SaffodilSky Interviews Amanda Severn
An art-lover discusses her interests and writing motivations
Thank you, Amanda for agreeing to be interviewed for HubPages. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm a working mother of two living in the South-East of England. I paint and write in my spare time and exhibit my art at local exhibitions. I'm from a large, close-knit family and consider myself very lucky to have so many relatives who also happen to be friends!
When did you start writing and what inspired you to do so?
I started writing at a very early age. I remember my Mum sending some of my poems off to a publisher when I was 7 or 8. They didn't get published, but I obviously had the writing bug even then. As an adult, I've written magazine articles, short stories, and more poetry. I even had a spell as a copy-editor for an aviation shopping catalogue. I love words almost as much as I love art, and I tend to write best in response to subjects I care about.
The topics that you cover in your Hubs are quite varied. They include art, poetry, politics, travel and alternative energy. What would you say was your favorite topic, and can you tell us why?
My favorite topic is art. I love seeing beautiful paintings and sculptures, and I can look at art for hours without getting bored. I'm from a long line of artists, and I guess this love of art could even be some kind of genetic programming. Perhaps one day they'll identify an artist's gene, and if they do I'm sure I'll have it!
How did you find out about HubPages and what do you find most rewarding about writing Hubs?
I first came across HubPages while reading one of Bard of Ely's Hubs on plants. I joined the same day, and quickly got hooked. Before writing on HubPages I had often sent off articles and stories to magazines, with varying success, but the great thing about HubPages is that you can get your work published almost instantly, and people can be reading your words very quickly indeed. I supposed it's a bit self-congratulatory, but I like the idea that somewhere out in cyber space, I have an audience I can share my thoughts with. I also like to be able to help people, and I think one or two of my Hubs are genuinely useful.
You have written a fascinating article about Original Thought - inspiration and influence. Who do you regard as your favorite original thinkers?
I guess the obvious answer is Leonardo da Vinci, as he was certainly a man ahead of his time, but from an artistic point of view, I just love the work of Marcus Cornelius Escher, and also the witty inventiveness of Heath Robinson!
The Pre Raphaelites are greatly featured in your writing - what draws you to this particular art movement?
My first brush with the Pre-Raphaelites was at the age of 12 when my school arranged a trip to the London art galleries. I remember wandering around with the rest of my class, chattering away, and probably not taking too much in, when suddenly I turned a corner, and came face to face with John Waterhouse's 'Lady of Shallot'. It was love at first sight. I was rooted to the spot, and couldn't move until the teacher sent someone back to find me. The rest of the class were in the next room, and I hadn't even noticed. Since then , I have seen many pre-Raphaelite paintings, but that picture is still my all time favorite. I'm totally in awe of the skill and dedication of the Pre-Raphaelite artists. You just can't produce work of that quality without giving 100% to your art, and I don't think many artists working today have that kind of ethos.
You have written a number of travel Hubs. Are there any places that you have yet to visit that are on your list? What is it about traveling that you enjoy the most?
I love to travel, especially to places with good art galleries! There is something very special about setting out on a journey to somewhere new. I still get a buzz when we set off on a jaunt, even if it's only just for the day. Recently I visited Venice for a week with my husband and children, and we had so much fun zipping around Venice lagoon on the waterbuses, checking out all the tiny, far-flung islands. It's good to experience different sights and sounds. It helps keep your mind active, and gives you fresh ideas and inspiration
You write with passion about alternative energy and Transition Towns. Do you feel that governments have now taken on board the problems of Climate Change? Are you optimistic about the future of the planet?
Strangely enough, I'm very optimistic about the planet's future. I think we have a tricky few years ahead where there will be a great deal of unrest world-wide, but ultimately, I think humanity will turn a corner and learn to live in peace and harmony. At the moment we are the consummate consumers munching our way through the Earth's resources, but Mother Nature has a few tricks up her sleeve, and an up-tick in planetary instability and extreme weather patterns will soon serve to remind us all who's really boss! There's an awful lot of good stuff going on in the world, but good news isn't always what the press wants to publish. The internet is great for getting the message out there, however, and sooner or later people will wake up and start to treasure and conserve our world rather than continuing to plunder it.
Writing demands a great deal of self discipline. How do you organize your time?
I get so little time to write these days that when I have a spare hour or two, I need to get very focused. I always prepare my art Hubs by researching the picture first, then adding the text. I tend to write in a stream of consciousness way. Nothing is planned. I just get everything out of my head and onto paper, then edit and re-edit until I'm completely happy.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I'd like to thank HubPages for the great opportunity it gives to writers like me. HubPages is a great platform to cut your writer's teeth on.
I'd also like to thank you, DaffodilSky for choosing me for this interview. I'm very honored!
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