We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Wathen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I was born the 6th of 8 children, to free spirited parents. My father, an artist himself, used porcelain tiles as his medium. When I was about 13 years old, my father noticed my desire to paint. So my sister and I began painting murals on tiles. This was the first taste of being a professional artist as a young adult. Then I had 2 children in my early twenties, this put art in the background for a while. When my children were old enough my husband and I decided we wanted to experience life overseas. It was then living in China that I began teaching art to young children. This opened my eyes to different techniques and mediums as an artist. In my spare time I would practice. On my journey back to the states in 2016 I brought back with me several paintings to sell. It was then that I made my first sale in an art gallery. I realized then that my career in art was a viable option. Since then I have scaled my business into a full time art studio, where my daughters and I create large scale fine art prints, produced on a large format printer. We hand cut and ship right from the studio.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have endeavored to surround myself with beauty here in Darien,GA. Being near the coastal marshes and estuaries provides my with unequaled natural diversity and inspiration. I create coastal scenes with the intention of bringing calm and serenity into the homes of my clients. I am currently inspired by the many feathered creatures in the marshes, including sandpipers, gulls, roseate spoonbill, and quail just to name a few.

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

Being able to capture a moment of subtle beauty, proof of the divine, and seal it for all time on canvas.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When i became ill in 2020 i could no longer endure the physicality of finger painting professionally. I had to pick back up the brush and refocus my art on subjects that lent themselves to brushes. This allowed my to widen my scope of subjects. Even allowing me to paint more en plaine air.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: AmandaWathen_Art

Image Credits
By Bonnie Photography Bonnie Van Cedarfield