AMANDA BRETT WATERCOLOUR ARTIST
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PaintBox Tips​

PaintBox Tip #18 Paint Your Painting

26/1/2022

1 Comment

 
PictureBait & Ice Thames NZ
Many of my students and fellow painters ask me "how did I get from this to that?"

When I’m out painting en plein air (or in my studio), once I have my idea and have taken a “mental snapshot”, I rarely refer back to the scene. I focus more on what my painting needs rather than creating a replica of a scene.

The same for studio painting, especially from photographs (and when on location); the scene and your photo are merely your inspiration - your idea must come first.

​The same for studio painting, especially from photographs (and when on location); the scene and your photo are merely your inspiration - your idea must come first. 

Faithfully producing a scene, en plein air or from photos suggests the painter has to find the perfect scene. Yes there are plenty of perfect scenes but can you find them when you want them? probably not - jolly annoying.

The serious painter has to make do with what is in front of them - we have to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. 

The point of this blog post is to remind ourselves to be not so precious about painting every little detail, every little nuance - paint your idea, turn away from your subject - stop looking and just paint - enjoy the process of painting the flower or the picket fence - focus on your painting!! if you have a photograph, turn it over, paint your painting and use your artist's license!!

My painting Bait & Ice (Thames NZ) has won many awards and is not very much like the scene itself. Comments from collector's all say "this is just how I remember it!"

ciao cari pittori!!

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1 Comment
Tex Hooper link
31/8/2022 11:50:19

I like what you said about getting inspiration first before the paint. I need to get a new coat of paint applied to my house. I'll have to order the paint after looking at samples.

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    Poetry in watercolour is made in the freedom of the here and now. Amanda Brett

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    Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.

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Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.
Quality Guarantee: All my watercolours are painted with only modern professional grade watercolour paints on Museum exhibition grade watercolour papers, they are extremely lightfast and will become a family heirloom and passed down to subsequent generations. ALL art of ANY medium should be hung away from direct sunlight. If​properly cared for, watercolour paintings will last as long, if not longer, than oil paintings. I only paint on 100% cotton rag paper, mostly Arches and Fabriano, and frame to conservation standard with acid free materials.
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  • Italy 2023
    • Home >
      • About Me
      • More About Me & Watercolour
      • What I See
    • News
  • Plein Air Down Under 2023
  • Tuition
    • PaintBox Tips featured posts >
      • PaintBox Tips
    • Workshops - Italy
    • Weekly Watercolour Classes >
      • student's page
      • For Beginners
      • Feedback & Photos
    • Video Lessons
    • Watercolour Magic on Youtube
    • FAQs
  • Gallery Shop
    • SHOP New Original Paintings
    • Shop Limited Edition Prints
  • Contact
  • Join My Insider's List