06/15/2026
I am thankful for ArtsWa and the WAM program (Wellness, Arts and the Military). I was accepted for a grant thru this program and although the classes hit at a very difficult time, it pushed me into my art and helped me develop some professional attributes that I haven't really prioritized, if I'm honest.
Classes started just a few days after my dad passed, but he was very excited about this for me and so I pushed through. I really did not want to do face-to-face Zoom calls with fellow artists. My heart was hurting so much and my brain was having a hard time getting my words out. After 8 weeks of classes, I am thankful for the people involved as well as the handful of painters within my small group. It was growth for me to be vulnerable with strangers and share my struggles, as we were prompted to do this for our art projects. Every struggle I was having was related to grief, so I just layed it out short-and-sweet like, knowing it's always awkward to speak of death. God has walked me through so many small moments like these. 💓
One of the accomplishments, besides loads of art, was a first attempt at an Artist's Bio. I'm satisfied with it as of now, knowing that the future will bring new things to my tool belt and an even greater appreciation for this little world of art I have found myself in.
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Artist's Bio:
Amber Prejean is a Pacific Northwest-based self-taught artist, Educator, retired Massage Therapist, and Air Force veteran. As an evolving contemporary impressionist, she began painting as a way to navigate a difficult season, discovering a therapeutic process that naturally evolved into a professional journey of healing and discovery.
Her colorful work is rooted in a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Whether hiking mountain trails, kayaking along the coast, or painting plein air, she draws deep inspiration from the rugged beauty of her outdoor adventures and travels.
Working primarily in oil and acrylics, she often employs a palette knife to create textured, serene landscapes that offer a quiet refuge from modern life. With many years of experience as a Massage Therapist, a passion for nurturing mental health through creativity, and a strong connection to nature, Amber brings a tactile and calming approach to the canvas that invites others to find peace in the natural world.
Prejean's artwork has been featured in two gallery showings, two Parade of Homes displays and three public art pieces, such as utility box wraps and a light post banner. She was recently awarded a Military-Connected Art Grant through the ArtsWa-Washington State Art Commission's Wellness, Arts and the Military program.
Her work in the community includes working with a non-profit organization to raise funds through teaching, contributing art to a local school play, volunteering as an art assistant in local schools, and creating a logo mural for her base squadron while in the military. In addition to her studio work and private commissions, she teaches beginner classes, sharing the same joy and healing she finds through nature and at the easel.
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Thank you if you made it this far on this crazy long post!! Your support matters to me! 😘
