About

Amy D. Kotel-Swift.

Artist, Personal Trainer, Dancer, Mom, Wife, Friend, Community Organizer, Muppet

I grew up on the North Shore and the middle of Long Island, NY. Before escaping at age 19, I had already had my sights set on being a fine artist. From a young age art was a therapeutic tool, a way of avoiding conversations and a way to avoid the bullies in my school. Luckily for me, I was also was praised for my abilities, which made me want to pursue this passion more. This eventually lead me to audition and attend Long Island School For the Arts, my senior year of high school. While attending, I studied fine art and eventually landed at SUNY New Paltz, initially as an art education major. I eventually graduated with a BA in Women Studies and a Minor in Dance. While I still created fine art, I changed my focus more towards the moving arts at that time.

Since graduating I have gone back and forth between several different art disciplines. I toured professionally with puppet companies, I ran a peer education theater and taught dance, environmental education, and many other subjects to children. I danced professionally and taught dance, fine art, and theaters in traditional schools and in all kinds of nontraditional settings too. I often felt some guilt and lots of joy around the fact that I almost always love the work I am doing, but why be here if you don’t love what you do, right?

While trying on many fun and interesting vocational hats, I also received my masters in education from Lesley University and became a certified personal trainer. I still work in the fitness field. I find all the activity and socializing a lovely juxtapose to the stillness and inner focus I need to create my art.

Since having my wonderful and talented offspring in 2011, I have had to lessen how I externally express my creativity. About 6 years ago, I ventured to drawing, painting, collage and, soft upcycled sculptures. While fine art feels very different from dance and puppetry, it still nurtures my creativity and expression equally well, but in a different way. I love how grounded I feel after a create a piece of art I really jive with. I feel so grateful that fine art is once again a conduit of my creativity and a vehicle for my subconscious to become conscious. While I still dance when I have a chance, drawing , painting, collage, and fabric sculpture have taken over almost all my free moments and this is a very good thing. I have been showing my art every opportunity I have and have made prints, cards and shirts of my work which you can find through this site or my Etsy Store.

Artist Statement

Amy’s art is vibrant and moves your eye around the page.  She often utilizes small shapes to create larger images. Her subject volleys between the beauty she wants to see and feel and the emotions she needs to express. Using color pencil, water color, collage, fabric and up-cycled found objects, she creates figures, landscapes, abstracts and surreal images and combinations of the before mentioned. Her work is both inviting, heartwarming, and at times challenging for the eys. Please take the time to find her and follow her on

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_dawn_kotel_art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amydawnart/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmyDawnKotelArt?ref=profile_header