Today we are welcoming Amanda Whitehurst to the AMU Blog! Amanda is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer from Jacksonville, Florida whose work celebrates the beauty and strength of black and brown women. Thank you Amanda for taking the time to share some inspiration with the Art Makes Us community!

AMU: Art Makes Us ___.

Amanda: CONNECT.

AMU: Tell us a little about yourself and your art. 

Amanda: I am a native of Jacksonville, Florida, where I still live and work. I am self taught in illustration, having more than 25 years of experience. My influences are black women like me and black women I am inspired by. I love to create portraits that show the beauty, strength, and inspiration of black and brown women. 

AMU: What's your favorite medium?

Amanda: My favorite medium is illustration digitally, however recently getting into oil and acrylic painting, they are becoming my faves as well! 

AMU: What inspires you?

Amanda: I am inspired by strong black women. Natural black women. Black women leaders and women like me! Wives, mothers, and creatives! 

AMU: What are your artistic goals for the future?

Amanda: My artistic goals for the future include partnering with major brands, using my artwork. I see myself working with Target, Mahogany by Hallmark, and other brands. I have a vision and I am working to make that vision come to life! Other than that, I will always constantly be creating! 

AMU: What is one piece of art advice you were given that has always stuck with you?

Amanda: One piece of art advice that I was given that always stuck with me was to trust the process. I wouldn’t trust my abilities and I felt that had held me back. Once I grasped this concept, I was comfortable to attack any kind of illustration. I was drawing things that I thought I couldn’t or shied away from. Now, I trust that I can draw whatever I want or paint whatever I want! 

AMU: If they made a film about your life, who would play you?

Amanda: If they made a film about my life the person I think who could play me would have to be my daughter. Even though she is 8 right now, I honestly see so much of me in her. She looks like me, she thinks like me, she’s apositive person like me, she’s caring, and she’s a great artist! 

AMU: What famous artist would you love to meet?

Amanda: I’m not sure if you mean famous famous like Basquiat, but a famous artist I would like to meet is Mel Milton. I follow him on instagram. I truly love his work and he is the most humble guy. His artwork has been SUCH an inspiration to me! 

AMU: What do you wish you knew when you started?

Amanda: What I wish I knew when I started was again to trust the process. Creating is such a process and has many phases and layers to it, and when you follow through, you have a work of art! 

AMU: What’s your favorite color?

Amanda: My favorite colors are earth tones. Browns, earthy greens, mustard, and golds. 

AMU: If you had an artistic superpower what would it be?

Amanda: If I had an artistic superpower, it would be to easily draw hands. lol! I’m not a fan but I do like to challenge myself from time to time! 

AMU: Where can people go to see your work?

Amanda: People can see my work primarily on instagram (@amacieforever) My work can also be purchased on my site www.amandahowellwhitehurst.com as well as on iCanvas.com.