Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Nicole.
Hi Amber, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2017, I created my very first canvas (titled “Mental Flow”) as a birthday gift for my ex-boyfriend. I created the gift as a cool way to bring art into his recording studio. After a few people saw the canvas, I began to receive encouragement from friends to make more artwork. At the time, I didn’t believe anyone would even be interested in it. In this same year, I struggled with depression and imposter syndrome which was enough for me to talk myself out of the idea – until a few years later when I created another canvas, but this time for my mom. Her face lit up the moment she saw it, which made me proud and surprised. Back in high school, I loved art and interior design and at one point, wanted to study art in college. Let’s just say my mom was NOT as excited as I was about the idea, so I ended up not pursuing it.
In 2019, art re-entered my life again. I made a couple more pieces with a different artistic approach but still couldn’t shake that imposter syndrome. I constantly felt like my art wasn’t good enough…. like I wasn’t good enough.
During the 2020 Covid Pandemic, I was forced to stop everything around me. The world stopping on short notice gave me the time I didn’t know I needed. With the world locked down, I spent countless hours in my art room creating new canvases. I found myself and my purpose during that time and had the biggest breakthrough of my life. Art had found me yet again, but this time I wasn’t letting it go or talking myself out of it.
Alright, 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?
It’s been a rocky journey getting back to my creative side and defining who I am as an artist. I struggled with depression, suicidal behavior, and self-doubt back in 2017 and man, it was the hardest year of my life. I felt a glimmer of light and hope when I made my first canvas that year. But I didn’t make another until 2019. I had so many excuses that kept me from creating. I told myself that “I’m not really creative; What I do isn’t special; No one will want to buy this; I’ve made the best things I could and won’t create anything better than that”… these were all lies I allowed myself to believe to keep me away from what brought me peace.
In 2020, I had to re-learn how to love myself. I had to change my mindset and change my behavior. I spent that time putting in the hard work to improve my mental health and grow my relationship with God. The pandemic and life circumstances reminded me that I have what it takes to share my purpose with the world and that the only thing stopping me was me. So, I put my excuses to bed and started creating more. I made pieces that I felt proud of and that stood for the story I wanted to share.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create digital 3D visual art that represents the beauty in black women and their natural hair. By using unconventional materials such as vinyl records and floral arrangements, I tell a story with every canvas crafted. My goal is to show the world that black hair is just as cool, vintage, and powerful as black music pressed on vinyl records. I also show the delicate and graceful nature of black hair using floral arrangements and other textured elements. I use my passion for music and my journey with natural hair to remind the world that black hair makes a statement and speaks volumes.
I am proud of the stories I’ve been able to tell with each canvas that I have created. I’ve shared personal stories about my own natural hair journey, my mental health and even shared personal stories from heroes in my life. I’m not just a visual artist but a storyteller as well.
I believe my resiliency and vision set me apart from others. I’ve been knocked down so many times since creating my first piece, but I don’t stay down. I always find a way to get back up and create more. I want to help and inspire other creatives to do the same.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
As an artist, you tend to find yourself meeting people who want to tell you what direction to go in or how you should create your next piece. It can become frustrating trying to define who you are as an artist if you are constantly changing for other people. I think it’s most important to stay authentic and rooted in who you are and why you do what you do.
You should be willing to bend lines and try new things, but don’t let others’ ideas drive you away from your own authentic style. My success looks like growing the artist that I am today into the artist that I want to be in the future and that means being open to growth, experimenting and creating so much more.
Pricing:
- 24×36 Canvas Start at $700
- 30×40 Canvas $990
- 36×48 Canvas $1680
- 48×60 Canvas $2160
- 60×80 Canvas $2800
Contact Info:
- Email: amnic.studio@gmail.com
- Website: https://ambernicole.studio/
- Instagram: @am.nic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/amnicstudio
