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

Amy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

Growing up, my parents were very encouraging and supportive of my desire to create art and run a small business. When I was 6 years old, they made me very own business cards for “Amy’s Creative Corner.” I’d set up a small table in the bonus room and sell my wares including hand-decorated t-shirts and socks. When I was 12 years old, my mom managed to get me into the adult’s Bob Ross painting classes. We would wake up early on Saturday mornings, and she’d drive me to this few-hours long class where my love of painting truly began and I learned fundamentals that I still use to this day.

Amy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a pet portraitist, fine artist and graphic designer. One of the offerings of my art includes painting pets who have crossed over the rainbow bridge, and they are called “Mya’s Rainbow Friends,” named after my sweet dog, Mya, who passed away in 2019. Customers send me pictures of their pets, and I paint them with acrylic paint on canvas, wood board, stones, or other materials, and ship them to their destination. I truly love how artwork can create therapeutic-inducing healing to a loss and help those in their grieving process.

In addition to painting pets alive or beyond the rainbow, I paint a wide range of other artworks including landscapes, wild animals, and more. I also enjoy creating designs for customers including logo designs, websites and print materials for other small businesses. I love supporting others who want to become self-sufficient and grow their own trade. Being a graphic design major back in 2007 in college has still helped me today in tremendous ways for growing my own business including creating my own websites, business cards, and marketing materials.

I mostly sell artwork online, but also display/sell work locally at a quaint little shop called Peace in the Forest in Wake Forest, NC. This happens to be the same place that I also offer my massage therapy at! It’s always good to have eggs in a couple of baskets, right?

After moving back to the Raleigh, NC area in 2019 after living in Austin, TX for several years, I have been growing my local customer base here. I love meeting customers locally to hand-deliver the artwork they purchase. It is extra special when they bring their pets with them so I can meet the little friend I spent several hours painting!

I love painting and I love helping customers feel joy with artwork that will bring them peace and calm for years to come.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

It is so heart-warming to have repeat customers. Some customers have multiple pet portrait orders, and then will reach out to me later down the road and need a logo design, and then perhaps a friend’s pet passed away…and they will need another pet portrait. I am very grateful for my loyal customers, they are reminders that I am doing well at my craft. Those loyal customers also share my name with others who are looking for meaningful artwork, which is a wonderful thing!

Have you ever had to pivot?

A family emergency uprooted me from Austin, Texas back to North Carolina in 2019, and I wasn’t sure what was happening in my life. Then the pandemic started in 2020. The only thing that was ever constant was my artwork and painting. I require very little in terms of space and supplies needed to create my art. I am very blessed to have a craft that if I needed to move on a whim, I could bring my work with me, and paint almost anywhere, anytime. There is very little overhead, which is a great blessing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amyyeagerjorge.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyyeagerjorge/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyyeagerjorge
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jorge-9645a78/