We recently connected with Amy Tetteh and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My earliest works were pencil drawings, and my first portrait drawing was of my mum. She loved it! This was after I finished high school. At the time, my mum owned a restaurant, and we hung the portrait there. It began to attract the attention of her customers, and eventually, I got my first client. I don’t remember who the person was, but I do remember how thrilled I was about the commission request and the fact that I earned money from drawing.

Amy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Amy Igelenyah Tetteh, and I am Ghanaian-Nigerian.

I’ve always been an artist, drawing for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who would draw in all her notebooks and textbooks. Naturally, I had a passion for it, so I studied visual arts in high school. After high school, in 2014, I began to hone my craft, dedicating my free time to becoming a better artist every day. I started working with traditional media (pencil on paper) and eventually transitioned to digital media (pen-tablet on PC). My vision was to continue studying art at university, but that didn’t go as planned, so I continued to teach myself through the internet, doing what I could with what I had.

Over the years, I began working in the fitness industry, with art as my side hustle. I mostly did digital illustrations, creating comics and cartoons, which I still do today.

Fast forward to the pandemic: I lost my job in the fitness industry and felt lost for a while. A good friend advised and encouraged me to explore other facets of art and my journey as an artist, so I picked up acrylic painting again and started to think more broadly about my art and where I could take it. I shared my work more on social media and started to connect with artists online. I also kept an eye out for art calls. In 2021, I participated in a group art exhibition held by Asime dubbed “This no be art” in Accra, Ghana. This was my first time stepping into the art scene and putting myself out there. In that same year, I joined a graphic novel workshop organized by the Goethe Institute to expand my knowledge of comics and graphic novel creation.

Since then, I have taken advantage of every opportunity I could, participating in workshops, exhibitions, art talks, and art-related events to continue to expand my network. I also picked up graphic design along the way.

As a multi-faceted artist, I work across both digital and traditional mediums. At first, it felt strange to me to do all these things; people usually advise niching down, but I find that one facet can complement the other depending on the project at hand.

My creative work ranges from abstract acrylic painting on canvas to surreal digital art, comics, illustration, and graphic design. I am open to commissions, with my paintings available for collection and most of my digital artworks offered as both prints and originals.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, its the ability to express ideas and experiences in my unique way. The process of bringing an idea to life and seeing it resonate; both with myself and with others.

There’s also a deep sense of satisfaction in continuously learning and growing as each project presents new challenges and opportunities for exploration.

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.

One thing non-creatives might not fully grasp is the value in the process of creation. For many of us, a lot of joy comes from experimenting, discovering new ideas, and evolving through the creative journey. It’s not always just about what we end up with, but about the exploration and growth that happens along the way. That sense of fulfilment from the process itself can be hard to understand if you haven’t experienced it firsthand.

Contact Info:

• Website: Currently under construction
• Instagram: @amy.avan
• Facebook: Amy Avan
• Linkedin: Amy Igelenyah Tetteh
• Twitter: @amy_avan
• Other: Behance: Amy Avan

Image Credits
Amy Avan