by underground illustrators, animators and innovative painters from the Black community. My inspiration starts with the 1940’s Harlem Renaissance, admiring artists such as Romare Bearden and Emma Amos.

In the art world the business side is not taught or explained, I believe deliberately, to prevent artist from representing themselves and to think they need an outside representative to mediate them between galleries. As that is important with evolved artist there are many emerging artists who have succeeded in creating income but still do not have access as an established artist and must navigate the creative industry themselves.

For eight years I have worked one on one with emerging brands to give solutions by using my ability to see sanguine through obstacles. I have a passion to help individuals who may not be artistic based, to where I am skilled at, by bringing their vision to light with creating a safe space to cultivate their ideas to the forefront.

One of my long-term aspirations was to create a modern art meeting space to showcase new collections while involving other visual artists. I have been fortunate to curate a storefront gallery called, The SUON Room. We had our grand opening last December 2022. It is a space for an emerging crowd of creatives to collect and present works of all mediums. I look forward to holding space to help develop new ideas and monetize at the same time by taking pride in being an embracing community for all.

This space is for anyone who appreciates art from the latest locally rising creators. The SUON Room’s primary goal is to invoke an element of the contemporary urban creative scene while maintaining a range of inclusivity and accessibility. I do my best to be a platform through The SUON Room by supporting creators wherever they may be in their journey, beginners and skilled, to test ideas. This space enables me to balance my talents between community, business, and my personal art journey. I strive to make my corner a warm and informative environment.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word of mouth has been my most effective way for growing my clientele. I use direct communication with creating a safe place to navigate conflicting thoughts and ideas. With these tools I am able to maintain long-term clients and be referred to for many creative projects.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One book that has helped me remain confident in my career is “Who Owns the Ice House”. Not everyone has access, the time or confidence to establish their ideas. This book breaks down why it is imperative that what we do what we can with what we have to help encourage those around us.

A video that stays with me is the author Tananarive Due’s episode on “Untying Knots: Minds and Souls Untethered” for Ted Talk. With my deep imagination I often felt alone in my thoughts and visuals, hearing her talk on a international platform speaking on Black Afrofuturism gave me another layer of comfort. Octavia Butler and Tananarive Due are pioneers in their literary genre and they are idols that remind us of when we create we don’t know the impact it may have when the time comes.

Contact Info:

• Website: thesuonroom.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thesuonroom