Artwork and story from Amanda Nicole Cordaro
My name is Amanda Nicole Cordaro, and art has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I started drawing and painting as a child, often while home sick, and it became a lifeline—a way to connect with the world even when my body couldn’t keep up with it. Now, as a permanently disabled artist, creating art continues to be both my expression and my freedom.
Art holds a sacred place in my life. It allows me to communicate what words often can’t—the quiet, tender emotions that live beneath the surface. It’s how I honor both the beauty and the difficulty of life, transforming pain into something meaningful. Over the years, I’ve explored many mediums—watercolor, graphite, ink, pastels, charcoal, stained glass, and linocut—but my greatest challenge has always been deepening my technical understanding of drawing itself. Because of my physical limitations, professional art instruction is financially out of reach for me.
I want to learn to draw with more confidence, precision, and purpose. The Drawing Academy’s classical approach and focus on mastery deeply resonate with me. I admire how it encourages discipline while celebrating creativity—a combination I believe every artist needs. I’ve read many of your articles and student stories, and I can see how life-changing your course has been for so many.
Winning the Drawing Academy course would mean more than just taking lessons—it would mean gaining the foundation I’ve always longed for but never had access to. It would allow me to grow as an artist, share better techniques with others in my disabled art community, and continue using my work to advocate for inclusion and accessibility in the creative world.
People should vote for me because I’m not just creating art for myself—I’m creating to inspire others who face physical and emotional barriers to know that their voices matter, too. Every brushstroke and line I make is an act of perseverance and hope. With the Drawing Academy’s guidance, I can continue transforming that hope into something tangible—something that reminds others that beauty and resilience can coexist.
With gratitude,
Amanda Nicole Cordaro
