At 25 years old, Amanda Dolan is conquering the world, well the art world at least. As I shuffled through the crowded NYC bar and finally reached the back of the room, there she sat sipping champagne and chatting with an old friend. LWALA, (Living With A Life-long Ambition), an organization dedicated to bettering living conditions around the globe, sponsored Saturday night’s event by teaming up with New York based artists to auction pieces to help the organization’s efforts. Amanda Dolan was one of many artists participating at Saturday’s event.

Amanda Dolan was born an art aficionada and from a young age she knew she was destined to paint. After graduating from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University, Dolan was ready to kick start her career in the city she had always loved; New York. Now four years later, Dolan is thriving as a multi-media artist and ready to begin her next set of paintings.

I had the chance to attend the LWALA event on Saturday night and speak to Dolan about her past, present and what’s to come in her future. After a cheerful greeting and some small talk, Dolan was ready to talk art with me, here’s a little taste of our conversation.

JA: The art world is very difficult to break into, what made you want to pursue it?
AD: Art has always been in my bones. It was always a constant in my life, and making and creating came natural to me. I have never been too concerned about the difficulties of "breaking in." I simply believe that if I'm true and the work is good, it will speak for itself. 

JA: Did you always know you would become an artist?
AD: Yes, Ever since I was a little girl I was always drawn to color. I wanted to wear vibrant colored clothes and surround myself with texture and light. Once I was presented with my first set of paintbrushes I was ready to put the color inside of me onto the page. 

JA: You’re originally from Greenwich, Conn. What was it like to make the decisive move to NYC?
AD: Growing up in Greenwich, I was never far from the City. I was always coming in to go shopping, have lunch and look around. It became my favorite place to turn to for ideas. So after I graduated college in Boston, it seemed only natural to gravitate towards the place that made me the happiest! When I moved to New York City, the scenery changed- but I didn't. It felt natural.

JA: Living in a mecca of art and fashion (New York City), what do you draw inspiration from most?
AD: The culture is so vibrant here. Everything is so alive and neon-like. I flourish when I am surrounded by inspiration and chaos-and that’s what NYC is! Its art, its love, its joy, its sorrow, its everything! I find inspiration in day-to-day things. Stuff like Rock ‘n’ Roll, true love, going to see a local band play, how the sidewalk glitters in the sun when I get my morning coffee; those type of things. From hot pink fingernails to a new pair of stilettos my influences vary day to day.

JA: Your work is reminiscent of the Pop Art movement, how would you best describe your work?
AD: Eclectic and multi layered. It’s poppy and serious at the same time. I like to challenge dualities in my work.  

JA: Who do you admire most and aspire to be like artistically?
AD: If I could melt all three of these artists together- I would make the utmost perfect artist! They are who I admire the most-
1.    Jean-Michel Basquiat - The way he used text in his paintings was so ground breaking and influential to me. He really made statements through his work. Not everybody liked and understood him but that was so intriguing about him. He really was one of the firsts in his genre. He truly did not care what people thought, he just let the art come out of him, and I relate to that.           
2.    Courtney Love - Luckily, I’ve had the chance to meet her briefly; but I’d love to sit down with her and have a cup of tea and talk woman to woman. She has been my idol since I was eleven years old. She is such a powerful force. She taught me how to stand up and challenge the status quo, to never, ever, be afraid of challenges, and to empower myself and get what I want. I think she gets a bad rap because she isn't perfect. She’s fallen, made mistakes, taken wrong turns and people hate her and judge her for that. I, on the other hand, adore her for that. Her imperfections make her human and palpable. She is real and relatable.
3.    Sylvia Plath - Her poetry is art in raw form. The way she strung words together with such razor sharp intensity is mind blowing. She was the epitome of darkness, but feminine and lovely at the same time. I really appreciate the honesty inside.

JA: Your mantra is “Don’t take it all too seriously.” How does this incorporate in your art?
AD: When you're in art school you're surrounded by this aura of uptightness. Some people think artists have to be these, dark, serious creatures all the time, and that’s not me. I love to celebrate visuals, make the world pretty, inspire. Sure, sometimes my subject matter can be a bit melancholy, but I find not being so serious really helps break one’s chains and free them. You'll get so much more if you let your inner demons go. The more relaxed you are, the more your art will shine through. 

JA: Your latest show, “Call Me Crazy” featured a lot of influential women who lived very tragic lives. Is there a reason why you chose to highlight their lives?
AD: All fifteen portraits are of women I find interesting, inspiring and powerful. They all have challenged the status quo and because of that were deemed “crazy”- and sometimes for the right reasons. I want the viewer to try to see the women portrayed as something other then just their “craziness.” Each one of us is multi-layered and through this series I try to peal back every petal of personality. 

JA: With two successful shows under your belt at such a young age, what’s to expect of you next?
AD: I want to keep exploring the artistic abyss inside myself. I want to keep challenging myself in new ways. I know that if I keep pulling out emotions and transferring them onto canvas, more of the world will unfold in front of me!  

JA: Do you have advice for college students looking to become artists?
AD: Relax. Have fun, and always trust your gut. Never doubt yourself; take those leaps you might be afraid to take. Remember that the biggest challenges in your day-to-day life usually end up being your most creative outlets. Be inspired by it all!