Amanda Von Riesen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Amanda, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am walking in my wandering …
I have learned to have patience and go slow… I hate rushing anything, and that being said I love spur of the moment too! I can’t understand how fast life is moving, but I know you have to catch it while it plays, and dance a little with it .
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a poet on paper and the other part that I can’t put into words, bleeds onto canvas. I write all the time, even little notes and quotes.
I just finished a ten piece collection of my most anticipated and interesting art that I’ve ever created! I’m so excited, they are pretty large acrylic on canvas pieces. Hoping to find a gallery to exhibit them soon.
I’m also a song writer, and I fuel my creativity by traveling and observing life. I’ve been nominated for a few country music awards in the past, never a winner, but that’s a game anyway. Just honoured when someone feels my music.
Mostly, I love to feel, I wish I could paint or write all my feelings.
We are all creators, it’s really incredible. Humans are so unique and interesting.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Well that is a tough one … truth be told, it was when my dad was angry and drunk and wanted to leave our home in the middle of winter without any jacket on. He didn’t have car keys, so he’d be walking.
It was the middle of the night, he was trying to get outside at the extreme coldest temperature in Canada, and I held him by the door for a long time, from going out . I felt a supernatural power giving me the strength to do so. It was God’s help when I needed it. He passed out by the door eventually. I didn’t sleep that night. I stepped over him to get my coat, reluctantly, in the morning to not wake him … to go to school. I think I was around 12 years old, and the middle child, of 5 siblings.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It’s ok . Cry.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
I told my two wonderful children, when they were really young, that all their feelings were valid, angry, sad, happy, restless, etc…feel them good and hard.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My mother’s mom, grandma Anna Doerksen, the one person that I have seen show 100 % love without judgement! She was a gentle angel on earth, and I miss her.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
It’s knowing that I will never measure up. I can’t do it, I will never get to that place of comfort. When you realize that you can’t be perfect ever, that’s close to peace. I want to always do my best though, to improve myself and strive to be better. That can help you understand and appreciate your own soul and purpose. “Mistake’s” aren’t always mistakes at all, that is why we have choices. Never purposely hurt anyone, and forgive others, so you don’t carry that burden with you. Is success happiness and peace? If you are truly happy are you really that wise? After all, the world is suffering, how much peace can we really feel? Maybe that’s a tortured artist soul talking…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Amandavonriesen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandavonriesen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandastudioa
Image Credits
Self – Kari Rios
