Meet Amber Scally | Artist, Speech Therapist, Musician, & Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amber Scally and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amber, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I am an obliger by nature. I readily meet outer expectations but struggle to meet expectations I set for myself. Leaving my job as a speech therapist to pursue my art and work from home was a huge transition. I had to learn to set realistic goals and design tangible ways to measure my progress. Adjusting my expectations has been the most challenging and most beneficial aspect of finding balance. When I left my job to start my art business I had two young children at home and no idea how to balance work/life. Previously, I would leave my house, allowing me to shift my mindset from home to work. Working from home it was more difficult to achieve that same shift in thinking. The laundry was right in front of me, the kids needed taken care of, the dishes were in the sink, the bills needed paid, oh I had to call that person back…and on and on. I also had very unrealistic expectations for myself, initially demanding 3 hour long blocks of “dedicated art time”. When I was unable to meet any of the goals I set for myself (work and home) I became very discouraged.
In 2021 I was accepted to the Montana Artreprenuer Program. This program, funded mostly by the Montana Arts Council, provides the tangible tools needed to run a successful art business (everything I wasn’t taught in art school). This was the first step in helping me adjust my expectations. I finally had the framework to build my business on. One of the tools was to track our time for each project. The goal was to use this data for pricing but I began using it to track my productivity as well. I set monthly goals and tracked my time daily. Boy was I disappointed in myself! I wanted 60 hours per month and was constantly falling short. I realized I was turning my work into a left-brain, analytical production. I was burnt out and discouraged.
I took some time to reevaluate my methods. I read Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor. I gave myself some grace.
I gained new insights into how to be productive. I couldn’t just measure time spent on art as some months I was devoting more time to business, especially leading up to a show. Also broke up my art time into smaller chunks. I explained to my kids that I was going to work for one hour and we would set a timer. They knew I would be done at that time and we would play or do something together. This helped us build trust with each other and a system that met all of our needs. I needed a break, they needed interaction. Suddenly we found a new kind of balance. I lowered my dedicated art time to 30 hours per month with a goal to increase it to 40. I also added a column to measure time spent on the business side. In March of this year I spent 4.5 hours on my art (11% of my goal) but 99 hours on art+business (127% of my goal).
I also spent time finding a dedicated studio space. It is a small outbuilding on my in-laws property near our house. It is in progress, needing electricity and heat for the winter, but it is still usable during the summer months and supports that work/home mindset shift.
I have the privilege of learning ballet from a classically trained ballerina in our tiny town (population 54). She explained balance to us one day and the analogy stuck with me. She said not to think of balance as a static pose but an active movement. We push through and fully engage with the motion, actively moving and adjusting before transition to something else. I would never find balance by expecting x, y, z at all times. There will be change and adjustments. There needs to be change and adjustments. I keep my big goals in mind and use multiple measures to track my progress. I have completed more work and found the joy in creating again.
My last child goes to kindergarten next year and I look forward to making new adjustments and seeing what I can accomplish.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Fires change the land, time erodes the mountains, the animals come and go in an ongoing cycle and I get to watch it. Everywhere I walk around my home I see aspects of natural and human history side by side with working ranches and rural living. I am an observer in a story that is so much bigger than me. I draw to understand it better, to pay homage to it, and to show respect for it. I want to connect others to this experience. I want to build a greater respect and sense of knowing for rural and western life for anyone who views my work.

I primarily work in graphite on paper, enjoying simplifying images to black and white. I use technology and image layering to constantly check my work with my references so I can improve my base drawing. The more accurate I am, the more respect I feel I am giving my subject. I utilize numerous tools and techniques to capture the wide variety of textures nature has to offer. By authentically translating the moments, wildlife and landscapes of the west, I can foster connection to them and a more intimate sense of belonging for clients and customers both near and far.

I didn’t know where to start when I first began my journey in 2020 so I sat down in front of an old ladder in our living room and started drawing. The ladder was covered in hides, horns and memorabilia spanning three generations. It was the first piece I made on this dedicated art journey. From there I started working from reference photos of wildlife from friends and references I had taken on my outings. I began taking my DSLR camera with me whenever we were out (which is often) to build my own repertoire of references. I’ve captured baby elk, bear cubs up a telephone pole, and Great Egrets expanding their range into the heart of Montana. I captured simple yet profound moments in my children’s lives as they experience rural life and nature. I have references of working ranch life and the living history of the west. This is every day for us but world’s away for others.

As I translate each photo through the artistic lense of my mind into a drawing it becomes something more. I know that each drawing takes on a part of my view and understanding. My drawings often get mistaken for photographs. When I explain the medium, it opens up my audience to a whole new level of interest and wonder. The greatest compliments I ever received were when my viewers were moved to tears by the detail and life-like quality of my drawings. That is fulfilling in an indescribable way.

I have learned that we always have room to improve and grow. I have learned to not limit my vision for my work or what it can do to inspire and support others. I have learned to be humble and respect the gift I have been given and the people who helped me get where I am.

I want people to see my work or my logo and associate it with excellence and inspiration. I want those who know me through my art to see me as genuine and passionate. I hope others are inspired to pursue that dream that keeps nagging them deep inside. Art was burning a hole in my pocket and I needed to let it out and let it shine.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the middle-of-nowhere, MT. The biggest cities are an hour and a half away. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time, it is just going to look a lot different! We will pretend it is a summer day. We would start with a drive through the hills to our favorite fishing creek where we would spend hours waking up and down through the trees catching little Brooke trout. We might have the chance to see a bear with her cubs or a herd of elk or deer. A roaming coyote might even run by in the distance. After a day out we could return to town and enjoy a Wagyu burger at the local Mint Bar (run by my father-in-law). The next day we could head to the mountains and climb Mt. Elmo followed by more fishing up at Forest Lake. Nothing tastes better than food cooked over a fire in the mountains. To relax after our outdoor activities we could drive over to White Sulphur Springs and soak in the mineral pools at the Spa Hot Springs Motel. Dinner at Two Bassetts Brewery would be a great end to that day. Our area also offers great fishing right by town at the Martinsdale Reservoir where you can try your hand at crawdad hunting. The addictive activity involves flipping rocks along the short and trying to catch the fast moving crayfish. The trip would not be complete without a trip to the Mussleshell Steakhouse where you can be dined by the local legend Jansen Carrey. Steve Carrey, the owner always makes sure you have the best time and are taken care of. It may look different, but life out west is never dull and always filled with unforgettable opportunities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful for this section!

I was inspired to do more with my art by a good friend, Joni Freeser, who was a working artists. I am forever grateful to the Montana Artreprenuer Program and our mentor Liz Chappie-Zoller. I have been inspired and encouraged by my cohort; Lea Fry, Hazer, Jacob Cowgil, Joni Freeser, Amy Bump, Claire Schabacker. Cowgirl Artists of America who accepted me as a signature member and are actively supporting women artists of the west. The following books: Believe in People by Charles Koch and Brian Hooks, Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor, and Master of One by Jordan Raynor. Annie Valle for sharing her gift of ballet with us and inspiring me to find ways to share my gifts and support others in pursuing their dreams. My family and friends for supporting and encouraging me in every aspect of this journey.

Website: www.amberscally.com

Instagram: @araemusicart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ARaeArt

Image Credits
Joni Freeser, Keelan Scally