Member Since: July 2016
My name is Amanda Barnes. I grew up in Auburn, California, graduated from Placer High school, and attended California College of the Arts in San Francisco for about two years. My major was painting and drawing, and I always had high hopes for myself.
On July 12, 2011, at the age of 22, my life was changed dramatically when I was run over by an SUV going 40mph as I was crossing the street in a crosswalk. As a result of the hit and run, I suffered severe internal injuries as well as paralysis from the waist down.
Although my whole life changed in that one instant, my goals and aspirations to spend my life creating art and inspiring people have only been intensified as a result of the accident, and I remain convinced that I will someday walk again.
I believe that art can change the way people view life. When you really see art, you are able to transcend reality, yet make sense of reality at the same time, and it can relate to everyday life in ways that words can't even describe. There are many issues that I like to portray in my art, whether it be my mood, how I feel, or an actual political or social controversy. I like to use color in my work to make it "pop," making it pleasing to the eye; I mix it up by changing my styles and medium. I can create realistic images from what is seen, and abstract forms of visual art, that usually represents an emotional feeling. Sometimes I like to mix abstract and realism together on one canvas, which represents my take on the world, making it originally my own.
I started out drawing when I was very young, and I remained committed to developing my skills throughout my life. I took an interest in art classes all throughout my schooling from elementary school, to middle school, to high school, and then at California College of the Arts. The summer of the accident, I was enrolled in summer school preparing to enter into the Expressions College of Digital Art to earn a degree in graphic design or animation, and at that time in my life, I aspired to land a job at Pixar or Dreamworks, because of how inspired I was when I saw the movie "Avatar".
My life was redirected to my recovery and rehabilitation during that time, so I guess you could say that I took a little break from my dreams and aspirations.
My educational goals have changed for the time being, after realizing that I was passionate about another subject in life, that I could not ignore. I am currently a political science major and I'm on my way to completing my Bachelors Degree. But I have not forgotten about my love of art, and my dream of Pixar. And I am still eager to reach my goals and follow my dreams of studying graphic design and animation as soon as I get the chance. I have too many dreams and aspirations; but who says I cannot do it all?
I would like to thank two teachers/mentors along the way who taught me very important lessons and everything I needed to know in order to get started in my art career. My first mentor's name is Don Scott, and my second mentor is Larry Alberts. Thank you so much, without you two I would not have come this far.
Also, I am beginning to think that Christopher Reeve, actor, director, screenwriter and author, may be as much as an inspiration to me reaching my goals in my new life after the accident. After becoming a quadriplegic as a result of an accident, he continued to live his life to its fullest and lobbied for people with spinal cord injuries.
I hope that I can become this type of hero.
*All proceeds from my artwork sales or donations will go directly to fund my physical therapy at SCI-FIT, an intensive exercise-based therapy facility with personal trainers who work directly with individuals who suffer from Spinal Cord Injuries.SCI-FIT works towards achieving greater health, fitness, strength, function, and mobility for their clients. The ultimate goal is to see clients up and walking again!*