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Art medium(s): I am most known for my sidewalk chalk murals, nature photography and acrylic nature paintings.

How do you describe your art? My art is colorful, full of life, educational and uplifting.

Were you always interested in following a creative path? I knew I wanted to be an artist when my first grade teacher gushed about how much detail I put into my artwork to my mother at a parent-teacher conference.

What does your “day-in-the-life” as an artist look like? It depends on which medium I am currently tackling. I could be “Spider-Man” straddling a concrete sidewalk for up to 9 hours, sitting in front of an easel with multiple paint brushes between my teeth and fingers, or meandering in the woods in a floofy dress weaving in and out of deer trails with my camera.

Where do you get your creative inspiration? Hands down! Nature’s perfect beauty is my biggest inspiration.

Why do you love what you do? Because life and everything is art to me. Beauty, reality and expression can be found in anything. From the way we autopilot tie our shoes to the way we watch the tip of a cloud swirl slowly fold in on itself. Creating art is my spirit telling the world that I am here, I see it and I love it!

What is your personal favorite piece to date? My favorite piece is actually a small series of glass bottles that I filled with personally handpicked beach glass from Lake Winnebago and mineral oil. The bottles are finished off with a small hand-painted depiction of the Great Lakes and then gifted out to humanitarians that greatly inspire me. I can’t sell them because it takes too long to pick enough glass to make one. They are as priceless as the recipients I award them to.

Have you faced any challenges as an artist? Mostly myself. We are eccentric creatures and it’s not easy to overcome the hurdles of our wild giving hearts to get down to business. I think most artists would choose to give their art away if they weren’t dependent on making a living off of selling it.

Favorite fellow artist: My favorite artists are anyone that utilizes their craft to highlight the beauty in life. And nature, nature presents the most awe-inspiring beauty.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird <tweeter tweet>.

Music/podcasts while working or silence? Music (especially passionate and jubilant orchestrations).

Dog or cat person? Native wildlife (especially birds and insects).

Is the glass half full or half empty? Situational to the logic required at the time.

What makes you sad? Noticing wildlife not come back to my favorite wildlife spots to shoot, due to never ending human developments.

What makes you happiest? Finding something rare in nature, turning it into art and using it to share with the world in an educational storytelling manner.

Find Amanda on Facebook at A to Z Art Studio, on www.artfulecologics.com and on Instagram @ms.amandaz