We were lucky to catch up with MANAMI LINGERFELT recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, MANAMI thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I moved to the USA in 2002.I had a dream to become a successful artist. I met someone, who said he would support me, and asked me to marry him. Shortly after he became strange and abusive. Within a year of moving to America, I was already homeless with two children living in a battered woman”‘s shelter. I continued to paint as much as I could and refused to give up on my dream. Then I was invited to participate in my first art show. At the same same, I was commissioned to design illustrations and paintings for Tai Chi instructor who was a friend of mine. I was also commissioned to do paintings for a children’s hospital in San Francisco, CA. This was only the beginning and it never stopped, because I have always continued to paint numerous paintings. I am now living the dream at my studio in Dallas, GA. I also see a growing success still today and participate in many art shows around the USA,
MANAMI, 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?
When I began to venture into this wonderful world of art. I quickly became aware of the word “transaction”. I learned about business license and how to collect and pay taxes, As this learning curve was happening, I then established ManamiArt LLC. Me and my business partner have explored several different ways of making products with my art. We have managed to build several studios for separate functions in making reproductions of many types and sizes. Commissioned works are the more challenging aspect to achieve because I am painting a picture that someone else has envisioned, and it is always satisfying when project is completed and everyone is happy. We manage to make most of our sales by doing art shows, which has many variables depending on different situations, such as wind and rain. But mostly we roll our sleeves up and always try to make it the best show ever. Our line of products, which consist of original paintings and prints of my paintings, is always evolving and shapes into new ideas continuously.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The mission of my creative journey is lift the spirits, warm the heart, and heal the soul with my paintings. I try to create a paradise for people to do any of those three things. My ultimate goal is to make the world a more brighter place to be. To add beautiful images with many shades of color from the tip of my brush. Never settle for failure and always stay on top and keep focus on what we want in life. I try create peace, love, and happiness with its own hidden meaning inside each painting I create. My business partner likes to call them, windows to another world inside our own little minds. The journey is never ending because there will always be spirits to lift, hearts to be warmed and souls to healed. The best is how I want everyone to feel.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Many times retuning customers come into my booth during an art shows and say, “I was hoping you would be here, so I can get a new picture for my collection.” This is very rewarding to have the feeling of being able to give people hope through my art. And that people come back for more. Compliments always makes me smile and feel appreciated, which in turn, makes me want to paint a new picture right away. Commissioned art is rewarding because people are trusting me to create a painting that will satisfy them according to their request. When children buy my art is also rewarding because they are so cute buying their piece of art. Being an artist alone is rewarding because I am doing what I love to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://manami.pixels.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manami_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artist.Manami
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manami-lingerfeldt-56264511
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ManamiYL
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WVmbtbOzd3oelCCEcJQdQ
- Other: https://manamiart.com