We were lucky to catch up with Amy Early recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I knew that I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally was after I faced a terrible, life-altering loss of my husband of twelve years, to cancer. Let me explain. I have definitely always been interested in creative pursuits. In my younger years, it was always experimental–crafting, singing, being creative in general. In college I learned a lot about photography, particularly composition, yet I decided the technical side of photography was not for me. I discovered this after I got married and I worked for a photographer for a while. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I thought I would. It was a natural end to photography when I started my life as a mother. I began my job as a stay at home mom. My husband Chris was the first one who started dabbling in the painting medium. He learned some technique from an artist friend and his art started taking off. I began painting some on top of my photos, with some mixed media experimentation. My husband started questioning his day job and really began to pursue his art dream on the side. I painted some as well, but never fully owned it, as I was a busy mother. We had two kids together, with one on the way when his health began a major decline. We were blindsided. While I was pregnant with our third my husband Chris passed away. I never thought this would be my story. As a single mom with 3 kids, I had a lot of choices and such a different life in front of me. I discovered creativity was a big way I could process my grief. One thing that rose out of those ashes was my own creative spirit. I knew that I was supposed to pursue art also. I knew that the greatest way to honor my husband would be to live life fully. I began painting in my dining room with drop cloths everywhere, and just leaving it out so I could paint in my spare time while raising kids. Art started to spill out of me and the courage to go on with life kept growing. I remarried a music producer, and we have gone on to have 3 more kids. I am an artist today because I said yes to the life that was in front of me. I said yes to creative pursuit in all the ways! I am so thankful for the opportunity to create and live this beautiful life.

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.

My name is Amy Early and I am an Abstract Artist from Charlotte, NC. Ever since I was young, art has always been an interest of mine. First it was just crafting, like most kids. Then I discovered and learned about composition through the discipline of photography. When I began using a brush and adding color to a canvas, that felt like I was truly doing something for me. The process of choosing color and letting the brush guide you into a creative work became so life-giving to me. I noticed it took effort but it felt so natural. I realized that I can tell stories and help make sense of the world without using words, with just the use of color and a canvas. I paint primarily abstract acrylic artwork and use texture, and sometimes other mediums to get my voice across. I have always been a lover of aesthetics. Environment is extremely important to me, and with the experience of remodeling two homes, I have realized the deep connection I have to helping people bring their homes to life. I don’t think a house is truly telling a story without artwork. Artwork can bring the homeowners voice alive and continue the process of creating a home so beautifully. It has become a passion of mine to partner with interior designers to bring joy to people’s homes with the use of my art. I am a mother of 6 children, wife to an amazing husband, and I have faced several losses in my life that have brought such a tapestry of laughter and tears, joy and pain. I believe life has suffering for all of us but it is of the utmost importance to maintain hope. Art has a way of bringing hope just by speaking the language of beauty. It is my greatest desire to continue to share the message of beauty and hope.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I had heard of the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, for a very long time. I recently decided to read it and put it into practice. I have gone through the book very slowly, answering the questions, reading, thinking, and leaning into all of it. I realized through a life of creativity you face creative blocks, setbacks, little traumas, and just things that need your attention in order to fully realize yourself as an artist. This book has been an invaluable resource to continue to steward my own voice, and all that I bring to the table. I have never been through a book that has helped me so deeply to continue to wage war with my creative voice, to let it not be silenced, and to bring forth creativity in the way that I was meant to!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the gift of self-expression. Artists have the ability to encourage, inspire, and innovate with the creative offerings they bring to the world. I love the life of flexibility I have. I love that dreaming is a part of my job title. Being responsible for showing the world beautiful things is a calling that I can aspire to always meet. Storytelling can be such a healing gift. I find it so rewarding to be able to heal and inspire through the gift of art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amyearlyart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyearly_/?hl=en

Image Credits

Erin Maynard Photography