Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahmara Smith.
Ahmara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started drawing comics in 6th grade and that’s also when I decided I wanted to do art for my career. I used the internet a lot to help me draw until High School and then I started taking art classes. After high school, I went to Savannah College of Art and Design and now I’m a graduating senior (class of 2019) at the college and looking to make my way into art studios and production art.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There haven’t been a lot of challenges specifically related to my art, just a few financial issues sometimes, art is a career, like most others, that requires a lot of personal practice and support from a community and so I’m very lucky to live in Atlanta which has a really strong and fresh art community and to have parents that support me in my passion. Parents are integral to human beings’ growth, their opinion is what validates you and so the responsibility of your adult life is on their shoulders and my parents really understand that and the amount of love and understanding it takes to raise a healthy child. Life is long so I’m sure there are more challenges on the way, especially now that I’m finishing secondary school, but hopefully, it all works out.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ahmara Smith Art – what should we know?
As an artist, I am an independent contractor so my business sells my art service. I feel like my experience growing up as a queer black person and my interest in politics and entertainment media as a socially influential storytelling device makes the ideas that I bring to table in every job that I do unique. There is always something I bring that my employer either hasn’t thought of or was feeling unsure about design wise or storytelling wise. Having someone like me on the team makes a space that is more dynamic and inclusive, but it only works if the employer is already on board, you know? Luckily Atlanta is home to many great employers looking to make healthier changes for the entertainment industry which is always of interest to me.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think my good work ethic and good business personality are the most important thing in the jobs that I have done. Art these days is very collaborative. When you have the responsibility of taking care of other people’s work, you have to make sure that they trust you and that your product is one that will make them happy for whatever their needs are and delivering on that consistently with an understanding attitude is what’s most important to my business model.
Contact Info:
- Website: ahmarasmithart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ahmarasmithart
- Facebook: facebook.com/ahmarasmithart
- Twitter: twitter.com/ahmarasmithart
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