Sincerely, Amanda Jo

The first art form I discovered—and the one with which I still feel most at home—is letter-making. When I craft a letter, the words are secondary; I paint, draw, cut, and shape every detail of the letter with the recipient in mind. These paintings are wordless but they are still letters. Each painting is inspired by an individual. Before beginning the painting process, I study the passions, ideas,

preferences, and characteristics of the person in question. After meditating on my experience with these individuals, I take the inspiration to canvas. My understanding of the person is fractured to fractals, layered into layers of paint. Once I feel my meditation has led to a direction, I begin by mixing a base coat. The specifics of the color are crucial for my process and, after it is ready, I let my brush lead the development of line. As the lines multiply, shapes emerge, movement escalates, and my inner conversation begins taking place in the overlapping shapes on the canvas. Georgia O’Keeffe, one of my favorite painters, said, “I found I could say things in colors and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way, things I had no words for.” This idea continues to stick with me, largely because of how true it is to my own experience with art. Sometimes wrestle with language—it seems to prevent me from expressing certain ideas I need expressed. I have found a new language in color and line. I have found, in art, a language of the body. Understanding may be inextricably tied to language, but emotion can, perhaps, circumvent it. I invite varied interpretations and reactions to my work, just like different people have different reactions to meeting the same individual. My paintings are never statements; rather, they are impressions, emotional snapshots, letters sent out in a bottle.