Lili Amanda Podcast Keep creating

In this podcast, Lili Amanda discusses her creative journey, focusing on her recent work and the inspiration behind her new series titled 'Blossoming.' She explains the transition from her chiaroscuro, black and white portraits to using vibrant, natural light and incorporating the thematic element of flowers into her artwork. Drawing inspiration from a friend's illustrated image and her love for flowers, Lili Amanda endeavours to merge the abstract and mysterious elements of illustration with the realism of photography to create something new. She explores the use of watercolour to create flower paintings, which she then combines with her self-portraits in Photoshop, creating a series of images that evoke joy, romance, and the essence of spring. The series, set to launch on 18th April 2024, aims to share these emotions with others. Lili Amanda also touches upon her approach to art, the importance of creative growth without external validation, and how sharing artwork can build connections and foster engagement.



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When to Share or Show Your Work
This Show Notes written pretty well by AI.
In this episode, host Lili Amanda discusses the critical topic of when to share creative work, emphasizing the vulnerability of passion and the importance of timing in feedback reception. Sharing her journey and struggles as a photographer, Lili provides insights into dealing with critiques, personal growth, and learning through online courses without external validation. She details her transition from treating photography as a hobby to embracing it as a profession, highlighting how it fueled her passion rather than deterring it. Lili shares her experiences with learning new skills, such as dressmaking and prop creation, to enhance her photography. She also stresses the importance of self-improvement and setting personal challenges over seeking approval from others. Additionally, Lili introduces her new fine art series, 'Blossoming,' and offers advice on creative expression, dealing with criticism, and the value of artist statements. The episode concludes with Lili encouraging creatives to share their work when ready and to discern useful feedback from the rest.



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First, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to vote for my new fine art series, "Blossoming." 🌸And I have sent thank you notes by email🥰. Because your participation in this creative journey makes everything much more fun and joyful!
The poll result is out
I was surprised to see that the voting result is EXACTLY like what I would have picked😮. (See the photo below)
One evening, I sat down to look at all the sample prints and move them around on the table. I started to see more clearly how the series came out, and I had shortlisted the top 6 before I went on to see the result of the poll. The result from the poll was that the top 4 images had clear answers; the 5th and 6th were tied. I couldn’t decide which one I had to leave out; I truly love them all!🥹 So I decided this series would be a total of 6. That was tough😅, and thanks for the great help; you have no idea how much it helped me!! And in so many ways!🤩
And I receive wonderful comments. Here are some:
❤️ Dieter wrote, "They have a spiritual and ethereal feel. It's something like that I'd like to have in a meditation space.”
❤️ While Dorianne found the image intriguing, Sonia wrote, “Very artistic and compliments your title ‘blossoming’ as well.”
❤️ Josette wrote, “Love them all. It's difficult to choose.”
❤️ Crystal wrote, “They are all beautiful! I chose these for the positions, coloring and flower placement.”
❤️ Stephen wrote, "Very well achieved and done in style.”
❤️ Sarah wrote, ”Very sculptural, beautiful images of the female form.”
❤️ Tessa wrote, ”So original. Are these photos or paintings?"
Thank you so much!!!🥹🥹
A quick answer to Tessa’s question: "Both." I will elaborate on this in the coming newsletter.
A few things to share from the poll for “Blossoming”:
* People do help when you ask. I wasn’t sure if anyone would take time to vote, but it turned out that yes, people do. Asking for help when needed is important, but also be aware of “when” to ask. "When,” meaning how you feel about your work. I will elaborate on this in the next podcast episode. (It’s about when to share your work.)
* Make it easy for people to help you. I was testing different apps and plugins to find out which is the easiest way for people to vote. The first 2 versions I tried weren’t straight forward or easy to see the images or vote for. I asked my partner to vote, and I saw him struggle at some point, so I changed the setup. Because if it’s complicated, people will just leave.
* The thought of “what if nobody votes?” was creeping upon me. It’s a typical artist's (writers, musicians, etc.) complex symptom that we feel we are not good enough or worthy to share our work or worthy to be noticed. On the other hand, there are times when our ego says, My work is good, why is no one noticing? ( It must be the algorithm!) The easy way out and not to feel bad about getting zero people to vote is to ask friends to vote. Luckily, my partner and friends indulged and supported me in all kinds of endeavours, and I’m so grateful.
Blossoming Launch and a Free Print Give Away
As I mentioned before in my previous newsletter, the “Blossoming” series will launch on the 18th April on my website for sale. It’s just two weeks away!! I’m super excited about this fine art print launch, and I’m giving away a free print to one of my newsletter subscribers! If you receive this newsletter by email, then you’re already in and have the chance to win a free print of your choice in A3 size from the “Blossoming” series.
If you haven’t subscribed, enter your email below to have the chance to win a free print.
There are only a limited number of prints available for the “Blossoming” series. There will be a one time offer of 50% off for the launch.

