We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amber White a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amber, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I started to teach myself how to make “Lightforms” (a name that my son thoughtfully made) after my daughter was born, about three years ago. It may seem like such a simple art that seemingly anyone can make sparkly suncatcher creations, but it can be surprisingly tricky. The pieces that I made in the beginning of my Journey are not as uniform as the creations that I make now, learning from little mistakes as I go such as learning to make the top loops of the Lightforms just the right size and strength for hanging. Even going through the trial and error of different qualities of crystals and beads was somewhat of a learning experience since there are SO many options available, but there are literally only a handful of companies that make quality glass with Swarovski reigning at the top of the Crystal Kingdom.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I want to begin by expressing my sincerest gratitude for this opportunity to share what I love doing the most, inspiring the spirit through living color. I began my Sparkle Journey a little after my daughter was born, about three years ago. However, in all honesty, I probably began my creative journey at the ripe age of 10 years old. I was always more introverted than most kiddos my age. I would listen to The Beatles, Jim Morrison, or Fairport Convention and I would use anything sparkly that fit my vision: a broken hair clip made the perfect necklace/circlet. I also was never afraid to express myself visually: from wearing my grandmother’s interesting costume jewelry to a feathered fan I wore in my hair. This was also when I learned guitar, which is featured in the video on my Etsy page. After my daughter was born, I stumbled upon the world of suncatcher mobiles and was inspired to make my own. I gathered all the materials I needed and then started my first piece which featured a bobeche that was way too heavy (a bobeche is an Italian lamp part). It actually took me quite a while to find the right bobeche tops because they can be ridiculously hard to find and in limited quantities which is due to some of them being antique and simply cannot be replaced anymore – I find those on online auctions. I really enjoy using the filigree brass bobeches because they look and feel the most lovely to me. I’ve also used antique keyhole covers and drawer pulls as tops, but those can be even harder to find. I absolutely love making my creations with unique and hard to find materials because I don’t want to make just any ordinary suncatcher – I strive to make only extraordinary creations that are not only pleasing and inspiring to look at visually, but also hold an interesting story. For example, the Single Strands that I make are made out of vintage and antique Swarovski necklaces, one of which was made from a wedding necklace in the most dazzling shades of Blue Aurora Borealis. Swarovski tones with a coating of Aurora Borealis are what I specialize in because they give the most color refraction of any colored glass. I aim to make pieces that uplift and inspire the Spirt and Mind through color. Color therapy is actually a holistic medicinal treatment for a number of different ailments in the mind and body. My main mission is to bring a sense of magic, harmony, and peaceful balance to any space. I want to ignite the flame of curiosity and wonder in the minds of my fellow beings, as was the inspiration for my Magic Rainbow Cloud. I mean, what is more magical than a little cloud with sparkly rain trails of magic that you can hang easily right in your window? Or car, perhaps? I love making Custom Creations happen, however large or small. My mind is always open to new ideas and I’m constantly looking for inspiration, which I find in nature and through my own experiences.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Absolutely, my main focus is inspiring the Spirit and Mind through color through the pieces that I make. I want to inspire people to be reminded by the magic that can be found in the world and show them any dream they have can be made into reality. Rainbows make me feel happy and sometimes even a bit mesmerized and I want to share that experience with the world, as the world will have me. I want to enrich this human experience we share with as many rainbows as possible!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
The need to express myself in everything that I do. I think that might be hard for some people to fully understand, and through my own personal experiences, I have been proven right. I stopped wearing pants when I was 10 years old and, as insignificant as that may seem, at the time it drew a lot of attention to myself that I wasn’t expecting. I was never interested in the latest fashions, preferring a blend of hippie/gypsy chic to whatever everyone else wanted at American Eagle or Wet Seal, which I feel is evident in the lamps that I give face lifts to. One lamp is even named “Stevie”, after one of my favorite artists, Stevie Nicks. Every one of my pieces is a visual representation of what I’m feeling. Being such an emotional and empathetic being can definitely be hard in this often times harsh world where people go about their day on survival mode. I want to be a magical reminder to the person living day to day just trying to get through the week, or the month or whatever that inspiration exists and that Life is such a sacred experience that can also be fun, no matter what the mundane from the everyday can bring.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChasinRainbowssllc
- Instagram: @chasinrainbowsllc
- Facebook: Amber’s Lightforms
Image Credits
All photos taken by me and are completely unedited