Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Welch.
Amber, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up on the outskirts of three National Parks in California (Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite) and from a young age, I found the lines and textures found in nature, specifically in stones inspiring. I struggled with crippling depression as a young child, and found that drawing lines and shapes was an effective coping skill. Because my mother was such a great artist, I never really saw myself as a “real” artist. When I was 22, the school district lost funding for the arts, so my husband and I went into the schools and started “clubs” for physical activities and the arts through our local church. Using the arts to affect the community around me was where I found the greatest sense of myself. I have been painting for 13 years and just recently opened a gallery and gift shop, Fathom House Art, in Northgate mall. We offer handmade gifts and fine art made by local artists and artisans, and we donate 30% of our proceeds to fund free trauma (and sensory) sensitive birthday parties to foster kids.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Most recently, I’ve been transported into the world of fluid arts. I work in Acrylic Pours, resin, alcohol ink, faux geodes, etc. I tend to gravitate toward ocean blues, or girlie hues. I love the interplay between the natural textures and lines of stone and bark, mixed with bold colors and glitter. I have been working on pieces that incorporate the fluid arts in an unconventional way, i.e. acrylic pours on mannequins, or using them as textiles or hair in paintings. I set aside at least one day a week to experiment with something new, whether it is a new product, technique, or crazy idea. I fail, like, a lot, but then I have unexpected wins that delight my soul and bring me joy.
My primary message is, honestly, selfish. I had a childhood full of heartache and loss. I grew up in the foster care system, and despite having some incredible foster parents, I never really felt like any feeling was a “pure” feeling. Even happiness was sadness, because it wasn’t shared with the person I wanted most to be with: my mom. Nothing was simple. every feeling and experience was complex and weighty. When I paint, I want to give honor to the beauty and brutality that is life. I prefer fluid arts because control is limited, and it releases this sense of calm inside my generally overactive, anxious brain.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Comparison is caustic! I found myself crippled by how my aesthetic wasn’t as refined as someone next to me, I always felt all over the place. I interpreted my wildness as weakness, rather than finding freedom and liberty in it. I wish I had more confidence in myself early on. But more-so, I wish my insecurities hadn’t kept me from community with other artists. This past year I was invited to be a part of a group of creatives that meet every week to discuss challenges and progress, etc. This group has been a remarkable strength to me. I love sitting around a table with such an eclectic, diverse group of open-minded and warm-hearted creatives to keep me moving forward.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have a shop in Northgate Mall, Fathom House Art. We showcase local artists and artisans, teach acrylic pours workshops, and host events each month. I also have a website www.FathomHouseArt.com and I am actively in shows throughout Cincinnati. My hope is to eventually travel to other cities to show my work. I’d like to spread the message of using the arts to bring joy and light to the surrounding community.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fathom House Art
9501 Colerain Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45231 - Website: www.fathomhouseart.com
- Phone: 5132399051
- Email: amber@fathomhouseart.com
- Instagram: @Fathom.House.Art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fathomhouseart/
Image Credit:
LOREN DANAE PHOTOGRAPHY
& LAURA HICKS PHOTOGRAPHY
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