Along with being a full-time Visual Art teacher for the past 18 years, a practising visual artist, sip and paint host, mother of two gorgeous sons and wife to a supportive husband, Amanda Sadler aka ASads held her solo art exhibition “The Pursuit of Happiness”.
Tell us about yourself and your business.
With 18 years’ experience teaching so many teenagers and creatively shaping the next generation, I found myself connected to and genuinely caring about the lives of my art students. In 2020 a past student lost his battle with mental health, which brought me to my knees. After speaking at his celebration of life, I asked myself “What is my creative legacy, what am I leaving our community and the people I love?” It was then ASads Art Studio was born.
Setting up a creative arts business was a lot of fun and working late into the night in my studio on copious artworks meant that many opportunities arose. I’ve hosted paint and sip classes for The Ville, worked with local organisations to present art classes, and ran workshops in the Whitsundays as part of their festival season.
Whilst cultivating my current collection of art work, the movie The Pursuit of Happyness (although heavy-hearted) impacted me and has been an undercurrent theme of this entire body of work. The movie got me thinking – imagine if those in positions of power used their influence to bring positivity to people’s lives, especially in tricky times, how much better the world would be?
I hope that through my artworks, workshops and my everyday classes, I’m able to encourage this culture of positivity within my students and clients.
What has been the most challenging aspect of being a business owner?
The most challenging aspect of being a business owner is learning on my feet. In the past two years so many wonderful opportunities have presented themselves, and with that I have grown, stretched, and learnt so much along the way, about business, people, and of course art.
Also could there be more hours in a day? Asking for a friend!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I recently held my second solo exhibition, “The Pursuit of Happiness”, which wrapped up at the end of February. It was a truly exciting experience and I’m delighted by the support and love from the community and all my friends and family. A warm thank you to all who have celebrated and helped.
And when time permits – I am secretly a lover of crappy reality TV. Ohhh, the body language in Love is Blind and My Unorthodox Life.
What is the best piece of career or business advice you ever received?
What I say to my students, my little boys and anyone who is asking…
- Just never give up – it’s NOT an option. I am the first in my family to finish school, to get dual degrees and although at times I wanted to quiet – not quieting became the key to my success.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful! Let’s pause and celebrate that fact together… Unless it’s finance – that stuff needs to be pretty spot on.
Going forward, what is next on the cards for your business?
Following on from my recent exhibition, I have six art commissions to complete, with a mix of residential and commercial pieces, and more workshops and classes to plan.
If you are interested in commissioning your very own artwork, or finding out about upcoming workshops, please follow me on my socials via Instagram or Facebook.
Main image – Amanda Sadler.
Images Credits – Josephine Carter Photography and Back Yard Aussie Photos.
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