“I can just feel in my body when I’m being called to bring something forth into the world.”
Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Amy Frank, a multi-passionate artist, who taps into a deep emotional well of poetry, fiction, paintings, and so much more, all radiating straight from her heart.
Connect with Amy on Instagram @wingsofjewels
Here is Amy in her own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator.
Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why?
It’s emotional. Emotion-based. There has to be an emotional connection there, an aspect of emotional expression, or just expression in general; my thoughts and feelings. And my daydreams. I love to create whatever I’m called to create. I create very intuitively.
My primary expression is through writing. I’ve been creating stories since I was a little girl. Before I could even write words, I would draw pictures and put them in chronological order. Writing will always be my first creative love. Language is the thing that comes most easily to me. Any kind of writing, really. I love writing poetry because I can play with abstract imagery, and convey emotion through those images. I see my poems like little movies in my mind. I feel them. Again, there has to be that emotional connection there, or I don’t connect with them.
Poetry is also the thing that comes easiest to me. I used to write fiction, and actually wrote 5 novels in the past. I doubt most of them will ever see the light of day. I did most of them to prove to myself that I could do it. I’ve written some short stories as well, and even a bit of flash fiction! Maybe someday I’ll return to fiction writing, but for now, my main focus is on poetry (which I consider to be a form of visual art).
In 2021, I took up painting for the first time. I love to express myself this way as well. I love to create abstract art because it allows for more freedom of expression and experimentation. I love the wildness of it. I love listening to my intuition when it comes to deciding which colors to pick, what tools to use, etc. I love to work with acrylics, watercolor, and oil pastels. I also love music and the performing arts. I have a strong theatrical streak and I can mimic accents and do funny voices and cool stuff like that! I used to play piano. (Not professional, though.) I basically love variety. I’m a multi-passionate person, that’s for sure!
What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow?
Myself, haha. My brain (she likes to think she knows more than my intuition). I stay in alignment and flow by not forcing myself to create. I usually wait for intuition to guide me (though I don’t always listen). I can just feel in my body when I’m being called to bring something forth into the world. I give myself breaks. I’ve taken months-long breaks from writing, only to come back to it and write a whole month’s worth of poems in one week’s time. I also make a conscious choice not to put pressure on myself to be a content machine. I’m a human being!
Also, when it comes to my writing, I don’t censor myself during the creation of the first draft. I let it all pour out. I’ve practiced this. I used to judge everything and edit as I wrote the rough draft and it was so stifling. It’s much better to let the initial flow come out, step away from it for a while, then come back to it and edit it. With painting, I haven’t quite mastered this yet. It’s still hard for me to get into the flow when I’m painting. I still deal with perfectionism, expecting it to look a certain way IMMEDIATELY. It’ll be interesting to see how I’ll reach that point in my painting, where I can create them a bit more freely, like I do with my writing.
If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say?
There is so much I want to say. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I think I’ll write a book about it someday. Surrender to your intuition. It’s your greatest asset. Take care of your body. Take care of YOU in your humanity. Develop an awareness of the stories you’re telling yourself about what you can and can’t do. If your mind starts to trash talk you, deliberately speak loving words to yourself, even when it feels hard (anything new is going to feel hard, btw). Don’t try to be perfect. Start small. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, especially during the first draft. Take breaks. Take lots of breaks. Creating things takes energy. Replenish yourself. Make time for play. Not all your art needs to be serious. And if you’re struggling, that’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok if you’re struggling.
How did you become a part of the Awakened Creators community and what does being an Awakened Creator mean to you?
Want to connect with our Featured Creator?
Check out Amy Frank’s deeply emotional creations on:
Instagram: @wingsofjewels
Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression like our featured creator does?
If you want to create more from your heart (and less from your head), my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home.
I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple creative ritual that will powerfully reconnect you with your heART so you can start creating more impactful art.
