Artists Spotlight with Golden State Arts

Written by Maggie Lattke with Golden State Arts

Amanda Jorgenson is a wildlife artist based in Seattle, Washington. She has been a full-time artist for the past four years, and began studying art in 1989. “I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where I was constantly surrounded by nature and fascinating creatures, which have found their way into my artwork since I began drawing and painting.” She offers her artwork, art classes, and more on her website, www.amandamjorgenson.com. 

I don't believe in "natural born talent"; it's something we all have to work toward!

After working for eight years as a German language instructor, Amanda found herself becoming burnt out. “I found a note to myself from when I was in 2nd grade saying I wanted to be a wildlife artist and sell paintings to people. That's really what inspired me to get back into the artworld, after years of not drawing or painting.” Her favorite part of being an artist now is observation of the many subjects she paints. “I truly enjoy observing and painting minute details in feathers, flowers, fur, etc. These small details are what make that animal/plant unique. Being able to get those pieces out in front of an audience, and have them see that even the most "common place" animal - such as a crow - is something very intricate and beautiful, makes me happy.” 

"The Scapegoat - Crow Portrait" by Amanda Jorgenson pictured above.

Amanda’s most prized piece is a painting she created in her first series. “The first piece I created in a series (Flora & Fauna of Washington State) was of a snarling Grizzly Bear with Fiddlehead Ferns. There is something about this piece, perhaps the emotion, that still draws me into it.” As such, her favorite subjects to paint are plants and animals. “I strive to bring a little bit of wilderness into the viewers every day and elicit curiosity in indigenous flora and fauna, the rare and elusive species, etc.” 

When beginning a new project or piece, Amanda is often inspired by music. “It doesn't matter the genre, usually I get inspired by a song title, or lyric. This helps me think of what kind of subjects (flora or fauna, or both) I'd like to depict, and doing what. Sometimes it's a bit of a stretch, but it really gets me thinking.” 

"Grizzly Bear With Fiddlehead Fern" by Amanda Jorgenson pictured above.

To aspiring artists, Amanda encourages practice and patience. “Please remember that patience and practice are very important when starting out - or even getting back into art. I don't believe in "natural born talent"; it's something we all have to work toward!” 

Amanda found Golden State Art when searching for backing board and clear bags for her artwork. “Tired of supporting Amazon - I decided to see if there was another shop selling them. I liked the GSA mission statement, and am happy I was able to find them with a quick google search! I've been able to sell prints without having them get damaged (ahem, winter rain here in the PNW) at various sizes with the products I've received from GSA. Starting out, I definitely didn't think of the importance of keeping prints protected, and looking professional!” 

Mural Project: Clean Water Ambassadors, King County Wastewater Treatment Division and the Greenway Trust

Above: Video of Internship experiences intertwined with the mural creation.

In August 2018, I had the opportunity through Urban ArtWorks to work with the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Greenway Trust, and 10 high school interns on a final creative project: a mural which was a visual summation of what was learned over the 6-week-long internship.

After meeting with the students and listening to what they found the most-important aspects of their time as Clean Water Ambassadors, I created three different designs for the interns to select their most favorite, and most representative of their experiences.

Many interns expressed their concerns and anxieties to me regarding their belief that they were neither “creative” nor “artistic”; however, with some guidance and tips on how to best execute difficult areas on the mural, and reassuring a few that nature isn’t perfect, so neither does their representation of it have to be, they started getting paint up on the wall without much more hesitation.

The project itself took one week, from about 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. each day. And at the end, we had a mural that the interns were incredibly happy with. Me too :)

Below is a write up by Becca Kedenburg of Greenway Trust, which lays out the Internship with more detail. I highly encourage any high school aged students, who are interested in conservation, science, etc. to apply!

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Every morning for six weeks, the Clean Water Ambassadors made their way on foot, buses, and trains to downtown Seattle for their paid summer internship. Most days they piled into a fifteen-passenger van to visit sites all around King County, including the Ballard Locks, the landfill, the Issaquah Hatchery, the Bullitt Center, and a culvert replacement project on Zackuse Creek. The field trips introduced them to current projects in King County such as ecological restoration at Lake Sammamish State Park and a new wet weather storage facility in the Rainier Valley.

