We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Fara Wolkis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy Fara below.

Amy Fara , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

There was never one moment. I have always known I wanted to be an artist. Well, I should say, I have always known I was an artist. That’s just at the core of who I am. I have loved drawing since I was first able to hold a pencil. Since I was a kid I always enjoyed not only drawing, but painting, singing, dancing, making a mess… I was making art before I ever knew it could be a career. If I had to say there was a defining moment when I knew I wanted to be an artist, I’d say it was my birthday, the day I was born.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in the Atlanta area.
All throughout grade school, my homework would always be handed over to my teachers completely covered in intricate doodles. Art was really the only subject I can say that I aced. That’s where my true interest was. I was very involved in school art programs and took art classes outside of school at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.
My art is not limited to one medium. Today I paint, make jewelry, act, sing a little, and dance Argentine tango.
When I was young, every now and then I would spend the weekend with my grandparents. My Grandmother was very creative as well. We would work on crafts together, and sometimes she’d let me dig through the kitchen “junk drawer” … that was the best. I was always finding all kinds of trinkets and treasures in there! I used to love to piece together random things to make jewelry. I began repurposing vintage jewelry and just kind of fell in love with bringing old things back to life and making them into things I could wear. From there I took some metal-smithing classes, learned how to make my own pendants and bracelets and became enamored with the art of jewelry-making. My Grandmother always encouraged me to to use my middle name, Fara, (named after her mother, Florence).
So I created a jewelry line that I call Fara Fara.
I also work a day job as a hairstylist which gives me a chance to use my skills with color, shape, and design. It’s such a fulfilling process when I get to help people feel good about themselves.
Whether it’s making a piece of jewelry, stroking a brush across a canvas, or designing a new hairstyle;
Art starts slowly as something I do for myself because the creative process is so therapeutic, but in the end there’s nothing more meaningful than to share my art with others and have someone find joy in what I’ve created.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me as an artist, there’s a certain amount of freedom in creating my own art that I don’t get with anything else. When you drive down the road there’s a speed limit. In art there’s no limit. This is one place where I have pure expression.
Being able to share what I’ve created with those who appreciate it, brings it all full circle and makes the reward complete.

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

Growing up as an artist I always felt a little different, I saw the world through a more imaginative lens. I struggled in school a bit. Math was never really my strong point. Art was the only subject that really held my interest. Career-wise I didn’t know what I was going to do, or how I would get by. There were many times when I felt like I just didn’t really fit into the “mould.” It’s taken time, maturity and the acceptance of my craft by others to really give me the confidence in who I am today and the resilience to continue on my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://farafara.etsy.com
• Instagram: @farafarajewelry
• Other: (Second Instagram)

  @amywolkishairstylist

Image Credits

Amy F Wolkis