A 'Lifetime Journey' Rooted in Passion

Not many of us are fortunate enough to have built a career out of a lifelong passion. JIS Class of 2010 graduate Amanda Krishna is one of the very lucky few. Amanda has loved art and everything related to visual expression for as long as she can remember. It wasn’t until Middle School, however, that she was able to explore all the art world truly had to offer — thanks to the diverse range of classes available at JIS.

“The variety of art disciplines and classes exposed me to different branches of art. It gave me much freedom to explore,” she recalls. “Most of all, JIS didn’t just teach art but also the importance of critical thinking in art, which helps students create things with depth, meaning, and substance.”

Her artistic pursuits continued all through JIS High School and then the Rhode Island School of Design, where she majored in Film/Animation/Video. She knew this would be a “lifetime journey” for her, and she continued to expand her portfolio with one project after another.

Amanda’s latest creative endeavor was a first for her: illustrating a children’s book. Titled Nenek & Sayang (Grandmother and Sayang), the story follows the strong connection between Sayang and her grandmother, whom Sayang loves so much that she’s afraid of being separated from her. Amanda’s illustrations bring their fanciful adventures to life with vibrant colors and beautifully captured homages to Indonesian traditions.

“The story also brought back memories of my own grandma. Whenever nostalgia is involved in storytelling, it creates more meaningful work,” she adds.

Authenticity and artistic identity are at the core of Amanda’s artistic philosophy. In giving advice to JIS students who hope to make a career out of their love for art, she encourages them to “know your artistic identity, why you do art, what drives you, who you do it for.”

“Your body of work should reflect who you are. Sometimes artists struggle with originality, but we forget that each of us has a story to tell that no one else can,” she says. “Always pursue excellence in the quality of your work and step out of your comfort zone. Lastly, learn to collaborate well.”