Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 4. Amy Radcliffe.
Amy Radcliffe’s creative pursuits aren’t confined by media. The Tempe-based artist has gained an Instagram following for her quick captures of daily life (her handle’s @amyrad), while her colorful portrait paintings have her busy with commissioned work. She takes to traditional canvas, letterpress paper, and pixels, constantly envisioning new projects.
“I’m always working on random pieces, mostly commissioned paintings, which are a blast, but the next big thing on the horizon involves a tattoo machine I’m currently saving up to purchase,” the 25-year-old says. “I’m right in the middle of a letterpress piece that I’m particularly stoked about, hand-setting type for an old letter written by John Steinbeck.”
See also: Phoenix Fashion Designer Cody Nathaniel Johnson: 100 Creatives
Her varied pursuits make Radcliffe all the more compelling. And they go beyond her artistic output.
“It’s different daily,” the artist says of her routine. “But it’s usually some combo of serving at Crepe Bar, reading at Cartel, drawing stuff, writing stuff, rearranging furniture, wandering Maple Ash, then heading to work at A New Leaf, where I work with kids with behavioral health issues and eat Takis.”
I came to Phoenix with my big family, a home schooled education, and braces.
I make art because I was made to! I totally believe humans were created to create. If I don’t, I’m denying my birthright. The great thing about creativity being in my nature is that it’s going to come out, one way or another. I make art because I want to steward my innate creativity well, and do it on purpose.
I’m most productive when it’s 3 a.m. and my deadline is in a few hours. I absolutely work best under pressure. Aside from that, I’m productive when I’m stoked about what I’m making. There are plenty of things I make because I was commissioned and am being paid. That’s just a part of the trade. But when I get to make something that excites me, I surprise myself with how rapidly I can produce work that I’m proud of.
My inspiration wall is full of random objects. I’ll just literally look at my wall right now and list off what I see: a hawk feather I found in the woods, three old photographs (two of family, one of strangers), a paint-by-numbers transparency of a horse, unpainted, a Tempe High School football game ticket stub, a letter pressed print of my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song, a bathroom sign that says “Gentlemen,” and a photograph of my mother when she was my age.
I’ve learned most from surrounding myself with humans that are different from me, that are creating in ways that I am not. People that are laboring for creativity in engineering, pastoring their church, making crêpes, parenting their kids. We rarely grow when we’re surrounded by what’s familiar and comfortable. I learn most about the world through people’s stories that are different from my own. That means I have to stretch myself and push my comfort zones, meet new people and ask them questions. This isn’t natural or easy, it has to be a choice, because I will naturally gravitate toward what’s comfortable and safe. But it’s way important.
Good work should always be intentional. I think the good stuff comes most often when it’s created on purpose. What that means to me is putting in the work. Taking time. Caring about every little decision you’re making in the process of creation. Sure, cool stuff happens on accident all the time, but I think excellence in any craft always comes from a place of intentionality.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more commitment. I’m blown away by how many creatives there are in my community. There are so many talented folks doing brilliant things. Yet there will always be the “it” cities, where everyone knows that creativity thrives. Where every 20-something seems to be working towards getting to. Don’t get me wrong, places like the PSW, San Fran, and Brooklyn are just oozing with creative culture and I love that, but does creative culture have to be limited to just these places? I truly hope not. I love my city, and I want to see it flourish. With as transient as this area is, everyone from snow birds to college students, we need creative people that will do creative things for the benefit of THIS city. Who will commit to seeing this place grow. So make yourselves at home, people.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
37. Monica Robles
36. Josh Kirby
35. Jesse Perry
34. Yai Cecream
33. Nathan Blackwell
32. Carley Conder
31. Ben Willis
30. Nicole Michieli
29. Brian Cresson
28. Tyson Krank
27. Mikey Estes
26. Anwar Newton
25. Sarah “Saza” Dimmick
24. Tato Caraveo
23. Jorge Torres
22. Laura Spalding Best
21. Shawnte Orion
20. Mike Olbinski
19. Christina You-Sun Park
18. Jon Arvizu
17. Anya Melkozernova
16. J.B. Snyder
15. Damon Dering
14. Rebekah Cancino
13. Liz Warren
12. Timothy Brennan
11. Mimi Jardine
10. Rosalind Shipley
9. Nic Wiesinger
8. Kendra Sollars
7. Dan Hull
6. Elizabeth Maria Naranjo
5. Cody Nathaniel Johnson
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