Growing up in central Louisiana, Amanda Roe was always intrigued with people and their behaviors. Thankfully, she had a grandmother with crafting skills and a true talent for art. Roe considers herself a full-time artist, but she also teaches and inspires other upcoming artists with her studio art classes at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches and fine art classes through Bossier Parish Community College at NSU.

Q&A with: Amanda Roe

Q: Can you describe your art? Roe: My paintings can be a bit macabre with a splash of cuteness both because of the subject matter and choice of color. My latest self portraits deal with development of selfies within our modern culture with my own expressionist blend of textures and social media symbols. I believe they reflect both my inner image of myself and the Internet realm.

Q: What influences or inspires you? Roe: Bones, candy, skulls and cake. Life is trying to find the balance of both positive and negative, and that is the same within my work whether it is my paintings or installation pieces.

Q: How did you get into art? Roe: I grew up in an isolated area in central Louisiana with a healthy dose of crafting with my grandmother. When I started off in college, I was a psychology major because I wanted to study people and their behaviors, but I found it terribly boring and too academic. I found art classes to be more hands-on and exactly what I was looking for while also trying to understand the human condition especially how people react to artwork and life.

Q: What is your greatest accomplishment? Roe: In the hopes of not sounding too cheesy, but it would be that I [am] the first in my family to graduate from college. I now teach and make art full-time, which keeps me busy and fulfilled in my life.

Q: How can people find your work? Roe: I show my work at local events like the Texas Avenue Makers Fair and other art fairs in the northern to central Louisiana area, but anyone can find me online by searching for mollydolly666, where I have several websites, and through social media. However, in January, I will have an art show at artspace in Shreveport with my newest ‘selfies’ paintings.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most in the future? Roe: As much as I have come to love Natchitoches and Shreveport, I hope to travel around to be influenced by other areas and cultures either through art residencies or backpacking. I also hope to have my own gallery one day so I can also showcase other artists’ work.

Q: What is your overall message that you are trying to communicate with your artwork? Roe: My work deals with our place in society, sometimes that is negative reactions to something horrific and [we have to] sugar-coat events. My recent work is a more dealing with the bombardment of society on everyday life. I’ve always dealt with reflecting society but now it is through self portraits. I want people to see raw emotion with my paint application but also something a bit deeper than just color theory. Depth through texture and layers just like life.

Q: Your artwork is very unique to the area. Is Shreveport a hard place to show your work? Roe: In general, Shreveport has been very open to my work. People in other cities have said I need therapy or they look depressing. But I feel that Shreveport being a larger city, I see more people which counterbalances those who do not understand my work. It can be macabre to some, but others see it also something fresh and new. Different is good.

Q: At some Shreveport Regional Arts Council events you have been seen doing live paintings, is it hard to work while people are watching you? Roe: I enjoy live painting and showing people the process. I find it easy to work in front of people. Years ago I would have said the opposite, but when people are excited by the work, it helps. I especially love when people are inspired by seeing me in action.

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