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

Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My artistic vein has its roots back in my childhood when I enjoyed crafting tiny dresses for my dolls. Later at school, I discovered I had natural talents for painting and drawing that I explored mainly as a hobby. Even though I did not decide to study arts as a formal career, the artistic pulse was still alive during my twenties and I nurtured it by taking some short courses in ceramic, craft board, and photography, as well as participating in singing groups and the university chorus.
Later in 2022, after a long time of reflecting on my career as an Economist that I pursued for more than ten years, I decided to take a sabbatical year. It was a moment at which I wanted to dedicate time to pursue other goals in my life such as spending more time with my family, cultivating better habits to connect with my body and emotions, and retaking up the hobbies and dreams I had left aside.

During this time, I formed as a transpersonal therapist to gain a deeper understanding of myself and during the process, I realized how much I wished to connect deeply with my inner artist. So, I started to dedicate more time to practicing creative activities like photography, flower pressing, collage, creative writing and watercolour painting. I could remember the time when I was at school and university and one part of myself was completely in love with the idea of being a real artist, a true artist. It took me a long time to realize that being an artist has been a dream since childhood.

When the sabbatical year came to its end, despite the fears and beliefs of starting a new career from scratch, I chose to make a turning point in my life and dedicate all my efforts to pursuing my artistic career. It has been a challenging decision that has required me to do a tremendous amount of inner work cutting off with the beliefs about being a full-time artist in a world in which the art job is not usually considered valuable, worthy or productive. I also deal with the duelling process of letting go of the life I built as an economist to truly embody what it means to bring the art vision and essence to my life. Choosing to be an artist in the present requires a lot of courage, devotion, patience and faith but I am convinced that following our inner truth, and our inner dreams leads us to our path to live more meaningful and joyful lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a multidisciplinary artist, therapist, cacao ceremonialist and creativity mentor. Now, I explore artistic expression through creative writing, watercolours, and collages as a form of self-knowledge and recognition of my inner universe. I conceive my creative process as a way of alchemizing and transforming into creation what inhabits me, as a form of memory of who I am, of how I approach life, of what moves me, of what inspires me, especially the connection with nature and feminine essence.
I have found in art and creativity an opportunity to give rise to my sensitivity and the most transcendent dimension of my being, and with it a new look at life, the senses, and everything that surrounds me. I share my creative process and portfolio through my personal brand Musa Insolente by which I wanted to spread my artwork and reflections but also, I seek to inspire more women to inhabit the muse, the artist, that they carry within. I also promote the connection with ceremonial cacao, a drink recognized by the ancient Mayans as the drink of the Gods, to open the heart to creativity and pleasure. I discovered the power of Cacao about three years ago as an opportunity to heal the mind and the body and as a great ally of my creative process. So, I trained to facilitate ceremonial cacao sessions in an intimate space of meditation and creative expression that will give you the opportunity to open your heart and begin a path of transformation through self-knowledge, presence and creativity.

Additionally, I founded Casa CreAma, a community from which I facilitate and promote spaces for creativity and artistic expression, with a focus on women, seeking to spread and expand the message of art and creativity as channels for individual and collective transformation, putting in service my expertise as a therapist and creativity mentor and the experience I have gained living my creative process.

Currently, at Casa CreAma I offer 1:1 creativity mentoring and cacao coaching services, empowering women to discover their creative spirit and their authenticity and to build a creative life with purpose through a unique and personalized process that integrates cacao, self-knowledge and creative tools. Through this project, I am also building an online creative community through two free spaces: the Tertulia Creama and Miércoles de Musas. The Tertulia is a monthly space for open conversation and the creation of collective wisdom on different topics with people from different parts of the world. For its part, Miércoles de Musas is a cycle of live coffees with creative women who inspire and remind us that in every woman there is a very living muse, which is available on our YouTube and Instagram channels.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main mission as an artist and creator of Casa Creama is to create evidence for other women that connecting with art and creativity is itself a transformative process individually and collectively. Every time I recognize myself as an artist, as a creator, I can see all the possibilities life has for me ahead. Every time I am doing my creative practices, I discover a new part of myself that takes the form of an art piece or short poem. Every time I create something I am the evidence of that transformative process I mentioned ahead.

My vision is that a world where every human being, especially every woman, can express herself and live from her authenticity and creative connection, is a better world, so it is very important for me to keep building my artistic career and to connect with different artists and visions around the globe to expand this mission through the power of community, bonds and cooperation.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the possibility of being evidence for others that opening the space to make some art or practicing any creative expression in their lives is possible, matters and has the power to transform their own lives.
Every time I receive a message from someone thanking me for inspiring them to pursue their artistic desires or pursue any other dream in their lives reminds me of the fact that I can be the light for someone who is looking for hope and inspiration. So that made my artistic process even more valuable because I can see that the effort that I have made in pursuing my career is opening the path for others near me to create more things for their own lives. It also pushes me every day to continue working with consistency and dedication to my creative process; to improve my practices through new techniques, books, and tools and to expand my creative community so many more people can feel inspired by my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bio.site/casacreama
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casacreama/ ; https://www.instagram.com/musainsolente/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaruizo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CasaCreAma

Image Credits

Credits to Ama Ruiz @musainsolente