Meet Amanda Davis | Abstract Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I feel like I’ve spent half of my life giving up on my artwork/myself. I experienced it through depression, romantic relationships with men, and non-creating as a way to control my gifts. But I’ve learned that you that you can’t give up something that is intrinsically a part of you. When I started to allow and embrace my creativity, support started to show up in unimaginable ways. I recently fell in love with an artist in Los Angeles. We speak of the importance of art production and shows, even when you aren’t making sales.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My compositions have a softness mixed with a complexity, as well as consistency so that my work is recognizable and works well in most environments.

Along this journey, when opportunities don’t work out, I’ve had to shift my perspective and expectations. Recently, I was very disappointed after I was put on a waitlist for a large show I was hoping to get into. San Diego doesn’t have as strong of an art scene compared to Los Angeles or San Francisco. So you have to figure out where your audience is located. A couple of years ago I made a huge investment with Art Storefronts which I later regretted, deciding it was not the direction I wanted to go in. Later, I hired an art representative, who’s helped me to learn how to get into juried art shows, galleries, and online sales. My day job allowed me to hang pieces in the office, and that was a good source of sales and exposure.
And finally, networking with other artists and galleries has been fun but also essential to my career. I ended up meeting my partner, Jesse Aldana, at Gallery of Hermosa in group art show. We are currently working on a collaboration of our styles painting St. Paul’s Cathedral in Banker’s Hill.

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?
My perfect day would be coffee and pastry at Michi Michi, then off the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. An afternoon champagne picnic in Balboa Park with sandwiches from Sicilian-Ish, and later, Golden Curry ramen from Buta.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother, Mary Sharp Davis, who is a very talented artist in Albuquerque, New Mexico has always been a huge driving force and support system for me..

Website: https://www.amandadavisdesign.com

Instagram: Amandadavisdesign

Image Credits
Dietmar Horst Kohl