Zukuri Club Q&A: Amanda from Chasing Letters
Everyone needs a creative outlet, Amanda found hers with Chasing Letters. A hand lettering project she started when she first moved abroad and that allows her to inspire herself and others through motivational quotes. Originally from North Carolina, she is now living in Granada where she’s taking a Master’s in Public Health.
Maybe we can start by asking you to introduce yourself, your passions and what you do?
Of course! I’m originally from North Carolina in the U.S. but am going on my third year of living in Spain. Last month, I moved to Granada to start a Master’s in Public Health. When I’m not happily geeking out about school or podcasts, hand lettering is my creative outlet. You can find me drawing barefoot, on the floor, with music on, candles going, and a foamy beverage nearby. I also love being outside exploring this new city’s hikes and hidden restaurants and practicing Spanish. My former co-workers voted me “most likely to talk to a stranger,” so no one should feel shy to reach out!
Did you ever study art or drawing letters was something that you started doing naturally? If so how did that happen?
I’ve never studied art, but from a young age, I simultaneously started keeping a quote book and doodling words. These two loves eventually converged, and I found that drawing already-beautiful phrases made them more beautiful. They brought me more confidence and optimism, and they spread good thoughts.
When did you start turning your art into a business, how and when did Chasing Letters begin?
I began creating as much as possible and sticking up my lettering all around my life. Bathroom mirror? Yep. Cell phone background? Yep. Planner? Yep. I wanted it to be easy to choose positivity. Soon, friends started requesting custom pieces, and I realized there was real potential to bring powerful messages to life.
It wasn’t until I moved abroad in 2015 that I started thinking seriously about Chasing Letters as a business. It took me some time to get used to living in a new culture, and hanging up personalized artwork made my flat feel like home. I again saw the impact of making inspiring phrases more present and thought that I might not be the only one who needed this.
Ideas turned into action during my first summer in Spain. At the time, I was working as an au pair for a family that enforced a nightly curfew. I half-jokingly say that “they gave me a curfew, and I started a business.” With lots of free time in the evenings, I taught myself website design and marketing basics. I later developed more hand-lettered pieces and contacted printing companies to lay out the details. A few kind souls were crucial in giving me their encouragement and expertise, including my mom back in the U.S., who handled all stateside logistics. Backed by this support, Chasing Letters launched this past May! It’s been such a fun and important journey, and I’m so thankful for those who have shared in it.
Do you have any favourite letter, phrase or quote to draw?
I wish I could say it’s that easy to narrow down! There are tons. I do love the process of watching a phrase transform as I play around with different letter styles, sizes, and positioning. If and when I find that perfect phrase, I’ll probably have to get a tattoo of it.
How important is it to you to have some time during the day to do something creative?
I find myself constantly doing something creative. Much of my life must be very organized and detail-orientated, so being creative keeps me sane. It’s a form of relaxation. It’s a place for me to let loose and freely express myself.
Do you ever feel uninspired? What do you do when that happens? Any tips for all of us that sometimes feel too lazy to create?
Yes, yes, and yes. I think this is an inevitable part of the creative experience. So, for anyone reading this, you’re not alone!
I’ve made a habit of writing down powerful quotations or screenshotting unique typography I want to try. I even have an album on my phone for these pictures. I find loads of encouraging messages graffitied on buildings or hostel walls when I travel. This is actually where the name, Chasing Letters, comes from! Doing this when I’m feeling inspired has created a safety net of material to fall back on when I’m feeling less inspired or lazy.
If the quotations themselves don’t give me the pep talk I need, then I also try to figure out if there’s something deeper behind my feelings. Perhaps self-doubt or fear of failure. Art is not inherently good or bad--it’s subjective--so sharing your personal work with others innately opens you up to criticism. Getting to the root of why I’m feeling blocked has helped me get over that barrier.
More than anything, connecting with a community of other creatives inspires me. I love learning about other people’s passions and projects and sharing in their energy.
Besides your love for letters and Type, what other creative things do you enjoy doing?
I am an avid traveller and always have my camera out to capture that perfectly unexpected shot. I’ve also journaled for the past decade. The pile of journals is now massive, haha. I write nightly, even if it’s just one sentence of a moment I want to remember from that day. It helps me be reflective and grateful.
Where can we find your work?
All my hand-designed prints are available on my website, www.chasingletters.com . I also update my Instagram (chasing_letters) and Facebook (Chasing Letters) with whatever I’m sketching and pondering, probably scattered with some sassy sarcasm.
Amanda, we have one last question, will we ever have the pleasure of having you at one of our workshops?
Oh man, I’d love to one day! Your workshops are inspiring, and it would be an honor to learn from the strong community of women and artists growing through them. That being said, if anyone comes to Granada, let’s connect. We can grab a (foamy) coffee, and I will show you around!
Thank you to Amanda for taking her time to answer our questions and for inspiring us to look at quotes and letters in a different way. We hope to share more of these interviews soon!