aftrART Archive
Creating resources, sharing experiences and increasing accessibility in the arts.
Active from Fall 2016 to Winter 2018, aftrART was a website and YouTube channel dedicated to helping artists understand the practical side of pursuing creativity and the arts. Supported in part by Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2016 GOOD ‘N PLENTY Artist Award, Amanda produced helpful videos, blog posts and podcast episodes to about professional development for student and early-career artists.
With nearly 150K YouTube views and hundreds of monthly blog post visits, aftrART proudly serves as a resource for new artists both in and outside of the classroom to this day.
Whether you’ve just discovered your passion for art, you’re unsure of how to apply your art education to real-world situations, or need some inspiration to get back to work, aftrART was developed to provide resources that help artists find success, however they choose to define it.
Ep 6: Lineage, Motherhood & Movement with Yvonne Montoya
Last summer, Mina and I had the great pleasure of speaking with Yvonne Montoya, a Tucson-based dancer scholar, director, and consultant. This episode — which is long-overdue — was one of the most personally meaningful episodes for me. Because of that, I felt an overwhelming pressure to make sure it was perfect… and that eventually evolved into inexcusable delay and procrastination.
Ep. 5: Working with Attention and Intention, with Charissa Lucille
Charissa Lucille uses creativity to infuse meaning into every aspect of her life — and by extension — her community. Tune in to this episode of Creative Confessionals to find out how this self-taught photographer, zinester and entrepreneur works tirelessly to uplift the voices of others!
Ep. 4: Failure, Displacement & Resilience with Eunique Yazzie
Eunique Yazzie’s journey toward recognizing her value as an artist and designer hasn’t been easy. From an upbringing of scarcity on the reservation, to pivotal layoffs throughout her career, learn how Eunique’s passion and dedication has helped her rise above systematic oppression to build a meaningful life and uplift her community.
Ep. 3: Selfishness and Self-Care as an Artist with Melissa Kreider
Melissa Kreider — photographer and founding editor of Don’t Smile — knows first-hand that life doesn’t stop for an MFA program. Listen to this episode to find out how she’s overcome loss, addiction, abuse, and more in order to pursue an art career.
Ep 2: Arts Administration, Equity & Creativity with Estrella Esquilin
Being an artist and working in arts admin require very different skill sets, which is why it takes a unique person who can do both. Estrella Esquilin, interdisciplinary artist and Communication and Community Engagement Manager at the City of Phoenix’s Office of Arts and Culture is on those rare few. Check out this podcast episode to find out how she does it!
Ep. 1: Introducing Creative Confessionals
Who are we? Why are we launching a podcast? What is creative Confessionals? Should you even care? Get to know your hosts and find out why we're interviewing artists, designers and creative entrepreneurs with diverse perspectives!
Finding and Applying to Art Opportunities + Free Download
One of the best ways to get your name out there and your art on the walls is to start applying to calls for work. But there’s so much out there that it can be hard to keep track! Watch this video to hear my tips and download the Art Opportunities Template!
The Job-Seeking Artist’s Resume Reference List
Entering the job market is no easy task, especially when you have an unorthodox background of creative experiences. In this video, you’ll learn how to translate your experience into a resume that captures attention.
Pursuing a Creative Life — Interview with Clare Benson
Nearly a year ago, I had an opportunity to do just that during an interview with Clare Benson! Find out what she’s achieved in a relatively short career!
Wasted Ink Zine Distro: Community Building through Creative Expression
What does it take to turn your passion for DIY publications and community-building into a business? I sat down with Charissa Lucille and Marna Kay, Co-Owners of Wasted Ink Zine Distro in Phoenix, Arizona to find out.
Caroline Hudson-Naef: From Art School to Art Career
We often perceive an art administration career as a practical, steady alternative to becoming a full-time artist. But the skills required to pursue such a path can greatly differ from a studio art discipline. If you’re interested in making that shift, you’ll want to hear what Caroline has to say!
10 Optimistic Facts and Statistics about the Art Industry in 2017
If you’ve ever thought about becoming an artist, then you might find yourself worrying about what your future could potentially look like. You obviously don’t want to become the cliche starving artist. Well, your concerns aren’t unusual, but are they entirely necessary?
Social Media for Artists: Mistakes, Myths & How to Avoid Them
Whether you plan to go all-in on social, or you just want to use it for the occasional promotion, you need to know exactly what you’re up against. Keep reading to see 8 common mistakes artists make on social media, and how you can make sure you don’t do the same!
How to Prepare an Exhibition Proposal that Won’t get Ignored
A solo exhibition is a huge milestone, but it can be tricky to achieve. To give you the very best chances of landing your own solo or small group exhibition, I’ve broken the whole process down in 5 steps, from start to finish.
Setting Up a Portfolio Website: What Artists Need to Know
To make sure you don’t make the same mistakes I did when I was first getting started, I created this video to give you the rundown on website building for artists. And the good news is, you really don’t need any coding or web design experience to get your site up and running!
How to Create Effective Social Media Ads to Promote Your Art
I don’t have any plans to run an ad campaign anytime soon, but I know more than enough about social media advertising to identify a bad ad when I see one. And unfortunately, I’ve been seeing lots of bad ads come from artists, arts organizations, and creative businesses.
Zakk Vega: Opening a Music Studio + Building Community in Unlikely Places
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to open up your own creative business outside of an art hub, whether it’s music-based or not, you’ll definitely find value in what Zakk has to say!
10 Ways Artists Can Create Change
Complacency isn’t an option. We can’t get comfortable, no matter what our social status, gender, skin color, or income can provide. If you’re like me and want to find ways to use your creativity to make a difference, I hope this helps inspire you to get started!