Hi Everyone,
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| "Paradise" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
Today I'm featuring a beautiful watercolor artist, Amanda Spencer. Her paintings are just amazing, she utilizes a lot of techniques such as pouring and batik to create her amazing compositions.
How did you get your start? What’s your artist journey so far?
I went to art school and qualified as a graphic designer.
However after only working in this field for a couple of years I retrained as a
secretary and this has been my “career”. It has only been for about the last 7
years that I started painting and only for the last month that I have started
to work full time as an artist.
Where were you born?
I was born in Dover, UK
If you could live anywhere where would you live?
Hever Castle, Hever, Kent
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| "Sentinels 2" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?
Flowers for the infinite variety of form and color.
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| "Two more for lunch" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
Could you talk about your painting techniques?
I love playing with color. I like variety in technique,
sometimes I like to spend hours on details other times I just want to throw
paint at the paper and see what happens! I do a lot of watercolor batik work,
producing a painting by building layers of
hot wax and paint. I also like pouring, collage and making a mess!
Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?
I am drawn to bright colours especially pinks and reds –
I adore permanent rose and quinacridone red!
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| "Positano" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
Do you have a favorite artist? Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Nicholas Simmons and Nicholas Simmons! Fell in love with
his work on first sight, it was so different from anything I had ever seen. I
love his use of color and his subject matter appeals to my “design” side. I
have wanted to take his workshop for years and
I finally did so in France this year, it was fantastic. His generosity
of advice, enthusiasm, skill and wit is totally inspiring.
What have been some of your crowning achievements?
Exhibiting with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolor and the Shanghai Biennial are right up there for me! Giving my
first workshop was also amazing.
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| "Tropical" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
What are five things you would like to happen in your
life in the next five years? Dream big here:)
I would like to teach lots more workshops, I recently
gave one in Norway which was a big success and I enjoyed it so much. I would
love to travel more. I would like my health to continue to improve. I admit
that I would like to win an award of some kind at some stage, it seems to
indicate that you have “made it”. A
“small” lottery win would be nice, to fund the above of course!
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| "Rhodie" original watercolor by Amanda Spencer |
What is your advice for other artists who are just
getting started in their career?
Don’t give up, practice, practice then practice some
more. Experiment and enjoy.
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| "Rhodie" original watercolor on paper by Amanda Spencer |
What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?
Grow a thick skin and have faith in what you do!
SPEED ROUND!
Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
Your dream vacation spot?
Isle of Capri, Italy
Book or movie?
Movie
Favorite author?
J K Rowling
Favorite movie?
So hard to pick one! Schindler’s List
Romance
Favorite dessert?
Cheesecake
Night owl or morning person?
Morning person
Thank you so much Amanda!
Carrie
Beautiful work! She makes wonderful use of light and shadow.
ReplyDeleteHer art is amazing. So many different forms and all so wonderful. Carrie, I must say that I really love that questions "do you have a favorite artist" as most everyone names someone different and I get to go look them up online and learn about so many artists I never heard of before. Since I love to learn, your Friday feature has become my class of the week. :) Blessing to you and yours. Have a fabulous weekend together.
ReplyDeleteHer work is beautiful! I love the top one - what a tricky subject! :0)
ReplyDeleteUne très belle rencontre... Une personne authentique que j'apprécie déjà sans la connaître... Etrange non ?... Mais je suis ainsi, au feeling!
ReplyDeleteDes couleurs qui swinguent dans ses oeuvres que j'aime beaucoup. De la force mêlée à une certaine sensibilité, tel à un combat pour la vie...
Merci ma chère Carrie pour ce moment si agréable passé en vos compagnies à toutes deux.
Gros bisous
She's incredibly talented, Carrie...The first two are amazing and looks so difficult! What can I say, Carrie! Another wonderful interview.
ReplyDeleteI bumped into her work sometime ago - the 'reflections in a window', and was as totally impressed then as I am now. I grew up 40 miles from Dover, when Kent (the county) was the Garden of England; Amanda's flowers would enhance any garden - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview; thank you, Carrie; thank you Amanda.
Beautiful work, and good advice from Amanda.
ReplyDelete