Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Lovett.
Hi Amanda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My family and I always knew there was some sort of creative field in my future, but I had very little exposure to the art world until high school. Even then, as far as jobs, the only fields I was aware of in the arts were teaching and advertising. As soon as I graduated, I went straight to the Atlanta Portfolio Center, where I studied art direction, graphic design, photography and illustration. From there, at the age of 19, I joined the advertising firm of McDonald and Little as an art director. I gained invaluable experience and education in the position, which gave me the confidence to start my own agency when McDonald and Little was later purchased and moved to New York.
I later attended a watercolor landscape class with Frank Broadhurst, who I credit for starting me on my path as a painter. In 2004, after recently switching my focus to oils, I made the commitment to become a full-time professional artist.
I have been fortunate to study under some of the country’s top professionals and have continued my education at every opportunity. My excitement for learning ultimately led me to becoming an instructor myself. I have had the good fortune to teach workshops at venues across the southeast, highlighting a curriculum I have developed with the purpose of building the core skills necessary for artist growth at any level.
I have been accepted into numerous national and regional shows and organizations, and have earned my Signature Status with Oil Painters of America and American Women Artists. I was also named one of the “11 Artists to Collect Now: The Emerging Plein Air Painters You Need to Know” in Plein Air Magazine. You can see a list of more of my accomplishments on my web site at www.amandalovett.com under ‘About the Artist’. I am currently represented in several art galleries across the country and also sell a great deal of my work through my website and social media. I enjoy doing specialty commissions and have developed a system of taking my client’s particular needs and working with them in a way that maintains the creative energy for the best possible results.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anything worth doing is rarely easy; but when you are pursuing something you’re passionate about, the hard work and dedication seems a bit easier to muster. I am very enthusiastic about what I do, so I want to be careful not to make it seem like it came too easily. However, in comparison to some of life’s hard knocks, I don’t really see my art on the list. Are there disappointments, frustration, long hours and hard work? You better believe it! There have been times I found myself cleaning my brushes at three in the morning; the only downside, really, was not being able stay awake and keep going. So, it’s all in how you look at it. One of the most eye-opening moments for me was the realization that as competitive as I am, it was the shows in which I was not accepted that facilitated the most growth in my work. Again, not a bad thing. There are road blocks and detours in whatever you choose to do but the great thing about being an artist is I don’t have to declare a retirement date. I can paint as long as I am physically able, and will. I once heard someone say, “We all pray our last brush stroke is straight up.” I can only hope!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I grew up in a family of storytellers; people who could take a moment in time and make it come to life using words. It didn’t take me long to realize that this trait is a part of my genetic code as well. I too tell stories, only I use paint, light and shape to bring them to life. It’s about being in the moment, breaking down what I see and giving my brush a chance to speak.
I am primarily an oil painter but I also find many other mediums refreshing at times. Most of my inspiration is found in capturing the vibrancy and energy folks tend to miss in the simple moments of life. The ruts in a gravel drive leading up to an old barn take me straight back to my grandparents. Candlelight (or more likely these days, the light from a cell phone) glowing up on everyone around the table at a restaurant reminds me of all the family dinners we have had the good fortune to share. Even the tail lights in traffic and signs reflecting a beautiful glow on a late-night drive home bring back memories. It’s all about the moment.
As a painter, I have been told repeatedly, “You need to narrow your subject matter down to one focus so everyone will recognize your work.” I completely understand the logic, but it just doesn’t work for me. I find my versatility is one of the things that keeps my painting fresh and exhilarating. I want to stay excited and passionate about my work, otherwise, how can I expect the viewer to be? As far as my art being recognized, I feel each of us has our own unique style. Over time, it will develop the same way our signature does.
I was so excited the first time I had someone walk up to one of my paintings and express an affinity for something I had created. There was a tie between that canvas and an important moment in their life. They actually shared with me that the work brought back fond memories and reminded them, quite specifically, of all the summers they spent at their grandpa’s farm. There are many aspects of my decision to follow a creative path, for which I am very grateful, but the people I have met and the connections I have made shine the brightest in my mind and my heart.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield is a ‘must read’ I always recommend to my students.
Another life-altering book for me would be “Limited Palette Unlimited Color” by John Pototschnik. While taking a workshop from John a few years ago, I had an “Ah-Ha” moment. What I had perceived as a very complicated subject, Color Theory, was suddenly as simple as one-two-three. Everyone in the group told him, “You have to take all this information and publish a book!” We knew what we had learned from
him was invaluable and truly wanted to have it at our finger tips. Little did I know, I would have the opportunity to be a part of that becoming a reality. Having a background in graphic design and production, I was able to take all of John’s material and create the camera-ready art he needed to go to press.
This book goes way beyond a ‘must read’. I actually own two copies; one that John signed and stays safely tucked away as a treasure, and another that has sticky tabs, paper clips and notes all through it. And yes, I have gotten paint on it. It is most assuredly a workbook that contains great info, but it also, over time, has become a reference book that helps to inspire my palette choices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandalovett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalovettart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALovettFineArt
