Amal is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in a household short on paints, but long on dyes made from boiled onion peel and parsley leaves. She owes her choice of becoming an artist to the city's main library--a massive imaginary playground with texts, she was certain, would benefit from a little girl's drawings. Amal's work has appeared in children's books, magazines, private collections and one museum. Her MFA is from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She lives in the peculiar Village of Port Jefferson with her husband, daughter's dog, and a thousand giant mushrooms.