I’ll be sharing the stories behind creating this series in the coming email.

Lili Amanda
Keep creating!


Get ful

Have you ever felt like your mind is full of creative ideas, and one is more exciting than another? I’m going to share with you some ideas on how to turn inspiration into action and get to the finishing line.
When I was 20, I had a mentor who taught me the importance of “finishing what you started.” She held me accountable and made me understand that discipline is the key to achieving goals. 
Now I have many image projects, and most of the time I work alone. Because discipline becomes a habit, I could create a body of work over the years. But I still struggle a lot when it comes to finishing a project.
I was having ideas and starting new projects often, which left me less time to finish each and every one. Taking on new projects always brings new experiences and excitement. I found myself still working on the project I started 4 years ago. While working on one project, I already had ideas for the next project. It sounds crazy, but it’s how a creative mind works. You often get new ideas when you are working on a project. 
I don’t always have a lot of ideas; when I stop working on image projects and work on other things, the inspiration for images seems to dry out. Whenever you feel stuck or lack inspiration for your art, simply pick up something to work on, even if you have no idea what you are doing. The inspiration will come when you’re working on your art.
There is no real timeline for how long an art project should be finished. When a project is finished in a short time, it doesn’t mean it’s bad art. When a project takes years, it doesn’t mean it’s better art.  
For example, The Beatles'' ‘Yesterday’ took less than a minute to write. Taylor Swift's ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ took 25 minutes, and Beyoncé's ‘Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)’ took 20 minutes.
Leonardo Da Vinci spent 4 years to complete the Mona Lisa (some say 16 years), and The Last Judgement took Michelangelo 4 years to complete.
The upside of a project that takes years is that the artist can really take time to work through the details. The downside is the risk of losing the “original spirit” to carry on, or that the project isn’t relevant to the direction the artist wants to go. 
I shot and edited a conceptual photo within 24 hours, which included getting and making props, That was a real stretch. Because of a competition deadline, I was working nonstop. I was at my parents’ house, and the space and gear were very limited. But the idea was good. The photo turned out to be a winner and was exhibited in a gallery in London. 
Have you ever felt it's difficult not to get excited about a new idea and you can't wait to start it? Inspirations are like fairy dust and blessings; artists must catch them before they fall. I would frantically write or sketch whenever the ideas came to me.
Curating ideas is an important task, as we all have a limited amount of time and energy. 
Suggestions for turning inspiration into action and getting to the finish line:
* Go through the ideas you have written or sketched; find the one that makes you feel most excited and takes the least amount of time. Go ahead and execute it and ship it to the world. You'll never know what kind of impact it could have until you put it out there.
* Join a competition or an exhibition call.
* If you don’t like competitions or exhibition selections, set a deadline for yourself. 
* Decide on a launch date for your new work and announce it to the world. (My new fine art series “Blossoming” will be launched on 18th April 2024.)
Excited to see the results of my hard work in 'Blossoming'? Head over to the page now to cast your vote for the top 5 images and be a part of this creative journey. Join me in celebrating the beauty of nature and creativity with my latest series.
P.S.The last day to cast your vote is tomorrow, April 1st April at 10 p.m. CET.


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In this episode, Lili Amanda takes us behind the scenes of a unique photography competition judged in person by the Malta Photographic Society. She provides an in-depth look at the importance of critique in photography and offers valuable advice on how to handle constructive criticism. Lili Amanda emphasizes the significance of print photography and shares...

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In this episode, the Lili Amanda reads a letter penned to a talented artist friend who grappled with self-doubt and uncertainty about her creative path. The letter delves into the inner struggles experienced by artists, emphasizing the dual nature of the inner voice as both a driving force and a hindrance. It explores the importance...

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