Meet Amelia Furman: Mixed Media Artist

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

Hi Amelia, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
My inspiration is multi-faceted, just like my work. Sometimes, I will see a scene in nature that just captures my attention and I want to paint it. Other times, I will hear a story or a song and I grab onto the message behind the text and feel compelled to express the idea in my style. Other times, it might be something as simple as a watching people in my life live out their story that inspires me. The materials that came into play during that story like maps, menus, newspapers, tickets, etc. I find that often, small bits of inspiration from various sources come together in my paintings in a way that is surreal and supernatural. I’m just along for the ride! 

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My art is based on story-telling. Every place we encounter carries a story. And the interesting thing is that each person brings a piece of their own story to a place and it can be interwoven in the narrative of the location. When I am looking at the world around me, be it a field, a building, a tree or river or mountain range, I’m always wondering what stories it holds. What happened in these places? I choose to express the story of a place through paper collage elements that I put together in a design. Sometimes it’s words or maps, other times it might be a photograph I’ve found from that location. Other times, it might be a pattern that is indicative of the feeling of that place of the culture of that place. All these elements are then covered with layers of thin oil paint that creates a landscape image (usually) and helps give context for the collage story underneath. The two parts of my work are always connected and in usually many different levels of existence…physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. My work celebrates the value in each story, from ancient to present. And as folks experience my work, they bring their own story to it, bringing memories, connections, associations, and ultimately, bringing the work full circle from conception to completion. What I have found through time is that my work helps people find themselves, bringing personal, unique touches to spaces and often connecting folks to each other through conversation around the art.

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 love our town and it has so much to offer! Here’s some activities I would suggest if a good friend was visiting me in Loveland, CO: –hike at Devils Backbone –bike ride around the Loveland Bike Trail –Check out the Benson Sculpture Park –See a show at the Rialto Theatre –Dine at Henry’s or Betta Gumbo (this is so hard because I love all the restaurants! We have something for everyone!) –Get drinks at Backyard tap (if weather permits) or Verboten Brewery –Check out the awesome downtown shops: Independence Gallery, Vintage Willow, Rooster Browns, Little Piece of My Heart, Lincoln Gallery –Grab a treat at Cupcake Gypsies (the sweet potato cake bites are AMAZING!) and coffee from The Coffee Tree –Find all the painted transformer boxes and the Loveland Hearts –Visit a casting studio (Loveland is known for it’s bronze sculpture) –Visit some of my favorite artist friends at Artworks Center of Contemporary Art (they have studios there) –Check out a concert at the Lagoon or a live music act at the Foundry Plaza, depending on the season…we always have something going on for the community. Even now, during winter, we have a find the holiday gnomes scavenger hunt that takes you all around town with the help of a mobile app.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my parents, who didn’t squash my artistic dreams as a child, but nurtured them and coaxed them out through encouraging words, investment in lessons and materials, and also often joined me in the journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them! Love you guys!

Website: www.ameliafurman.com
Instagram: @ameliafurmanmixedmedia
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ameliafurmanmixedmedia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliafurmanmixedmedia
Youtube: Amelia Furman (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC37aEROdQTpuHEOUiv9lVFQ/featured?view_as=subscriber)
Other: I also have a public Facebook Group called “Art Mom and Friends” that folks can join for creative prompts and resources and a community that is interested in living more creatively. https://www.facebook.com/groups/540060676466528