Featured Artist Amy Lenhardt

Enjoy the vivid color, flowing line and pattern in Amy Lenhardt’s brightly illustrated artwork. Visit her website to see more of her portfolio.

 

 

Raised in New Jersey, I was a latchkey kid spending a lot of time alone after my father suddenly passed away. I naturally buried myself in drawing and painting to escape the upheaval in my home during these early years.

 

 

I also found an escape from my home life when I was outdoors, running through the fields in my neighborhood and climbing trees in the woods. When I got old enough to drive, I would head out to the Jersey shore every chance I could.

 

 

In the early stages, my art was focused on creating coastal scenes and mermaids in colored pencil and ink. Coastal-themed art helped me feel a connection to my father. At the same time, it provided an escape from a hometown that I had difficulty relating to.

 

 

When I make art, I use bold lines, bright colors, curves and simplistic shapes. Creating these bright, uplifting and imperfect versions of reality have turned into my therapy.

 

 

I never liked painting realistic art. It felt too controlled to have to follow exacting rules along with an expectation of perfection. In college, I was a graphic design student inspired by advertising of the 1950’s through the 80’s. I began my professional career as a graphic designer.

 

 

This became mundane rather quickly for me; designing for others and not being able to utilize my own vision and style left me wanting more. As computers and drawing programs took over the industry, it left me unfulfilled. I still felt the need to create art traditionally.

 

 

I have dabbled in almost every medium—from oils and pastels, to colored pencil and ink. Currently, I use a mix of watercolor, acrylic paint and pens with most works painted on wood panels. I enjoy doing something different for every piece; adding a new medium to the mix just seems to go along with my life of constant change.

 

 

Today, I create something almost every single day. I’m also an avid photographer and many of my artworks are based on photos I have taken during my travels. Art and photography are major pieces of my never-ending healing process.

 

 

Art is my true passion. I need to transform nature, animals and scenes into curves, bright colors and intricate patterns. Using repetitive patterns in my artwork puts me in a calming and meditative state.

 

 

Experiencing change very early in my life has molded me into someone who needs change; this will be a part of me always. My subjects will continue to change as will my use of colors, lines, shapes and mediums. I turn challenges and tears into brightly illustrated artworks.

 

Artist Amy Lenhardt invites you to follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

 

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