I create with a story at the center. My paintings, created in gouache, watercolor, and pastel, explore color, texture, and emotion, reflecting the same impulse that drives my work as an artist, whether in theatre, children’s books, or immersive design. Whenever I’m layering pigment on paper, shaping a stage environment, or developing a character, my goal is the same: to spark imagination, connection, and growth.
Amanda E. Hoppe:
Visual Artist, Artistic Director, Author, and Illustrator
With 25 years in education and 15+ years as an award-winning theatre director and production designer, Amanda transforms ideas into experiences that move people. She has built programs from scratch, developed technical theatre training for young students, and shaped immersive environments that dazzle — from over 100 staged productions to French boudoir-inspired lounges.
As a visual artist, Amanda works in gouache, watercolor, and pastel, blending bold color and expressive texture to capture emotion and story on the page. She loves to capture a story in a landscape, creating an emotional connection to the world she is portraying on her canvas. Recently, Amanda began her formal education pursuing her Master’s in Illustration at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. Excelling in color theory and form, her artistic practice fuels her design eye and informs her artistic style.
In addition to her artistic endevors as a freelance artist, Amanda is currently developing two children’s books — including Sage on Stage and The Adventures of ROBI the Robot — which inspire courage, creativity, and life skills through grand storytelling and art.
Now pursuing a Master’s in Art Therapy at West Liberty University, Amanda is expanding her artistry into spaces of healing and growth. At the core of her work is a simple belief: art tells the stories we need most — whether on stage, in a book, or in the spaces we inhabit.