009: Artist Amanda Oleander on Live Streaming, Periscope

“You can talk to people from all over the world at the click of a button — this is like teleportation!" ~Amanda Oleander, on the magic of live streaming

Jennifer Gardner interviews Amanda Oleander on her work, becoming a live streaming sensation on Periscope with over 500,000 followers, her love for supporting animals through her art, and the importance of following your passions.

Amanda Oleander is a Los Angeles based fine artist. Oleander's artwork became internationally recognized after working for E! Entertainment as their first in-house full time illustrator illustrating for their articles in 2014. In 2015 Oleander became a full-time at home artist. She started to paint live from home and broadcast her work on a live streaming app, Periscope. Oleander's art became viral after she gained a following of over half a million followers and attention in the media. She has been featured in The New York Times, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and The Hollywood Reporter to name a few. Shortly after she signed with United Talent Agency.

Highlights from the Episode: “It was really surreal because, you know, you just go from just downloading this app and next thing you know, you have a spread in the New York Mag and Cosmopolitan and Vanity Fair and Seventeen are all wanting to feature you and I’m like, 'What in the world? This is crazy!” ~Amanda Oleander, on her quick rise to becoming the most popular woman on Periscope

(2:00) Being an early adopter on Periscope, didn’t know what live streaming was, top woman on the app in the first week and it all started by reading The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein from her couch painted like the cover of the book.

(6:00) Getting recognized on Hollywood Blvd as a result of broadcasting live out to dinner with her boyfriend, the risks of being in the public eye and what to do about hecklers on Periscope.

(8:00) Amanda’s big break working for E! Entertainment as an illustrator and how streaming on Periscope has helped her art become more widely known and sold internationally, building community, partnering with World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace and her Endangered Species Collection.

(13:00) Her work as a full-time artist, her background & what a typical day looks like for her.

"One of my favorite parts is being able to wake up with the sun and not with an alarm and you don’t feel like you’re rushing out somewhere.” ~Amanda Oleander, on working from home

(15:15) Amanda’s forthcoming illustrated book coming out about true love and line of greeting cards for the LGBT community.  

(16:15) The media attention Amanda received in the early days of Periscope and why she thinks so many people are watching.

"The secret sauce is the same secret sauce that anybody that’s very happy and has successfully made it in their career always tells you...  it’s following your passion and talking about something you’re really passionate about… If it’s not your authentic self, it’s never going to trend and people don’t want to watch it." ~Amanda Oleander 

(20:00) Shifting from working at E! to becoming a full-time independent artist, how taking a risk on an internship brought her from Florida to LA.

"I think you just have to go for it sometimes… if you overthink it, you might psych yourself out." ~Amanda Oleander

(24:00) What makes Amanda feel the most alive?

"I get a natural high I can’t even explain or express when I paint… it’s something that’s happening in my mind, nobody else in the entire world can see it or have ever imagined this and I’m able to bring it to life on a canvas or paper." ~Amanda Oleander

(25:00) Discovering her love for art and drawing as child at Disney World, the support of her parents growing up, her detour in college when she though she would major in business.

(27:20) How Amanda had to overcome the challenge of moving away from family to pursue her art, the importance of saving money if you want to be an entrepreneur, and the people who have really helped her along the way, including the friend who originally suggested she check out Periscope!

(31:20) Helping people, being generous, and supporting other artists.

"There’s an audience for everything — as weird as you can even imagine. If you had a podcast or a live stream just talking about feet all day, trust me, you’d be probably be extremely popular.”~Amanda Oleander

(32:45) The role of mindfulness, meditation, and nature in Amanda's life and work, and being in the zone when painting.

(35:00) Amanda's positive outlook and view for the future.

"It's very important to have a balance... I scope and I love technology, but it's always good to be out with nature and spend time with people you love and eye contact and all that." ~Amanda Oleander

  Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect with Amanda Website Periscope Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube Connect with RoamHowl

You can connect with me on Facebook, @jenbgardner on Twitter, or you can email me here. I am also on the web at www.jgardnerassociates.com and you can read about my approach to practicing law.

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