Thursday, October 11, 2012

Friday Feature: Amanda Spencer



Hi Everyone,
"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.  

To see more of Amanda's work go to her website and blog

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
"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.

"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! 

"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.

"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!

"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.

"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 or comedy?
 Romance

Favorite dessert?
 Cheesecake

Night owl or morning person?
 Morning person

Thank you so much Amanda!

Carrie








7 comments:

  1. Beautiful work! She makes wonderful use of light and shadow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Her 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Her work is beautiful! I love the top one - what a tricky subject! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Une très belle rencontre... Une personne authentique que j'apprécie déjà sans la connaître... Etrange non ?... Mais je suis ainsi, au feeling!
    Des 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

    ReplyDelete
  5. She's incredibly talented, Carrie...The first two are amazing and looks so difficult! What can I say, Carrie! Another wonderful interview.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I 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.

    Great interview; thank you, Carrie; thank you Amanda.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful work, and good advice from Amanda.

    ReplyDelete