Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Fuller.
Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my career in the film industry. Out of college, I worked at a mundane office job, faxing loan documents until I was given an opportunity to interview for a photo retoucher at a film lab in Hollywood. I have always had a love for art, print and design. My experience leads me to pursue a career in graphic design. My love for art and creative expression never subsided and my husband encouraged me to continue to create and share my creativity with the world. Enter The Donut Shop. The Donut Shop is a lifestyle brand of creative art and expression. From selling art prints to apparel we just want to do what we like. It’s about freedom of being your authentic self. Under The Donut Shop, we have opened Black Lab Industries a boutique print shop for creatives, artists and photographers to share their creations with the world as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing good comes easy and nothing gold can stay. It has been a difficult path filled with obstacles and roadblocks that had me questioning whether I wanted to continue to pursue my dream. Creating a brand like The Donut Shop that is purely fueled by my creativity has been challenging in itself. It’s hard to stayed inspired, and as a wife and mother of two people often ask when do I have time to anything outside of work and family life. Not only has balancing home/work life been difficult it has been extremely challenging to feel confident. I think all artists/creatives struggle with sharing a being vulnerable. Fear of judgement and rejection are always in the back and front of my mind. I have been fortunate to have a great support system to keep me encouraged even when I don’t feel good about myself.
For Black Lab (the print shop) my husband and I have ran into extensive challenges from learning how to operate machinery to financial losses that have had us question if we wanted to continue or just cut our losses. But we started Black Lab to give artists and small businesses a custom print experience. We have done things we are extremely proud of and if/when a project does not pan out the way we expect it we just focus on killing the next one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a visual multimedia artist so I don’t really adhere to one genre or medium. I use whatever I can get my hands on to create. whether that in digital collage work or painting I love to express my thoughts and feelings visually. I am most proud of my body of work and I plan to have my first solo exhibit in 2023. I think what sets me apart is that I am always in pursuit to be my authentic self. One thing I learned from one of my favorite artists Frida Kahlo is you have to embrace everything about yourself. The beauty, the ugly the stupid, the shame. That’s what makes art authentic. No one thinks like me. I draw inspiration from everywhere but how I interpret what I have seen is genuine.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see a lot of digital artists getting more recognition with the emergence of the NFT market. I think the NFT bubble may have already burst but the real genuine artist who have been using digital art to tell their story will always be there and hopefully, the market will give them the exposure they lack from the traditional art world.
Contact Info:
- Website: donutshopart.com
- Instagram: donutshop_art
- Other: blacklabindustries.com