“This internship is an interactive experience that educates us about careers, efforts and struggles that go into environmental conservation. I was also exposed to wastewater treatment and the cultural and historical implications of salmon and history of Washington. Through the internship we learned about ourselves, other people, and the world” – Risa Suho, Kent Meridian High School

Out of over 250 applications, ten students were selected for this program. Each had their own reason for applying to the program: some were interested in learning how government agencies and nonprofit organizations work, some wanted to explore a specific career path, some sought professional communication skill development. They represent different schools, different communities, different perspectives.

“Water is part of our daily lives and we should understand where it comes from and where it goes. This program made me understand the importance of that. Not only that, this internship taught me many different life skills and lessons like knowing how to connect with people, public speaking, etc. This was a valuable learning experience.” – Calvin La, Cleveland High School

With the goal of fostering the next generation of environmental leaders, King County Wastewater Treatment Division and the Greenway Trust offered this intensive summer internship for high school students. As the interns learn about human and natural water systems, they are answering questions such as “Where does our water come from, and where does it go when we’re done using it?” and “How can we help conserve healthy salmon streams?”

Throughout the six weeks, the interns used low- and high-tech equipment to measure the water quality of salmon streams. Their stream surveys also included notes on the streamside plants, streambed composition, number of pools and riffles, amount of large woody debris, and so on. They evaluated Issaquah Creek at three sites; they also evaluated the Tolt River, the Duwamish River, and Longfellow Creek. Overall, they found these salmon streams lacking in woody debris and native trees and shrubs growing in the riparian zone.

They gained valuable field experience, honed their leadership and communication skills, and made professional connections. The interns spent two days a week in a computer lab working on their portfolios. They wrote letters to their King County councilperson and to a Greenway Trust Board Members, fine-tuned their resume, and recorded stream survey data in an Excel spreadsheet. At the end of the internship, each intern synthesized their experience by giving a final professional presentation to staff and community members. On these computer lab days, they also interviewed professionals: they got to hear about someone’s work now but also the academic and professional path they took to get there. The interns noted that most people they interviewed did not take a ‘direct flight’ to their current work, but that they were happy.

This internship is about more than salmon and water systems, it starts conversations about who has access to green spaces. A person who cares about a place is more likely to seek skills and opportunities to help take care of that place. “Many people don’t necessarily have access to forests/outdoors/environment even if they live near it.” – Shi’anne Shelton, Henry M. Jackson High School

The summer portion of the internship has ended, but the Clean Water Ambassadors are just getting started. They will spend another 40 or more hours during the school year using what they learned this summer to make an impact their community. This cohort is the first to pilot this school-year extension. Community engagement is an integral part of the work that the Greenway Trust and King County do.

The video was created by Cherry Street Films. The mural you see in the video was created under the direction of Amanda Jorgenson with Urban Artworks. This internship program is supported in part by the Boeing Company.

If you are interested in receiving an email alert when the application for the 2019 internship is available, please email Becca Kedenburg at ‘becca.kedenburg (at) mtsgreenway.org’.

Art Show at Standard Goods in Capitol Hill

As my inaugural blog post, I thought I'd let you all know about a current show hanging up in Capitol Hill at Standard Goods in Capitol Hill, Seattle.  While the art walk itself was a few weeks back, the show is still up for another little bit, so definitely go check out my art as well as Standard Goods - it's a really neat Pacific Northwest-inspired local shop. 

Maya Koplowitzi, Direct Marketing Editor of Standard Goods,  interviewed me for their artist spotlight blog. It gives more insight of who I am as an artist and how I got started in this field. You can check out the interview + pictures of my illustrations at there website here, but I'll also post the Q & A below. 

I have another upcoming show in October at Revolutions Coffee  in Greenlake, as well as a December show at Dubsea Coffee in White Center, so you'll never miss out on seeing my art in public spaces. 

I'll make more of an effort to keep up the blog posts to keep you all updated on the goings-on and what not. I look forward to seeing you at one of my shows!

Interview with Maya, Marketing Editor at Standard Goods:

This coming Thursday at Standard Goods for August Capitol Hill Art Walk we will be hosting two talented artists, both featuring the animal kingdom. Meet Amanda Jorgenson, the Seattle-based but Alaska-raised illustrator. Amanda combines her love for natural science, song lyrics and puns with illustration. 

