Blooming in Midlife… Meet Amanda Coelho

Amanda Coelho of Amanda Coelho Art + Design, Contemporary Realist Painter, Midlife Pivot

Welcome to our brand new series, Blooming in Midlife where we get to know some of the incredible women in our Pearl and Rose community who are absolutely crushing it in this stage of life.

First up? Amanda from Amanda Coelho Art + Design, and trust us, her midlife pivot and her artistic talent are going to inspire you.

Amanda’s Midlife Elevator Pitch…

I’m a contemporary realist painter who celebrates the beauty of everyday objects. With a background in graphic design and a love for detail, I create oil paintings that elevate the ordinary and invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with familiar objects in a new way. My paintings often taps into a sense of nostalgia, capturing the quiet significance of the things we hold onto and the memories they evoke.

These are not photos - they are pieces of Amanda’s incredible work.

Get to know Amanda…

Coffee order that fuels your day?

Iced decaf oat milk latte with light ice.

Guilty pleasure we’d totally judge you for… just kidding, we love it!

A piece (or two or three) of dark chocolate covered caramel or mint every night.

Early bird or night owl?

Total night owl!

What’s always in your purse?

Vaseline tin for my lips.

Go-to cocktail?

Mezcal Paloma

If you could have dinner with any woman, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My teenage self. I’d tell her that being thin or pretty isn’t a personality and self worth doesn’t depend on what you look like or someone else's attention. And that her body isn’t the most interesting thing about her and to treat it with respect, not criticism. I’d tell her to explore the weird hobbies, the nerdy interests, and that the way she feels when she’s doing something she loves should be her compass, and not the thing that makes her fit in. And to trust the detours in life. That life isn’t a straight path and sometimes it leads you to the best parts of life.

Now Let’s Talk About Amanda’s Midlife Pivot…

So what was your midlife pivot and what was the A-HA moment that sparked it?

I spent my entire career creating work for other people. Even an in-house graphic designer for a global beverage brand meant my employer was my client. I realized that I needed to create for myself.

How old were you when you made this pivot?

48

What is the best part of your midlife pivot/transformation and what has been the most challenging?

The best part is the flexibility, finally setting my own schedule. I’ve pretty much worked since I was 14 years old. And being a working mom was intense. It was challenging to give 100% of myself at work, then leave to get my kids on time, and give 100% of myself at home too. I’m pretty sure I failed many days, but I’m glad I was able to live in both worlds at the time. The biggest challenge for me now is keeping up with the booming small business marketplace. I love that there’s space for so many people to open their own businesses, but it means there’s a lot more noise out there and it’s harder than ever to reach the right consumers.

What skills or experiences from your earlier life prepared you for this new chapter?

As a creative that has worked for small family owned businesses to the largest beverage company in the world, I’ve had my share of feedback and have learned if you ask 10 people's opinion, you will get 10 different opinions. Not everyone is going to love my work, but I’m not trying to please everyone. Only two people matter, me and the buyer that connects to my work.

The Deep Stuff (But Make It Fun!)…

If you could go back and give yourself a little advice right before you made your midlife pivot, what would you say?

All great things take time. Let the journey guide you and don’t try to predict the outcome. Every failure is a learning experience, no one is successful on the first try.

What’s your favorite thing about this stage of life that you never expected?

Caring a lot less about what other people think of me. I wish I could say that I don’t care at all, but that would be a lie. I’m a people pleaser, so I’ll always care, but I care a whole lot less now! The people in my life reflect quality, not quantity.

The Fun Midlife Revelations…

What’s one thing that you stopped caring about in this stage of life?

Leaving the house without makeup. Gen X grew up in the supermodel era, with parents that were raised to see appearance as a sign of self-respect and a reflection of how they were raised. It was ingrained in my head from a young age to always present myself a certain way. I love the freedom of a more relaxed lifestyle, and really respect the way younger generations have embraced body positivity and just being who they are.

What does success look like now as opposed to when you were in your 20s and 30s?

Success is about inner happiness and inner peace. I worked so hard in my 20s, 30s and 40s. Life was all about the job, the social life, the family, the home. Having chosen a more traditional path in my younger years has no doubt afforded me the flexibility in my mid-life years to make this pivot and I’m very aware how lucky I am to do what I love at this point in my life.

What’s the thing that’s still on your bucket list that excites you the most?

Traveling the world.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate small wins?

It used to be shopping, but now it’s just being able to share those wins with loved ones who will be as proud of me as I am of myself.

What songs, books or podcasts are currently speaking to your soul? 

I spend a lot of time in my studio, and therefore consume a lot of audio books/podcasts/music so I’m all over the place with genres. My go to music is Classic Rock and Yacht Rock. I love the Smartless podcast, they keep it light and I feel like I’m hanging out with friends. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also love a good True Crime podcast. As for books, I will listen to novels, non-fiction, rom coms, historical fiction and obviously true crime. If the synopsis grabs me I’m willing to listen to anything.

Advice to Share…

What’s the one piece of advice you would share with another women who is considering her own midlife pivot?

There is no guarantee of tomorrow so do what makes you happy today. Take the plunge, you won’t look back.

Follow Amanda…

Instagram @amandacoelhoart

Website www.amandacoelhoart.com

Previous
Previous

Understanding Cognitive Changes During Perimenopause and Menopause