From her childhood growing up in the country, Amber has always had a heightened awareness of the natural environment, and the energy and rhythms which are ever present if you look hard enough. Amber draws her inspiration from this energy, and just as in the flow of nature, manages to breathe this life force into all her creations. Her creatures exude a personality and warmth which make the owner stop to appreciate the energy which went into them. Her paintings reinforce this idea of emotion and capture her cheeky sense of humour. Ambers passion is visible in everything she does and we believe she makes a fitting and inspirational addition to our team of eden advocates.

What are the early influences that have led you to the point you are at with your arts?
I grew up in the country were it was fairly isolated. My mum always said if you were bored then you are a boring person, so instead of complaining i used to entertain myself with making things. Whether it was making garments or scrap booking, i became very comfortable with spending time with myself and listening to my intuition when it comes to creating things. It was growing up in the country were i learned to observe the flow of nature. The way the wind blows more in spring to spread the pollen and how all things reserve their energyto get through the cold months of winter.

You’ve spent some time studying, how does the study of tcm guide you through life and flow into your work?
The study of traditional chinese medicine teaches you compassion for life and all the people you meet along the way. It teaches you to observe the flow of the earth and how to move with that flow and not against it.I like to use the element of contrast in my artwork, just like the way yin and yang oppose each other but they also mutually create one another. There are also lots of patterns i have adopted into my art, for example when i’m sewing i sing little mantras into my creatures, evoking a spell or life force into them, so that they radiate that love to their new owners. I also love to finish the stitching by tying a knot 3,5 or 7 times, a routine that originated from practicing acupuncture and the auspicious connotations behind those numbers.

Who or what are your inspirations in life?
Many things inspire me to create. Friends and family, people that are motivated and full of unconditional love. I seem to be attracted to creative minded people. They are always the ones that are a little left of centre and open minded about the way things should be.... Music, books, good food, huge open fields and the ocean when it is enormous and in turmoil. I draw inspiration from my environment and what i observe around me. It’s my response to the rhythms and cycles of nature...My work has always reflected my life and current journey

Why did you decide to accept the invitation to be an element eden advocate?
Element is like no other clothing brand, it’s a family. It is run by people that have a love for nature and they value life as a gift. They treat everything they do with a purpose. I have these same beliefs.

Why are you passionate about art?
Art is great because even when you are going through something negative, it can be used to create something positive. What are your passions outside of art? I love to travel and meet new people doing things that they are passionate about.

What are your plans for the future?
My father taught me from an early age to strive to learn something new everyday. My future plans are to continue to create the things that are in my mind and heart.

Where has your work with art taken you personally and how do you juggle your personal work with your professional work?
I feel very privileged to be creative for a living.... I get to delve into little aspects of life that most people rush past on their frantic hurry to be somewhere. It’s a constant struggle to balance my own creative pursuits and the creative i do for a commercial purpose, but in saying that it ebbs and flows, they mutually feed each other and transform into one another. The key is organisation. This is quite a difficult thing to bring into the mix, as we are talking about opposite sides of the brain. So it’s almost a conscious decision to
Either be creative or get organised on any given day.

You create sewn handmade creatures, tell us about them and especially the owl you’ve made for Element Eden?
I started sewing creatures in 2003. Both my grandmothers are sewers so i grew up with access to all sorts of crafty objects. The creatures i create are little imaginary friends that make me smile, and it brings me much pleasure to sew them. They all have names and funny little stories. I make them out of vintage and pre-loved fabrics and exhibit them at art shows. The owl i sewed especially for element is in homage to all musicians. His name is sova and he happily sings to himself all day long. I love that a musician can express emotions like a painter but in a form you cannot see or touch. I also love how music can conjure up memories and feelings and how a certain song can change the way you feel. I rate music in my studio as important as paints, the sewing machine and my computer...

Describe your paintings..
My paintings have a traceable brush stroke and visible patches of transparent paint to suggest an intuitive
Technique, reinforcing the sense of emotion. I like to have a craft approach to my paintings by using a mix of medias. My changeable personality is reflected in my canvases with a style that transforms and mutates with every exhibition. The only constant is a cheeky sense of humour that often accompanies each piece of art. My paintings have underlying meanings that are ambiguous and open to a broad scope of varied interpretations, but these are completely personal and have no political motivation on a social level.

Describe your photography?
My photography combine aspects of popular culture with those of classical portraiture. I try to take photo’s that capture a strong sense of intimacy which seduce the observer . I am constantly exploring the dissections between my commercial and personal photography. With no official training, i try to push my own boundaries and learn different ways of doing things.

What advice would you offer to aspiring artists?
Observe and learn from everyone. Work as hard as you can and never stop fighting for what you want.

If there was something you could say to girls out there, something that you learned in your life that you wish someone had told you, what would it be?
That all our fears and unfulfilled dreams form limitations on what we feel about ourselves and what we could become. It’s only when we relinquish and face our insecurities that we grow, live and learn.