Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Von Riesen . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

It’s complicated with the whole music and art thing, I feel as though IT chose me! I was just a little girl when I began singing and annoying my brother and sisters by belting out a tune at any moment. I kept notebooks filled with lyrics I wrote down to songs that I heard. I enjoyed writing poetry and lyrics at that very early young age as well. I loved creating, which led to always being found with a colouring book and markers and crayons. My favourite subjects in school were Art & Language Arts. When I was in grade 7, I won a school division wide art contest, colouring a huge natural wildlife poster. So, growing up it was just in me, colours & words, they were my therapy. Being able to express myself like that was a gift, I felt fortunate to have that outlet, (and still do), when life got stressful. I then had a dull lull, sort of for awhile, from about age 16-20, still writing some, but only starting to draw & paint after I had my 2 children, Mac & Kari. I went out and got all the supplies, canvas, paint & brushes and just started to paint! I really didn’t know what I was painting at first, but i could call it abstract, and it was art and it was addictive. One day I realized, hey this is me, this is what I’m supposed to do.! I really knew that I could do it, be a professional artist. So back then in my 20’s I believed enough in myself to keep painting and creating. I saw myself get better every time I finished a piece of work.

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 started to sell my paintings early on. I also did a lot of charcoal/ pencil drawing, portraits and everything else, which I started to sell as commissions. My first painted art works on canvas were all abstract. I’ve always used acrylic paint, for the versatility. I’m a photographer as well, not professionally, but I absolutely take pictures of everything. I always did my children’s milestones photographs. I love to travel, and go on adventures, capturing everything I experience, then often painting after the inspiration. I started writing songs as well again, this time with life experience and a true passion. I’d find myself needing to finish a painting but get caught up in the writing, not being able to stop it. I’d wake up sometimes with a melody and song, like I dreamt it up in my sleep.

I was part of an art exhibition called “Unbound Perspectives” in New York at Agora Gallery. back in Sept. 2016. They also represented me for a year. One of my pieces was called “Crowning the Turtles”. and when I had been creating that abstract/surrealism piece, I had also written a song naming it the same title, Crowning the Turtles” . Probably my favourite piece of work I’ve done to date. I’m looking at it right now hanging in my living room. It’s available for purchase (at the right price). As far as the song, I recorded it with my band that I helped form around that same time, called Poets & Lies. I wrote and sang all the songs on that 6 song EP we released in 2018.. Adam Young helped write those songs with his quick guitar Melodies. And was the guitar player/back up vocals, in the band and was the producer of that album called “Sore Winner” he was a strong force in that 3 piece group, also including Jon Mushaluk, the upright bass player/back up vocals extraordinaire. We all three had a hand In creating that raw country style album but Adam and John did the hard work putting it together. We were nominated for the next few years by Manitoba Country Music association for numerous awards, including Group or Duo of the Year and Album of the Year to name a few. We played a few festivals, including in Manitoba, Canada, Dauphin’s Country Fest. We played many shows in Canada, until covid hit, kinda separating the band.

We couldn’t perform shows and kinda all felt locked up at home. That’s when and where I starting writing heavily, the songs off my new first solo album that I just released this Sept 2022. It’s called “A Drinking Woman’s Words” I also traveled to Mexico during that covid pandemic time for two months and did a 12.5 x 12.5 foot huge wall Mural as a commission for Joe Hernandez of Colima, MEX.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I traveled to Barra De Navidad, Mexico during covid in Jan of 2021 2021 to work for two months. I had a broken ankle that was just starting to heal. Some folks back home tried to discourage me from travelling during a pandemic and thought I should be home like the rest of them. It was stressful enough to be doing this large job,with a broken ankle, that I had no clue how to start. I finally was able to get the supplies I needed and had scaffolding put up. I had to keep doing my thing and making a living. Barra is a little fishing village, and I wasn’t around a lot of people. I did a huge 12.5 x 12.5 foot mural, commissioned for Joe Hernandez of Colima, MEX. During that time, my dad passed away back at home in Canada. It was in Feb and I had had done about 3/4 of the painting. It was a sad, stressful time and I couldn’t make the funeral. My son Mac was a pallbearer on my behalf and my daughter Kari also attended the funeral. I wrote a song by the ocean with my friend in Mexico, Alan Garcia, for a tribute. They played it at the funeral. I also found out that my dad had been born in the same town in Mexico that Joe Hernandez had been and they were the same age.. Joe and I watched the live funeral together. at his home where I was doing the huge mural. Must have been fate that I was there, I felt my dads spirit heavily there in Mexico. He loved Mexico and we had just FaceTimed two days before his death and he told me he wished he was there with me. It was a challenging and interesting time in my life. I completed the huge painted mural and felt at peace. There’s a hat in the mural in honour of my dad. I traveled home after that and started writing songs.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Some people understand art and some don’t. It not your 9-5 job. It a challenge to be self employed as a creator, at times. Often folks think it’s a “fun hobby”. They don’t realize that it’s tough to motivate your self when the inspiration isn’t there. There is art in everything, some see it, some don’t. I do feel fortunate to be able to do what I do and love it. Hopefully people will appreciate and understand my art. My challenge is to stay on top of all the social media and promoting my work… I’d rather dive into the creating. My children understood at an early age that I had a love for art and music and that I wasn’t the regular housewife mom. We had a lot of adventures together, travelling and making memories. They both now as adults encouraged me to follow my dreams! I’m back and forth from Canada, but currently in Nashville Tennessee, It’s where I recorded my new solo album “A Drinking Woman’s Words” by Amanda Von Riesen, and it was released this Sept 2022! My 11 song album that I wrote, is full of stories of human trial and error. Trying to find out what happiness is and what it means. From the first song to the last, it’s an adventure. It’s a little Americana, folk, and country singer, songwriter style.

Produced by Joe Reed, a seasoned veteran to country music. He played for the great Merle Haggard. He also plays a few instruments on this record. He understood the artist in me and took my songs to the next level creatively. He believed in my music.

I hope you check it out. It’s available on all streaming and downloading platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

All the changes have been crazy and Music City is very inspiring. I’ve had long time friends here that have always been ready to welcome me, including my forever pals Bryan Dennis and Mark Dooley.

I miss my kids though, but they fly out to visit and I go visit back home too. We facetime a lot. They fully support my journey and they are successful individuals as well. Following dreams is something everyone should try and do. It’s been a wild ride for me so far. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

Contact Info:

• Website: Amandavonriesen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandavonriesen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandastudioa
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCLANo1LeE_99c8h9KECPaaQ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/avrart

Image Credits