Tell us a little bit about your style as an artist? 

I like focusing on the details which may seem minute and insignificant to some. Every spot, scale, hair, feather has its importance and needs to be drawn with care. The hardest drawings I've ever done are the animals we find "common" such as crows, robins, and squirrels. If you look at them long enough, you'll come to realise they are quite complex!

I enjoy creating art which has more of a meaning - even if it is not completely obvious. My titles always show what I was thinking about and the end product is putting those words and lyrics down onto paper. 

Growing up in Alaska must have been amazing. What is your favorite thing about Alaska? How did growing up there shape you as an artist? 

 Alaska is all about being in and around nature and wildlife. I enjoyed being able to drive 15 minutes from our house and be in the Chugach Mountain Range, the moose wandering around the neighborhoods, and the occasional black bear going through your trash. I liked the feeling of being quite small in the vastness of my surroundings. 

While living in Brevig Mission, AK (a small Native Alaskan village in the Northwest of Alaska), I had the opportunity to learn and watch Native carvers and drawers at their work. I remember watching them for hours as they practised their craft. Their style influenced how I see animals. They have more behind their facade. They have a story, an importance. 

How did you get introduced to the Natural Science Illustration program at University of Washington? Sounds fascinating. Can you tell us a little about what this program? 

 My mother is a branch manager at a library in Vancouver, WA., where she hosts local artists art. One artist was a former student in the NS Illustration program at UW, and my mom immediately told me about it (Thanks, MOM!). I applied after putting together a portfolio and got in - which drastically changed my career path. 

I encourage anyone who is interested in drawing flora and fauna to attend this program. I learned about drawing proportion (instead of just eyeballin' it), different mediums (like colored pencil on drafting film) and I ultimately found out what my illustration style is. The feedback from the instructors and more importantly your peers was most excellent.

Can you recall your earliest memory with art? 

I remember spending evenings sitting at the dining room table drawing birds and other animals with Mr Sketch markers. Additionally, I was a very fortunate child in the sense that my parents saw my talents and encouraged me to continue drawing so they enrolled me in art courses from the age of 6 on.  

What is your spirit animal? 

 According to a quiz I just took online, I'd be a Brown Bear based on the fact that I like mountains, the color blue, and berries. I would agree, as I am calm until provoked, enjoy my downtime and alone time, sleep and being outside exploring. 

But my coworkers have said I'd be an orangy-yellow bird, based on the fact I absolutely adore birds, ever since 5th grade when my teacher taught a whole section on them. The color bit...no so sure.

What Illustrators that you admire most? 

James Audubon. His bird illustration plates are divine. 

What was your favorite children's book growing up?

My favorite picture book was a German book called "Mein Bär Braucht eine Mütze" (My Bear Needs a Hat), which is about a teddy bear who needs specific clothing knitted by the narrator's mother in order to go on a walk/adventure. 

As a chapter book, I absolutely loved the "Redwall" series by Brian Jacques. I've always enjoyed stories with anthropomorphism. Perhaps my visualization of the characters while reading helped me develop my style. 

What is your favorite medium to use? 

 I really enjoy using colored pencil on drafting film and photoshop for digital painting (I love my wacom tablet!). 

Where in nature do you go to find inspiration? 

 I can be sitting outside just observing the common neighborhood animals and find beauty and complexity in their everyday-ness. Most of my inspiration come on walks home around Lake Union to Fremont, listening to music, or trying to work an animal seen along the way into a pun. For example: that's how I came up with the Octopus (titled: "Enjoy the Silence" - Lyric, "Here in My Arms"  - song by Depeche Mode) and "Drowning in Your Swallows" - a picture of Swallows perched on a wine glass, seen along Lake Union and my thirst for a glass of wine. 

Lastly, what words of encouragement would you give to aspiring artists young and old?

Have faith in your talent and craft. I am constantly discouraged, but working through my own self-doubt so that I continue to produce ever-changing illustrations - pushing myself to achieve more. Use your disappointment in your more-than-likely already brilliant art work to make yourself work harder, try different techniques, etc. Of course, I'll need to remember my own advice the next time I believe my illustration looks inadequate.