More About Me & WatercolourAmanda is an award-winning, internationally recognised en plein air and studio watercolour artist, she says ...
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Creating is what I am meant to do. It all started when I was very young, drawing and painting with my father and, although my “artist career” started late, my business career has been modeled on creativity: I designed and made bespoke ball gowns, evening and corporate wear, and, for many years, I worked as an art director and a creative marketing strategist.
I discovered painting en plein air a few years ago, however, my initial attempts were quite grim. I discovered I must be a closet actress (I think I already knew that!) as I thoroughly enjoy painting outdoors and am not phased by "demonstrating"; although I have to admit I allow myself to be interrupted and chat too much!!
I love painting en plein air because it gets me out in the fresh air away from the solitary artist's existence but also, with the subject right in front of me, I can see all the detail without the optical illusions of photographs. I can measure angles, see colour, understand relationships and pick and choose elements that will help me communicate my ideas. And then I can do what I want!
When I'm not able to paint en plein air (on site), I paint still-life capriccio style, taking reference material from several sources including my imagination. Capriccio painting allows me to play with shapes and create unique effects all without the distraction of detail and reality.
My goal is to make the most of wet-in-wet watercolour painting. For me, this is the most ‘true’ watercolour technique; I don’t try to control wet in wet washes, I let the natural laws of watercolour play out. I’m very happy to watch the paint settle and dry by itself thus achieving more unique, painterly passages of colour. My aim is to design beautiful wet in wet colour blends that mysteriously materialise into nothing. I create watercolour washes that contain hidden depths, inexplicable layers and unexpected details. I love painting light and colour! I believe in quality, beauty, craftsmanship & passion.
I paint many different subjects including my beloved Italian scenes, my Glamping series, still life and Iconic New Zealand scenes. Whatever my subject of the time, I spend many hours researching, designing and drawing and use that research to create several artworks, sometimes over several months. This wide range of subject matter pushes me to become a better artist.
I am fortunate to have been inspired to use the remarkable medium of watercolour by the work of Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, George Braque, Gustave Klimt, Juan Gris, Shirley Trevena, Gretchen Albrecht, Moira Huntly, Peter McIntyre and many more. More recently, Frank Webb, Rex Brandt, George Post & my mentor Ted Sherwen.
Why Watercolour?
I’m completely committed to watercolour, other mediums just don’t do it for me so I've spent a lot time studying watercolour painting and art privately. There are effects that you just simply cannot get in any other medium; I love the luminosity I can achieve and I love the way I can leave the pigments to just do their thing – I love watching paint dry!!
You can see some of my recent honours, on my Awards & Prizes page.
See my Shop page for my latest and available works plus my new range of Limited Edition Fine Art Prints.
my classes and workshops here in New Zealand and internationally for 2021 are still in the planning phase, no surprises there, do sign-up for my newsletter for the latest news.
If you're learning to paint watercolour, my Paintbox Tips blog is just for you, sign-up here!
thanks for taking the time to view my paintings and workshops and classes, feel free to drop me a line!!
ciao!!
I discovered painting en plein air a few years ago, however, my initial attempts were quite grim. I discovered I must be a closet actress (I think I already knew that!) as I thoroughly enjoy painting outdoors and am not phased by "demonstrating"; although I have to admit I allow myself to be interrupted and chat too much!!
I love painting en plein air because it gets me out in the fresh air away from the solitary artist's existence but also, with the subject right in front of me, I can see all the detail without the optical illusions of photographs. I can measure angles, see colour, understand relationships and pick and choose elements that will help me communicate my ideas. And then I can do what I want!
When I'm not able to paint en plein air (on site), I paint still-life capriccio style, taking reference material from several sources including my imagination. Capriccio painting allows me to play with shapes and create unique effects all without the distraction of detail and reality.
My goal is to make the most of wet-in-wet watercolour painting. For me, this is the most ‘true’ watercolour technique; I don’t try to control wet in wet washes, I let the natural laws of watercolour play out. I’m very happy to watch the paint settle and dry by itself thus achieving more unique, painterly passages of colour. My aim is to design beautiful wet in wet colour blends that mysteriously materialise into nothing. I create watercolour washes that contain hidden depths, inexplicable layers and unexpected details. I love painting light and colour! I believe in quality, beauty, craftsmanship & passion.
I paint many different subjects including my beloved Italian scenes, my Glamping series, still life and Iconic New Zealand scenes. Whatever my subject of the time, I spend many hours researching, designing and drawing and use that research to create several artworks, sometimes over several months. This wide range of subject matter pushes me to become a better artist.
I am fortunate to have been inspired to use the remarkable medium of watercolour by the work of Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, George Braque, Gustave Klimt, Juan Gris, Shirley Trevena, Gretchen Albrecht, Moira Huntly, Peter McIntyre and many more. More recently, Frank Webb, Rex Brandt, George Post & my mentor Ted Sherwen.
Why Watercolour?
I’m completely committed to watercolour, other mediums just don’t do it for me so I've spent a lot time studying watercolour painting and art privately. There are effects that you just simply cannot get in any other medium; I love the luminosity I can achieve and I love the way I can leave the pigments to just do their thing – I love watching paint dry!!
You can see some of my recent honours, on my Awards & Prizes page.
See my Shop page for my latest and available works plus my new range of Limited Edition Fine Art Prints.
my classes and workshops here in New Zealand and internationally for 2021 are still in the planning phase, no surprises there, do sign-up for my newsletter for the latest news.
If you're learning to paint watercolour, my Paintbox Tips blog is just for you, sign-up here!
thanks for taking the time to view my paintings and workshops and classes, feel free to drop me a line!!
ciao!!
Come paint with me
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"It is so cool to see you painting in a place I have been but more than that is the way you have pictured different areas us mere mortals would not even consider and then you turn it into a masterpiece. I am impressed to say the least!" Rex R.
"You make the ordinary extra ordinary, remarkable and engaging." Rosemary
"I love the mysterious negatives and all the squiggly digglies!" Anita "You really capture the luminosity and the essence of how a watercolour should be painted!" Merv "Very unique and makes everyday items look spectacular!" Joanne "wonderful paintings with superb colour choices and inspired subjects!!" Judith "The joy in your work is inspiring. You suggest rather than describe, and I feel the warmth of your personality in how the strokes are applied and the sense of wonderment!" Richard F. |
