Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Perez.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a kid, I was always really creative and artistic. I grew up an only child to a single mom, so I had a lot of time to myself. I think really early on I figured out I had a huge passion for art. It was always something I could do for hours on end. I probably spent just as much, if not more, time drawing and painting than I did playing with toys. I remember around the same age, maybe 7 or 8 years old, someone at school asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and the answer was so simple: I wanted to be an artist. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then, but that answer has always been a constant in my life.
My mom has always been really supportive and encouraging of my passions and hobbies as well. I think that’s a huge part of my journey because our parents’ opinion of us means so much—especially in my case, where my mom has always been my whole world. But she’s always been the first one to encourage me to do exactly what makes me happy. She could see my potential and my inner fire for art. She didn’t care what I went to school for, as long as it was something that felt true to me.
Fast forward to a few years ago: I was getting my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design at Florida Atlantic University. I was taking one of my last design classes before graduating when I decided to try my hand at digital illustration for one of my final projects. Up until that point, I had enjoyed my experience with my design classes, but it wasn’t until those last few months of college that I realized, “Oh, okay… I really love this! I mean, I’m having just as much fun now as I did when I was a kid.” I ended up showcasing those illustrations in my BFA exhibition, and that was really the beginning of everything for me!
I graduated in December 2019, which means I was just starting to look for my first job out of college when the pandemic hit. That first year at home, being forced to stay inside, was really hard for me mentally. I felt a bit lost, and I was so scared I wasn’t going to be able to make something out of myself. I started spending a lot of time on my computer. I was making illustrations for fun as a way to keep myself entertained and, honestly, to feel like I had a bit of joy and good in my life. I started sharing some of it on a separate Instagram account I had made just for sharing my art—I probably only had my closest friends on there at the time. But it felt good to get these ideas out of my head and into the world. It didn’t matter if anyone saw it; it was just therapeutic for me. I didn’t know what I was doing then or what it would turn into, but I just kept drawing and sharing online.
About a year in, I really started to find my artistic style. I was making these playful, funky, positive illustrations, and that’s when I decided to change my name online to The Funkie Flower. I had made it a New Year’s goal to share something new each week (I just wanted to push myself to be creative outside of my 9-to-5 design job). And I figured if I was going to commit so much to these illustrations, then I should go all out. It started with the name change, then I opened a small online shop selling prints of my work, and I found myself constantly daydreaming of all the things I could do with my art. In turn, the energy I was putting into it felt like it was being returned to me because I started to see a community grow around my art, and that was so encouraging to me. It felt like I was no longer drawing to heal myself but drawing to spark a little bit of light in other people’s days as well!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing for me. As I mentioned before, I had a 9-to-5 design job when I first started my business, and as a matter of fact, I still do! That has been a big fuel for me—it pushes me to be artistic for my own sake and not for anybody else. But at times, it can be really tough to balance my own business while working a full-time job. It has taught me a lot of discipline. A lot of my days look like this: wake up, work on my computer until 5, shower, eat, then sit back down on my iPad and work until I’m ready to call it a night. It’s draining, even when what you’re doing is your biggest joy.
I’ve also centered my artwork and my whole purpose around being optimistic and sharing hopeful messages with others, but I’m human, and I fluctuate through my own highs and lows a lot. So there have been periods of time during the last couple of years when it all feels like too much—when I’ve asked myself, “How can I create these happy illustrations when I’m not feeling happy right now?” That might sound a little too Debbie Downer, but it’s the truth. I sometimes really battle with myself because, on the one hand, I feel so incredibly blessed for my platform and the opportunity I have to make an impact, but on the other hand, I get in my head a lot—especially as I continue to grow and figure out who I want to be or what I want to make out of my life and career.
I think that’s part of the battle of social media—not just for business owners or creators, but for all of us in general. We’re living in a time where social media dictates a lot for us, and when you feel like you’re creating for the sake of algorithms or to maintain a certain persona online, it can be a bit overwhelming. Overall, I still LOVE The Funkie Flower more than anything. To this day, it’s everything to me, but it comes with its own twists and turns, and that’s been part of the journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a graphic designer and an illustrator, but I would say I identify with being an illustrator the most. I originally started drawing on Adobe Illustrator using my laptop’s trackpad—I didn’t even own a mouse back then, which is ridiculous to look back on. Then, a couple of years ago, I was able to invest in an iPad, which is where I’ve since created all of my work using Procreate.
I grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, so I have such a soft spot for old-school cartoons and movies. They’ve been a big inspiration for my style. I like to say my own art is very retro and vintage-like sometimes. I just love the softness of hand-drawn art. I often look to those classics for inspiration in my work—the colors used to feel so cozy and vibrant, so I like to make things that feel very similar. It’s a big part of what I do. I like to create things that are comforting and pleasing not only to look at but to reflect on.
That’s kind of how I came up with my name for The Funkie Flower. I was making all these things that were a little retro and funky, so it only seemed fitting. Aside from the actual art, I also love to write and to feel like I could be somewhat motivational to others. That has to be one of the things I’m most proud of with my community and my business—the messaging I’m able to share along with the art. All of the designs usually have some type of upbeat, motivational quote. And aside from that, I love taking the time to write something well-thought-out in my captions. I just see it as a huge opportunity to connect with people and make them stop when they’re scrolling, even if it’s for a few short minutes, just to get them to think or maybe share their own thoughts with me. Art just happens to be that bridge that allows for that.
I’ve had some really cool opportunities to work with brands and people that I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with, but at the end of the day, my biggest sense of pride comes from the relationships I’ve been able to build. I’ve had people message me and tell me how much my words have meant to them—some of them have gone through really tough times in their lives and have even gotten tattoos of my art on their bodies during those times. That is just so mind-blowing and impactful to me. It really shows how alike we all are and how much we need each other!
I don’t think anything beats the feeling I get when I read people’s stories or see the impact something like my art can have on others. No matter what I do, I will always aim to help someone. That’s the point of it all! Yes, it’s healing and fun for me, and I love the projects I get hired for or the things I get to make and sell, but at the core of it all is how much I care about people and how much I believe in the power of kindness and words.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
This is simple: passion, authenticity, dedication, and once again, kindness. I know there are millions of creators and artists out there making beautiful art—very important art, art that I will probably never be able to do myself. But when it comes to what I do and what I can attribute to my own success, it comes from following those qualities.
Especially with art, it’s such a subjective thing. I know that what I do might not be all that impressive to some, but to others, it might spark something big in their hearts. That’s why I’ve always just set out to be authentic—to make what I like, make what I feel called to make in the moment, and to try my very best to be dedicated. You’re not always going to be hit with sparks of inspiration, so it’s really important to be committed no matter what.
There have been times when the simple act of showing up and being dedicated has gotten me out of creative slumps and been the spark of inspiration I needed to keep propelling forward. Motivation doesn’t come from being inspired; I see it as the other way around. I have to do whatever it takes to be motivated, and the act of just doing ignites my passion and inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thefunkieflower.com
- Instagram: @thefunkieflower
Image Credits
Nour Sabbagh Tatiana Rincon
