I had the good fortune of meeting Amelia Critchlow virtually last year and was immediately drawn to her artwork, I love her work and her willingness to provide creative inspiration on her blog keeps my creative energy flowing. I think you will find her as inspiring as I do!

AMG: Tell us a bit about what you do?

AC: I spend my time working like a wild dervish. I can’t do anything by halves and have learnt how I operate best over the last few years. I enjoy throwing myself into things when I feel passionate about them, and will spend a few months or weeks working away at a project from such as writing up and delivering my experimental art e-courses, to then spending time creating a new body of art-work for a show, fair or open house, and then spend time doing other bits of freelance work that come my way, like workshops and projects . . .

AMG: Tell us about your art work and your showings?

AC: I create artwork that I hope speaks to the viewer of the many, many things that women of today do (in the Western world) which, if they are mothers, (as I am and many of my friends are), usually involves a juggling act of housework, parenting, earning and finding time to nourish ones soul too. Ithink this is extremely skilful and often tough and tiring, and I admire the many women who manage to make it work. These multi-dimensional aspects of womanhood are not often the images or messages we get in the media. Instead we are encouraged to focus on irreverent such as how we look, and what diet we are on! There is so much more to us than this – and that’s what I would like my work to explore. I show in places I am invited to show at, as well as create my own opportunities. As an artist, in fact as any entrepreneur, I realise you have to put YOURSELF on the map – opportunities that fly into people’s laps are unusual and rare, most opportunities are created through sheer hard work by us . . . .

AMG: Tell us a bit about your growing online work and the online community you are developing?

AC: Having spent time teaching – I adore working with others – art which ranged from family groups to youth, to elderly, there was one key thing that struck me: we all want to do something creative, and whilst children find it easy to pick up paintbrush, pencil or other, it is adults who have trouble picking these things up, however, we probably need it the most to help balance our busy lives. I wanted to develop a course – the experimental art e-course – that was aimed at adults, who – if they do have children and other commitments – can access art and creativity from the comfort of home, without being judged on their artistic merit and without having to find childcare to attend a real time class. It is also designed for people who may be doing art, but wish to explore different methods and thinking processes around ‘art’ . . . I love what I am doing and enjoy hearing that participants from my course say that they have now found something creative they do well (and even better than they thought), or that they now know what theme they wish to explore, or what media to use. I hope to develop the community aspect for those who have already done the course to re-connect regularly – this is something I am working on right now ;)

AMG: You began something called Gift Grants, can you tell us what that is and more information?

AC: Gift grants was an idea that came to me via this site. I remember many times in my life when I wanted to do things and quite simply couldn’t afford it financially. I have spent years single parenting and juggling part time jobs to be there for my kids. Returning to art, and having the support and opportunities to be able to study it, have been a life saver for me and I am so very grateful. The gift grants were my way of giving back to others, but using the sales of items from my shop to fund it so that I could afford to do it. I do not have a vast income, however I am working on it!!

AMG: Was there a key ‘happening’ that really gave you the push you needed to get started with your online Experimental Art e-course?

AC: The push I had was realising that going ‘out’ to work, and doing work that didn’t truly inspire me was beginning to get more and more taxing on my energy. And because I have a child with Asperger Syndrome, I found that working at jobs that depleted my energy, and coming home to caring for a house and a child with special needs, and my other child was draining me of any final resources I had left. Something had to change. I had to do work I loved, which in turn would energise me, which meant more energy for my children. I also needed to work from home to be able to attend the many appointments for my son for his health. I decided early this year, that 2010 would be the year I would truly give it a go to get my on-line business and art off the ground. I did the inspiring e-course by Susannah Conway and thought I can do this too with my art experience and teaching. I am a qualified tutor and so I took all my knowledge and experience into creating a course on-line instead of the usual off-line. These were the key elements to making the jump.

AMG: What has been the hardest part of getting where you are today?

AC: The hardest part of getting where I am today has definitely been lone parenting, whilst having to earn money, and still holding on to my own dreams and passions (art) and trying to fit them all in to a day/week/month . . . .

AMG: Give us an overview of how a typical working day goes for you?

AC: Typical and me don’t really go hand in hand. I am the type of person that likes something different, and spontaneity, this doesn’t really go with kids, so right now it would be: getting up and getting my youngest ready for school and out the house. Once home (about 9am) I usually get on the computer and check email, blog, twitter etc. Then work on a new post, write down some ideas, read other blogs. If I’m running a course, I check in and leave comments and feedback. I usually go for a long walk or bike ride to stay fit and healthy, because too much time in front of the computer is not healthy! I then have some lunch and might meet another fellow self-employed person for a catch up and company – working at home can be isolating. I then carry on working and if my son is in after school club – he goes a couple of days a week – I might get out some stitching and art work, or carry on writing. I love both writing and making visual art. If not I will pick him up and maybe take him to an after school club. I am a bit of a work-a-holic and you can often find me up late at night, or still trying to work whilst cooking tea! I circle between reading a mag, catching a few stitches on my latest art piece, trying to cook tea and vacuum at the same time, then check my email and then try and do a bit of homework with children – all a bit crazy really!!!!

AMG: How do you juggle motherhood and working?

AC: Um, probably refer to the above. I drive myself a little nuts with it at times. I really don’t like food shopping or house-work (but ironically like a tidy house!!) so I leave these things for as long as I can. My partner (who doesn’t live with me), comes round often and does all the cooking because he’s a chef – I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this!!! Cooking is not a strong point either. My son goes to after school club two days a week to give me 2 long days to work – otherwise I normally work in between school hours which is nothing, and again when he is off with his father which is every other weekend. My eldest is 17 so she is off and doesn’t need the same kind of hands-on care anymore. I never watch TV any more and I don’t read newspapers, as much as anything they usually depress me!

AMG: What or who has been the biggest source of inspiration for you?

AC: Funnily enough my sisters, and my own mother and father. I come from a family of artists and artisans, entrepreneurs and radical thinkers. So, I was always encouraged to come up with my own thoughts and ways of being. I was always encouraged to make things and do art, and my sisters – who are much older – than me, always worked, making beautiful things – and parented. Other sources of inspiration have been women who have lived their passion whilst parenting. I think artist Louise Bourgeois, and more recently Keri Smith – who come to think of it, is probably the person whose blog (which I discovered last year) really gave me the prompt to do what I love the most, and to start blogging etc – it was through her I discovered Susannah Conway and many others.

AMG: What advice would you give to others who want to set out fulfilling their creative dream?

AC: My main advice would be clear about what it is you want to do or fulfil – really clear – then believe it is possible, and take small steps every day/week/month to make it happen and always write down your goals and ideas, capturing them in little books and on paper – this is what I do, and I find when I look back at them they have nearly always come true!

AMG: Is there anything else you would like to add?

AC: Yes, I would like to say, that I truly believe right now that what the world needs is people who are living their creative passion and who have a gift/message for the world. Share your truth and stories and do what you love the most. Time is precious, especially at this time of planetary precariousness, do what you feel most compelled to do and go for it!

 And finally, if anyone would like to join the next experimental art e-course, it starts on Monday 13^th September and enrolment is live here – I would love to have you join me if you want to discover the natural artist in you!