Check Out Amy Hoskins Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Hoskins.

Hi Amy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Amy Malinda Hoskins and I am a multi-media visual artist and writer creating with disabilities from my home studio in South Nashville, Tennessee.

More about my artwork and writing can be found at my website: www.amyhoskins.com.

I have daily struggles with depression and chronic pain because of extreme childhood trauma when I was growing up. I am on disability because of the effects of the trauma.

Fortunately now my counselor, healthcare team, and loved ones are there for me, because these daily challenges.

My counselor wants to one day write up a case study about me, because compared to what I went through growing up, and who I am now, it’s a success story.

I write, paint, and take photographs because they help me express myself, art therapy.

In 2011 I self-published my first novel, Rebekah’s Closet, on Amazon, Nook and Google. It is 427 pages long, and is biographical, but also includes fantasy or magic realism throughout, written in a stream of consciousness method.

By 2018 I had a screenplay of the same name that was 134 pages long. Now in 2022 with the help of a copy editor, I have a 90-page version.

I’m making a movie with the help of everyone and anyone who wants to see the full experience of Rebekah’s Closet on screen. Please visit my website at amyhoskins.com, and the link to my Indiegogo campaign to create a short, proof-of-concept, film first.

It is my hope that through the film, more of my healing journey will develop, and I can help educate about and prevent childhood trauma.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all.

I can’t go back and change this journey. I can only go forward doing the best I can each day.

I was raised Presbyterian but chose to become a Buddhist in college after studying world religions. It made the most sense to me, that as imperfect as I am, I am still whole, and perfect in One with the Oneness of us all.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
All of my artwork is not only art therapy, but is a way to seek and create beauty in unusual places.

I can no longer work full-time, but have energy spurts during the day, about 1-2 hours of quality creative time.

I write about two new poems a month. My last painting took 6 months to complete.

I no longer take industrial photographs here in Nashville but there are hundreds to choose from, 2001-2018. I love printing them for shows or sale in large format, on metallic paper, which is super reflective due to the silver imbedded in the paper.

I’ve sold and given away a lot of paintings since I first started painting in 1993, and some are not for sale. In May, I first started offering 16 x 20 inch giclee prints of the paintings I no longer own, as well as those in my personal collection.

Also new in May on my website are a collection of Nature photographs I took over a period of years at the National Botanical Garden in Washington, DC when I lived there for 11 years.

On my website you can sign up for my periodic newsletter, and take a feedback survey if you like, in the Contact section. Or just check back from time to time, to see what’s new.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Making Rebekah’s Closet the movie is a huge risk, but it’s a big dream, to try to help prevent childhood trauma.

When I was working full-time for nonprofits for 16 years, I would often burn out trying to meet impossible goals I set for myself. I would ask for challenges at work, and I got them! Living up to my own expectations was unhealthy all that time.

Now I am more in the moment, still taking risks and seeking challenges.

Pricing:

• Publications are Kindle to hardback, around $10-15 dollars.
• Original Paintings, 22 x 28 inches, acrylic on canvas, $175
• Photograph Prints, from $30
• Giclee Prints, from $100
• Printed Clothing:
• Shop VIDA: https://shopvida.com/collections/amy-hoskins#sort=featured&page=1
• LeGaleriste: https://www.legaleriste.com/amy.hoskins, https://shopvida.com/collections/amy-hoskins

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.amyhoskins.com
• Instagram: @amyhoskinscc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.jackson.3152
• Twitter: @amyhoskinscc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8o4iIYs3hkQFh2bc5k2XA
• Gestalt Poetry Open Mic: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170476857736092