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

AMBIA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I’ve always been a firm believer that issues arise to make you grow as an artist in your craft. Whenever problems show up its is if God is asking “Are you sure you still want this?” and giving me an opportunity to either change courses or grow into the person I need to become to fulfill my dreams. This past year served as a fresh new set of problems both personally and professionally to help me grow. I lost my home, close relationships, my health, I was forced to move twice, lost my income and had to depend on my wits for awhile, all while keeping it together for my two young sons to thrive. I questions my dreams a lot, thought about leaving the field and getting a “real job” after I hit a bottom. The bottom is where I found rest, and allowed myself to not do anything I didn’t feel like. I renewed my faith, my dreams, and my creative purpose. I have sense added new mediums to my art including writing a fantasy novel and painting again. Problems remind you of what is important and I know now more than ever, whatever brings you joy, especially in the face of adversity, you must follow with reckless abandon. It will lead you home again to yourself.

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.

At my foundation I am a barefoot wandering, animal loving. tree hugger that stays in nature as much as possible. Most of my stories I create derive from that foundation. I have a great passion for art and storytelling, traveling, and my two sons. I’ve been an artist for as long as I could pick up a pencil but didn’t commit to my craft professionally until I was pregnant with my first son almost eight years ago now. I realized then I only had one life, I didn’t want to spend it living safe. I wanted to teach my boys to live their life with passion and go for what you believed in. I could only truly teach that if I lived it myself so off I went on a new adventure. I have sense then become a producer for film and live events, actor, model, writer, and painter. It is my life’s greatest joy to express myself creatively with story at it’s center. I’m a connector at heart so on set I am the one connecting everyone together, making sure they all feel welcomed and appreciated while also making sure we stay on schedule and working hard to get the work done. I’m multifaceted and am able to help in just about every department including production design, directing, some special effects makeup, and editing.
I am most proud of my team, creating a space for us to create together as more than a team but as a family. I love meeting new people who share a similar love for art and enjoy bringing us together to create beautiful stories. We are currently in pre production for a feature about sisterhood, divine timing, and the healing powers of nature. I am also excited about my upcoming fantasy novel I’m writing. You can follow me @AmbiaCherie to stay updated on the amazing stories coming soon. Thank you so much for reading and I look forward to connecting with you.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I have to first say there is no such thing as a non-creative, we are all made to create, it is our superpower as a human. We were all born artists, our art just looked different. Some of us were painters while others liked to write. Some fourth graders flourished on the clarinet and moved on to the guitar while others built things with wood and some built with legos. Everything we do from how we decorate our home to what we wear is an expression of our creative nature. When “non-creatives” judge or do not understand us out of the box creatives, it is simply because they were once creatives that had their dreams smashed by an authority figure, peer, or society itself. I’m not sure why we do this but we encourage children to be creative but encourage adults to get a job and be dull, to live for the weekend and be realistic. The more I create and believe in the positive outcome of my art, the more my art creates the life I dreamed. So as a “non-creative” reading this, maybe ask yourself what you wanted to do when you were a kid, and set aside some time this weekend to go do that thing with no outcome needed, just to simply express yourself. You may find a feeling of joy you haven’t felt in awhile and it may persuade you to do it again and again until all you want to do is that art. Maybe, just maybe, if you follow that joy, you’ll become one of those weird out of the box creatives, living your life the way you dreamed it when you were a child.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Do not judge us or try to change us. Give us space to breathe and create or even better, give yourself space to breathe and create with no judgement. Art cannot be wrong, it is only an expression of heart. We need more heart in this world and less ego. So please, the best support is to join in and be you. We need you now more than ever.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @AmbiaCherie
• Facebook: Ambia Phelan
• Twitter: @Ambiaphelan
• Youtube: AmbiaPhelan

Image Credits
headshot: @freshlooks_headshots magazine covers: @Marcosarifoto main: @films_a warrior photo: @anthonys’perspective