Amanda P. Adams, Class of 1992 - Awe-Inspiring Fine Artist Using Ink and Paint

What kind of artwork do you do?

I primarily paint with oil on linen, canvas, and wood.

What inspired you to pursue this kind of fine art using primarily oil paint? 

There really isn’t one thing that inspired me to become a painter, though it was at Clairbourn that I was exposed to several kinds of art, from painting to jewelry-making. I remember a poster of a Diego Rivera painting hung on the wall in my art classroom, and I was drawn in and knew I wanted to make art my whole life. With some more experience painting in high school, I knew I wanted to be a painter. I discovered oil paints much later as an adult (I had used acrylics until then), and I haven’t looked back. I love the richness of oil colors and the smooth feeling of them when applied to a support (linen, wood, board, and so on), as well as the longer drying time, which allows me to go back and work on a particular part of a painting.

What is your latest project?

Right now I am working on a series of surrealist paintings featuring skulls and bones within landscapes. I have always been interested in human bones, and also have a background in post-rehabilitation, so this subject is a source of great fun for me. 

I regularly post progress photos and finished paintings on Instagram and Facebook, and my website is updated every few weeks.

If you would like to look at what I am currently working on, as well as posted past artwork, my Instagram handle is @amandaadams_art, and my Facebook handle is @aadamsartstudio.  My web address is: https://amandaadamsart.com

What is an artwork or project that you're most proud of and why? 

I think my favorite completed series is one I call “Ice World,” where each painting depicts a peach and/or other objects resting on floating or stable ice, in a soft, pastel environment. I love this series because it is different from everything else I had painted before, and because it retains a gentle and sweet feel while suggesting that the viewer reflect on their own natural, physical environment and things to come.

What advice would you give to our students who want to pursue art as a career?

Love what you are doing and have confidence in your ability to create. Make art every day and master your skills. Learn everything you can about art. Learn everything you can about other subjects that interest you; those subjects will play a large role in your art-making, even if they do not seem related. Align yourself with teachers and peers that respect and support you, give you constructive criticism when you need it, and that help you succeed. Keep working through blocks, discouragement, and others telling you no. Have a goal in mind and work toward it, one step at a time. Take charge of your career, and make it happen for yourself. Making art as a career is both challenging and rewarding, and absolutely worth it. I wish you a wonderful journey!