Amber, for starters, tell us something about your art. When did you first begin drawing/painting? Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?

I do not think there was ever a time I didn’t create. But I suppose I only really decided to pursue it seriously in my late teens. I always knew I wanted to be an artist but was hesitant for many years to fully pursue a creative career, especially growing up in recession times.

What are the main topics you cover and where do you find your inspiration?

Mythology is a huge inspiration due to growing up not being able to find concrete or fully intact stories due to the colonization and destruction of many manuscripts over the years. Cultural ties to stories reflects more than you would imagine about the culture as a whole and I find that important to record. The idea of the 4th industrial woman reflected in the past with the old legends and deities is of huge interest as well to me.

Besides art, you work on design and concept art for creative apps and indie games, how do you manage all this?

It can be quite a task to juggle your personal creativity, with professional creativity. I think one thing I have committed to is to never agree to a project or game that I found uninspiring personally. I think the death of creativity is boredom, so if the game doesn’t have a unique spark to set it apart, I decline.

From your work it is easy to guess that you are Irish, what are your thoughts on being a young artist in Ireland today?

I think it’s rewarding and challenging at the same time. I think Ireland is quite traditional with its outlook on art. There is a real creative divide between the older generation and the younger generation of artists at the moment, with the use of modern mediums struggling to be recognized as a form of fine art.

What are you currently working on that is exciting you? Did you find your Belgrade Inspiration?

I did indeed! The city here is really beautiful and I enjoyed visiting the churches and older buildings. The views of the old part of Belgrade from the river at night are spectacular.

If you compare Dublin and Belgrade, what are the main similarities and differences?

Belgrade is a very friendly city, much like Dublin. I was really blown away by the helpfulness of the people here and it really made visiting feel like home. I think the main difference between Dublin and Belgrade is the size of the cities and the general feel of Belgrade. It’s hard to describe but you can feel the historical feel in Belgrade and how it differs from Ireland.

What would be your advice to the next residents of Belgrade Art Studio?

My advice would be to settle in and when your ready, go out and walk the city for a few days. There really is a lot to set off inspiration. There are museums to visit but if you are looking for something more unorthodox, even sitting by the water in the evening is really a great experience to be alone with your thoughts.

What are your goals and expectations regarding your future projects?

My goals are to continuously grow and to allow myself more time for personal creativity. I have a few pieces and ideas I thought of here, that I would like to continue.