Atlanta artist Amber Jasmynn Williams proves that living a green lifestyle can bring out the best in us.
The 23-year-old is a newbie to the art game. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the aspiring artist realized after college art was her calling . Growing up in a green household also kept her grounded and balanced.
“Eating natural foods was inspired by my upbringing.” she said. “My mother is Jamaican, so if you asked her ‘Why,’ she would say, ‘Cause me say so!’
Her love for all things green plays just a small part in the images she creates. Her pieces feature an array of strong women, western stereotypes on black culture, and calming imagery with earthy tones that allude to her overall message: to spark enlightening conversations about awareness and the world we live in.
GlobalGrind spoke with the blossoming artist about everything from her inspirations and life on the green side, to her upcoming project ‘The Art of Esteem,’ and bringing art to children in Ethiopia. Check out the interview below.
What inspires you to live a green life? Does it affect your artistry?
I was introduced to “the green life” as a child. After moving to the States, I was eating meats and processed foods. I didn’t gain a solid understanding of why eating natural foods was detrimental until I got to college and did some research on my own. I gradated with a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Sociology. Immediately I converted back in 2011 after watching Food Inc. Deciding to eat green definitely affects my artistry. Shortly after converting, I created my first painting.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
God, Sade, Bob Marley, Abraham Hicks. In most cases, I create art after being inspired by a thought that has been following me and over time it accumulates into a series of thoughts, a theory, if you will. From there, I am compelled to create art because of it.
I named the people I did, and God, of course, because their work is attractive to me. I don’t go out of my way to find influence. I let influence come to me and those are the people who have naturally just come to me. Though Frida Kahlo is an artist who has inspired me to learn more about myself, as an artist. She inspired me to create my first self-portrait. Being familiar with yourself is important, especially as an artist.
You’ve traveled the world. How have those places inspired your art?
Whenever I’m in Jamaica, I write. The things I write are almost like magic, because the words are formed together before my hand even picks up the pen. Once I get my hand on the pen, the words write themselves. I love Jamaica for that.
While in Africa, I created some art, but for the most part, I just received art. I did a lot of observing. The inspirational level in Senegal is incomparable. I was inspired to move forward with my youth program, ‘The Art of Esteem,’ while there. I had the opportunity to bring ‘The Art of Esteem’ into a primary school in Senegal. It was an amazing experience that I wish I could have extended. I promised to go back.
I was inspired to keep living the way that I do: Green. I was convinced that I chose the right path. I reaffirmed my belief that being considerate of people that I have never met and our planet is important, because their existence deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated. In fact, after leaving Senegal, I considered being an environmental sociologist. However, the art brought me back.
Arizona, my God, Arizona. I had never been so productive in my painting as I was in Arizona. There is something about Arizona. When I land there, it’s like I move easier. I feel so much ease there. Painting is like second nature. In terms of my visual art, Arizona (The Grand Canyon) inspired me the most. I wrote a lot there. Also, to the Sun.
What are some of your favorite green dishes?
My absolute favorite green dish comes from a small raw food restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia called, Tassili’s Raw Reality. My favorite raw plate from her is composed of Moroccan couscous (goji berries, raisins, shredded coconut), curry plantain and spicy kale salad.
I also make my own and you cannot find my recipes on Google. I mix everything in my salads; kale, spinach, bananas, strawberries, raisins, onions, peppers, apples, avocado, honey, vinegar, oregano, thyme and all kinds of spices. If it’s green and it’s in my kitchen, chances are it’s going in my salad. My salads are good, though. Tassili offered to put them in her restaurant!
What are some of the biggest misconceptions of vegetarians?
I’ve heard that we’re weird, although that came from a meat eater. I guess the biggest misconception is that we are lacking in nutrition. I am asked all of the time about my sources of protein. There are plenty including nut butter, which supplies 8 grams of protein, Quinoa; 9 grams, tofu; 9 grams, lentils; 18 grams, beans; 15 grams, etc.
Your paintings send different messages. Which one is your absolute fave?
My favorite painting is always my last painting. Right now, it’s a painting I did called “Feminine God.”
I was inspired by a conversation with someone who was trying to explain the idea that God doesn’t actually have a gender. They suggested that referring to God as a male is just symbolic. So I had the thought, ‘Why not symbolically refer to God as a female, then?’ That thought stuck with and inspired, ‘Feminine God.’ ‘Feminine God’ is a painting of The Eye of Horus; the eye actually belongs to Wadjet, a female deity of ancient Egypt, whom Horus (a male sky God) worshipped. I chose to use the Eye of Horus to support my idea because it’s a tangible account in which a female is playing the role of a god.
Why do you think it’s important for African-Americans to embrace a Green Lifestyle?
Statistically, African-Americans, women especially, have the highest rates of being overweight or obese in comparison to other groups in the U.S. Four out of five African-American women are obese. For obvious health reasons, we should embrace a green lifestyle.
However, I am more interested in what follows after making a decision like choosing to live green. When I made the choice, so many other avenues of joy opened for me. I picked up yoga, intense prayer and meditation and books. I was introduced to speakers sharing ideas that I had never heard and, most importantly, I was led to begin creating art. I’m suggesting that the embracing of a green lifestyle will extend into many other parts of our lives, opening up many other doors in our minds, consequently, our entire experiences. Suddenly, we’ll be dabbling in things society didn’t necessarily set aside for us, but we enjoy nonetheless.
What do you want your art to say to people?
I would like for people to see my art and read my words and realize the power of choice that we have as human beings. We all have the choice to eat a certain way, to speak a certain way, to believe a certain way, to behave a certain way, ultimately, to live a certain way. My latest art series, is called THE ART OF ALLOWING. It can be seen on my website.
I would like for people to find encouragement to build a relationship with their creator; to experience my work and then begin a deeper conversation with their Lord. I want people to feel right for wanting a spiritual relationship with their God.
Most of all, I’d like my work to make people feel better than they did before they experienced my work.
Tell us more about The Art of Esteem program.
Jeenie Labato, founder of DrawChange, invited me to join forces with her to help run the program in Ethiopia. DrawChange brings art to the children on the poorest places on earth. My program, ‘The Art of Esteem,’ builds linguistic, visualization and art techniques to build the esteem of children in the poorest places on earth. The merger of our projects was destined.
We will be going to an orphanage in Ethiopia in October. We invite volunteers to join us for nine days and I stay and manage the program for 6 months. I encourage everyone to check out the site for more information on the programs and how to become involved or sponsor a child or a program.
Check out some more of Amber’s work and The Art Of Esteem program by following her on Instagram at @amberjasmynn, Facebook and her main site ArtFromAmber.
PHOTO CREDIT: Amber Williams
