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

Hi Isabel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I didn’t know that I wanted an art career for a long time, actually. There had always been a gravitation towards creative learning and art, but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that it was an actual option. One of my teachers asked me why I didn’t plan to major in graphic design ( I originally planned to go to culinary school), and it planted a new seed. I went to an art school, and it developed from there! I thrive on learning new creative skills of all kinds, and it’s propelled a pretty extensive resume of hands on talents.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Isabel Amundson, and I am a designer and fine artist from Maryland. I began in the professional art field as a graphic designer, working for a sign shop that was involved in the production for all the materials for (then) Redskins stadium, amongst innumerable other companies. I loved the opportunity to be an integral part of businesses’ growth and identity development. However, I needed more. I began freelance graphic work and painting on my own time, and found a lot of my inspiration from the graffiti and abstract expressionism found all over the DMV and by some of my favorite artists. Creators like Sue Tsai, John Born, BK the Artist and Kehinde Wiley have inspired some of the eclectic and layered aspects of my work. I aspire to make work that is thought provoking, impactful and controversial. “Create to cause a commotion”, not just to make eye-catching work. Much of my clientele gravitates to this approach, and I’m so grateful! What began as freelance graphic work has expanded into now creating company branding, commissioned paintings, custom shoes and potentially tattoos! My ultimate goal is to formulate art of all kinds that resonates for years to come.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFTs are a slippery subject. I think it commercializes artwork in a way that mutes the original purpose, to feed the soul and be an experience. However, it also recreated a sense of glamour, in the way that it became expensive and coveted. I’ve often had conversations with fellow creatives on this, and it seems to split the group down the middle. Although the art world is constantly evolving, there are certainly some classic ways to share and sell the work, without cheapening the experience.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I definitely wish I’d been pushed to network and build my social media earlier in my process. Like many creators, I put a lot more time into my social media/Instagram presence during COVID-19, throughout the lockdown. TikTok also blew up in a way that not many people anticipated. As soon as lockdown ended, I’ve prioritized it less. It’s always a work in progress! I’d say perseverance wins, especially in the social media battle. Consistency is key, and it helps engage your viewers- let them know you’re constantly working! My favorite ways to create content is filming time lapse videos of my paintings as well as Tiktoks of the custom sneakers I create. One thing I try to hold to is that everything is content! The ASMR videos of that one brush stroke, the notebook sketches and brainstorming, the final coats at the end- all of it! Don’t hesitate to bring your audience in on the small things, it will help them feel involved, and help them get to know your process!     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.isabelamundson.com/
• Instagram: @iz_amo