I’m Amy Whitaker, a Plano, Texas artist working in graphite, acrylic, coffee, and more. From portraits and pets to skylines and playful originals, I create artwork that celebrates the people, places, and stories we love. Creating brings me joy, and knowing a piece touches someone else’s heart is the greatest reward.

My Roots

I was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the youngest of four children, and spent much of my early childhood in East Africa. My father’s work gave our family opportunities to travel to places including China, India, Brazil, and Mexico.

My parents embraced local life and collected art wherever we went. Our home filled with paintings, sculptures, batiks, and folk art—each with a story of its own. When we returned to the United States, we settled in Kansas. Those early experiences still influence the colors, subjects, and stories I bring to my artwork.

My Artistic Journey

I came to art later in life, and I love the freedom to keep exploring. Variety is part of who I am, so I enjoy working across different styles and mediums.

I began with graphite pencils, drawn to their simplicity and ability to capture expression and emotion. Later, acrylic and oil paints opened a world of color. Combining pencil and paint on the same canvas gave me another way to experiment with contrast and texture.

Painting with coffee brought a different kind of adventure. Its warm tones and unpredictable washes encourage a looser approach and connect beautifully with the African landscapes and animals I remember from childhood. Today, coffee is one of several mediums I enjoy, with each offering something different.

What Inspires Me

Inspiration comes from everyday life: a familiar skyline, an animal’s personality, a family memory, or something that simply makes me smile. Sometimes my work is sentimental; sometimes it’s playful. I always want it to feel personal.

My husband, Mike, and our three grown children are an important part of my story. Family, travel, and a willingness to try something new continue to shape my creative life.

There is always more to learn and another idea to explore. That curiosity keeps me returning to the studio—and I’m grateful whenever something I create becomes part of someone else’s story.