Meet Amelie Dickerson | Painter & Owner of By Amelie Art LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amelie Dickerson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amelie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was drawing colorful portraits of African women holding their babies in their backs, before 4 years old. Memories of my roots in Congo Brazzaville always haunt my palette.

I was raised by a mother who is in love with all the kind of Arts. No matter what, she made sure to provide me with the best education she could. I learnt how to play traverse flute during 11 years, same for dancing and painting. She kept me busy and arty!

As an adult I started to work as a visual merchandiser then as a district manager.

However one day I woke up and said to myself is it really the life that I wanted? (This career life without the mission?)

The answer was ‘’I want to be a painter’’ and the life brought me here in Atlanta where I am living my dream.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My mother would say; ‘’Amelie always did what she wanted to do”. As I set up my plan in my head, nothing or nobody will stop me. I stay focus, work my dream daily no matter what until it happens.

I will say I am determined and dedicated. Hard work and patience will win.

The persons that you meet around the road have their importance also.

Stay always prepared for new opportunities, keep creating and creating.
The famous painter Van Gogh created more than 900 paintings in 10 years…!

One of By Amelie Art greatest experiences was to realize a portrait of a grandma in my neighborhood, as soon as she saw the painting she started to cry. That was an incredible emotional moment to have been able to touch her heart this way.

Another one was to create a mural dedicated to the kids “ SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE ’’ (256 square feet) in Westside Atlanta. They are our future, it is important they understand that they can be everything!

Our company has for goal to create an Art school in Congo for young kids , orphans and help them to heal-grow and shine through Art. We can have a real therapeutic action through Art.

Art saved my life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is an amazing city for multiple reasons. The city of the civil rights movement, a national center for the Arts. Atlanta has played a major role in the development of various genres of music: country, r&b, hip hop, crunk, trap, indie rock… The city plays also a significant role in the entertainment industry. Atlanta offers resources and real opportunities for everybody.

I would suggest my friend to discover The Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park in the same time. The Botanical Garden rejuvenates everybody! The weather is so clement. Everything grows here.

After a stop at the High Museum we will walk from Midtown to Ponce city. We will eat at the Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft which offers great views of the downtown skyline and authentic flavors of Thai street food.

We will grab some macarons at the Saint Germain Bakery which sells delicious French pastries. Ponce city market is a concept mega store which offers succulent food and fashionable clothes, arty home decor, jewels…
We will stop at the historical FOX Theatre.

Let’s have a walk on the belt-line and admire all the sculptures, murals… If it is too hot we will may stop to have a drink , and eat some hummus and falafels at Rina.

We will pay our respect to Martin Luther King Jr visiting Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where his father was a pastor and his mother was the musical director and his birth home.

Sweet Auburn is an historically African American area, Lively Edgewood Avenue is known for its hip bars.

Let’s chill and smoke an hookah at the Cafe Circa.

We will go to Peter Street Station, listen to some live music also.

Later we will go to little five points, where there is an high concentration of street Art from local artists, eat some yummy Ethiopian or vegan food, shop some vintage clothings, buy some incenses and maybe get some grills!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my customers, my friends and my family for the support. All the beautiful souls that I met all around the road, for a second, a year, or a lifetime.

The persons who were saying that “I was too ambitious and will never make it’’!

Shoutout to God ‘’ Papa Dieu’’ who never abandoned me, I follow the mission he gave me.

You all built my character, thanks!

Website: WWW.BYAMELIEART.COM

Instagram: @BYAMELIEART