I was born Amanda Marye Sueiro in beautiful Orange County, California on a balmy Independence Day. I only spent twelve years in the Golden State, before moving cross-country with my family to a tropical city in the south. The city was the cultural melting pot of Miami. I love Miami! There honestly is no other city like it. Summer clothes are a year-long staple, daily afternoon showers are a welcomed norm and the sky is the most radiant shade of blue one has ever seen!

In Miami, I attended a small private school, where there were only twenty-three students in my graduating class. The school looked like a medieval castle, something straight out of Harry Potter, and walking the halls always made me feel as though I were in Hogwarts (the uniform very much mirrored that of the one worn by the students at the wizarding school across the pond!). It was an academically strict school where electives consisted of a list of different foriegn languages. Art classes were offered, but there was no art department. I craved the craetive outlet of art and desperately wanted to create things.

I have always been extremely interested in how things are made and as a freshman in high school I became quite curious about the whole photo developing process. What better way to learn about photography than to take classes? So I enrolled in a photography course at a local art studio located next to my dance studio. I loved it! A passion was born. I never wanted to stop shooting pictures, and I haven't yet. As I continued with my photography, I quickly bridged out into other disiplines of art and began to take ceramics and painting courses as well. I knew my future was in art, I just didn't know what I would do exactly and how I would find my niche in the art-world.

When I started at Barry University, I still wasn't sure what I wanted to be, so I majored in Advertising and minored in photography. I thought it would interesting and fun to design and create the ads that the masses are exposed to. I soon realized that what I thought advertising entailed, was completely different than what it was. I wanted to actually design and create the ads, not just think of the ideas and concepts and do all of the reserach that was required. My second semester at Barry, I took a graphic design class that was required for my Advertising major, and I loved it! I was able to express myself in a creative way and create pieces of art. I knew than that that was what I wanted to do with y life! By the end of the term I had officially changed my major and never once regretted my decision. I graduated from Barry University in 2007 with a Bachelor's of fine Arts in Graphic Design and Photography.

As a graphic design student, I spent the majority of my time in front of a computer and by the time I had completed my undergrad degree, I was quite tired of it.I needed a break. I needed to breathe. I knew that my education wasn't complete. I knew there was far more for me to learn. I felt confused. I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do with my life (did I really want to spend my days in front of a glowing screen?). All I knew for sure was that I wanted to do something creative that allowed my imagination to run wild. So I packed my things and moved to Boston, where I attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Attending Art school was like nothing I had ever experienced. There was just so much creative energy everywhere. It was truly inspiring. While at the Museum School, I took a slight break from graphic design in order to peruse other avenues of art. I always enjoyed painting, ceramics, and drawing, so while I was at the Museum school I took full advantage of the school’s open curriculum, submerging myself in art forms I always wanted to learn but never imagined I actually would. It was at the SMFA, on my so-called “break” from design that I fell back in love with it. At the Museum School I found myself and discovered what it was I really wanted to do with my life, which is design. I knew my education was far from over. I have always been a firm believer that one can never have too much education and that there is always so much out there to learn. That is why I ultimately decided to attend the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University. I wanted to perfect the graphic skills I had while at the same time learn a completely new art form, web design! CDIABU was a great learning experience. I obtained so much knowledge about both the design and the real world.

So what do I like to do artistically? I like to design pieces that are full of whimsy and happiness. I tend to utilize bright colors in order to help create the cheery quality I want to express. I really feel that one’s artwork reflects their personality and who they are as an individual. I’m a self-proclaimed happy girl who always tries to find the positive spin on things; therefore my style is fun, playful and anything but boring!

Besides art and design, my other passion is writing! Hence the lengthy piece of superb non-fiction you have just read!