Amanda is a London Born Mixed Media Artist and has been creating and collaborating with a variety of artists around the world in group as well as solo exhibitions in London UK, Barbados, Montserrat, and US Virgin Islands. She loves creating and uses a variety of materials such as clay, fabric, recycled materials, collage, natural fibers and dyes to create art, art journals and tells a story that impacts the viewer through the use of color and texture. She believes in the positive impact that art and creativity can have on health and wellbeing and she curates an Arts in Health Network alongside writing for her website, blogs and teaching art online.

What is art journaling to you?

Art journaling for me is either using a combination of imagery and words on a page to express a particular sentiment. Some of my pages have no words, one word or a stream of writing on the page around the image. It is also a way to express myself through images when I don’t have the words

What does community do for your art?

Community provides you with like-minded souls, you find encouragement, stretching of your ability as you always have the opportunity to learn from someone else, and a support network where you can share your ideas with others and your successes.

How do you live a creative life? How do you incorporate journaling into that?

I live a creative life by seeing it as an important part of my day to day activities. I start the day writing in my journal, or creating backgrounds, and then decide what journal I want to work in that can usually express what I want it to. I develop the background then see what my subconsciousness wants to say and the image that comes forth then I run with that. I then go on and do my work, but come back every now and again and I might doodle on an art journal page depending on the time I have.

What does your creative space look like? Where do you journal?

My creative space is my table surrounded by all my art supplies. I have a large window in front of me that lets in a lot of light. I am the only one who uses my space so I can leave projects without having to clear it all away

Do you have creative routines?

My creative routine starts after I have taken the dog out, and wandered the garden doing any jobs for that day. I make myself a cup of tea then head to my studio where I will do a bit of written journaling and then go on to creating a background in my art journal with paint or collage materials or work on faces – which I love to do.

What is your favourite art journal page that you’ve ever made?

I have so many favorites that speak to different things. I really love the pages that have an image and maybe a sentiment on, an encouraging word, phrase or quote

Have you ever made something you don’t like? What did you do?

I see things as not yet completed and don’t try and judge the place that it arrives. If it is not going the way that I feel then I walk away, work on something else. Invariably when you go back to it you see something different and so have a new perspective about the piece.

What is your biggest barrier to creating? And how do you overcome that hurdle?

I think the biggest barrier to creating can come with comparison, and then looking at your own work and being overly critical. I have had to put several strategies in place, firstly to come off social media and focus on your own work, secondly listing your own qualities that you admire.

Have you ever been through creative block?

I don’t have artists block, I allow myself the space to do many creative activities. That way they feed into one another. If I don’t feel like art journaling I might work on a craft activity or take a walk in the garden. I am always experimenting so there is always something that needs my attenton.

How has Get Messy impacted your creativity?

I am new to Get Messy and I am looking forward to getting to contribute. I didn’t realize there were so many other journalers who share their practice, it is great to make connections with so many other journalers and other creatives.

Amanda is one of the incredible teachers at Get Messy. She shares her art and her heart in the Season of Chapters.

You’re invited to embrace the messy middle and join the best art journaling community on the internet.

What journal do you use?

I use a range of journals from shop brought to hand made from scratch and recycled books and catalogues.

What is your one *must have* supply?

Gesso! I can prep pages, add paints and other mediums to it, create texture, use with stencils

What do you make when you don’t know what to make?

I play with my supplies apply color to a page, creating backgrounds, or I sort my supplies, sharpen water color pencils and do swatches.

What is the most important (non-tool) thing to your creative practice?

My electric fan, my studio can get quite warm, so it keeps me cool while I am working

Who are your favourite Messy artists?

I am inspired by many who art journal to name a few – Shemi Dixon and Robyn Mcclendon, Teesha Moore and the list goes on they all have their own unique style

Advice to new art journalers:

Learn new techniques, make your art journal your own, play, have fun and experiment, as no one has to see what you are creating.