We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Wacker and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
So I moved into the creative space due to a multitude of factors. This includes the personal dynamic of work vs. creative enjoyment, the ability to work “when I want” or can, and that I feel fulfilled by activities that bring me joy, but also pay me. The fact the a creative career is so multifaceted in our current world makes it a much more difficult though engaging path to follow.
Firstly, a creative career allows me to not only utilize my natural artistic talents, but also make use of a whole host of other skills I have acquired. This would be skill sets such as writing, problem solving, business sense, social media savvy, interpersonal communication, customer service, etc. For me, a creative career is far more involved with the back end and marketing type activities than actual art creation as far as the “work” goes. This actually makes it easier for me to continue to enjoy the creative process instead of it feeling like never ending tedious tasks that suck the joy out of what was once a hobby. So when I’m in that artistic zone of taking photos or drawing, I can focus on that process instead of the “work-side,” which in reality is what brings in money, followers, and opportunities.
The fact the work part of my creative career isn’t just the creative process allows me to pick and choose when I get to be creative. The marketing and business side of a creative career can be done rain or shine, when I feeling good or bad, or when life is hectic or smooth sailing. Having a chronic pain condition, it’s amazing the flexibility I currently have while also growing my creative endeavors. The time element also allows me to pursue other avenues of income, but still in the creative space. So instead of just trying to sell prints of my artwork or photos, I’ve looked into print-on-demand services, digital downloads, and other passive ways of making income. By default, more income streams means more time to create and have fun with what my job entails. So instead of stressing about taking a few days off of creating artwork, I can work on my social media presence or administrative type tasks. I use a “progress is progress” type of mentality often, It allows a work life balance that most people will never experience.
Being able to create and make a living is a feat most people couldn’t or wouldn’t take on. For me, I feel like I am finally in a space where I can be myself, share what I can do, but also connect with others in my field. The art world and creative space is so much more vast than many realize. The range of people you meet and interact with is quite comical at times. City people to rural, western and eastern, artists and art appreciators: the extremes of different people to engage with is ever growing. There’s a different kind of fulfillment that comes with a creative career that is intangible. It allows you to explore the relationships within yourself, the world, and the intricacies of what can be achieved in a space that many deem limited.
While a creative career is demanding, it allows a freedom I wouldn’t give up. But, there’s ups and downs in any field. Anyone looking to go into a creative career should do the research on what it takes to not only succeed career wise and financially, but also how to stay sane with a work life balance. You should know that creating is only a certain percentage of this field. I chose the creative career avenue after many life trials. The work/life balance, flexibility of work, and being able to create while doing what I love, that just so happens to make an income, is truly why I chose to continue in the artistic and creative career space.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My photography is mainly nature based shots. I particularly love macro photography as it allows me to capture details of the natural world that most people never look at or even realize exist. It also takes far more skill than your average hobby photographer will attempt to acquire. Flowers/plants, animals, and mushrooms are the three subjects I gravitate towards the most. I was always a nature kid: knew way too many animal facts, wanted to know how flowers grew, and pointed out any weird thing I saw with child wonderment. I still tap into that while taking photos. While I’m early on in my career with the art world, I’ve found that doing the creative part is the easiest thing for me. It’s the administrative and marketing parts of the path I’m on that aren’t necessarily hard, but have a lot of moving pieces to keep track of. I would say the only challenge I’ve come across with photography is the costs of equipment. Professional level equipment isn’t cheap so moving from hobbyist to professional is allowing me to up my photo game in quality and quantity.
My illustrations and drawings are of whatever catches my eye and inspires me. Sometimes I use my own photography as references for drawing. Other times, my own imagination spurts out new and intriguing ideas. Having upgraded from physical drawing to digital has been a learning curve, but I can do so much more that I knew was possible. While I still love physical drawing, that’s become more of a hobby while the digital is more lucrative. I’ve really gotten into pattern making recently with my illustrations and am exploring getting those on clothing, bedding, etc. via print on demand services. There’s so many more avenues for artists to make incomes from their work compared to previous times, it’s often surprising to me that more people don’t get into the creative space.
With any of my work, I make things that I enjoy, but also what others may find interesting, unique, and want to either acquire or share with others. I tend to make and capture things that I don’t see often offered by other artists. My work changes with me, so even when a viewer/consumer/follower sees my work, they see a part of me and my process. It’s been interesting expanding my work load and moving more fully into the professional space as an artist and creative.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it was someone who had never been to upstate New York, I’d first show them the gorgeous mountains of the Hudson Valley. You can even see the Catskills on a clear day in the right places. People always think I’m from NYC when I say I’m from New York and visitors are always dumbfounded when they see how pretty it is where I actually am. There’s a reason I’m the 5th generation of my family to live in the area.
Places to eat and drink would probably mostly consist of the Beacon and Poughkeepsie areas. There’s a wide variety of restaurants and bars to explore. American, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Thai, you name it and you can almost definitely find a place in the Mid-Hudson Valley. I’d show someone around the lakes and multiple access points to the Hudson River. There’s a lot of historical sites and places to walk around in my area so they could take their pick of anything from hiking trails to mansion/estate tours. There’s also tons of types of markets and fairs to poke around and shop at: food, artisans, theater, Renaissance, pets, etc.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my friends and family members, thanks to those of you who knew I’d figure out what I wanted to do eventually, you know who you are. To the nay-sayers, keep watching because the show is just getting started.
Instagram: 1111_artistry
Other: TikTok: 1111_artistry
Image Credits
Amanda Wacker