HOW I PAINT
A
manda Hyatt is one of Australia’s
leading watercolour painters. She
hasa degreeinInorganicand
AnalyticalChemistry,thoughincrediblyshe
receivednoformalarttrainingof
substance.Nevertheless,shesoldherfirst
work,anoilpaintingofirises,attheageof
10 andneverlookedback.
A memberoftheAustralianWatercolour
Instituteandotherleadingsocieties,this
award-winningartisthasstagedmorethan
30 soloexhibitionsandproducedtwo
DVDs.Thelatest,TonalWatercolours, is
availabletobuyorstreamfromAPVFilms.
LIGHT AND MAGIC
I tackle all subjects in the same way,
whether it is a still life, interior,
landscape, waterscape, street scene
or abstract. When choosing
something to paint there is an instant
coming together of visual effect,
knowledge of how to tackle it and an
instant attraction to the subject often
for romantic or sentimental reasons.
You see exactly what you want to get
from the scene and, as I am a “big
picture” artist, this is what imprints
visually on my mind. Then you apply
your knowledge of techniques on how
to pull it off. I am always attracted to
the light initially, and the darkness
contrasted against it. This is called
chiaroscuro and means the use of
high contrasts in a painting to give
it a real sense of three dimensions.Watercolour is an enthralling
medium and I paint the alla prima
style, borrowing the term that is
usually applied to oil painting – it
means “painting in one sitting,
quickly, with no correction”.
Oil and watercolour are opposite
mediums. The underlying connection
is the creation of the magic, which is
done differently but with the same
intent to reach an effect. Painting in
oil is a “dabby” process and, unless
there is mastery over the quick alla
prima brushstrokes, an oil can be
very laboured and look lacking in
spontaneity. Painting in watercolour
is like driving with cruise control on at
90mph around bends while trying to
steer and stay on the road without
launching yourself over a cliff.
Watercolour cannot be controlled,
only managed. It will do what it wants
especially if you are not watching it. It
is consequently best to use it quickly
with strength, assured brushstrokes
and with minor correction.
My most recent painting is
Wightwick Manor. After giving
workshops in the UK, I visited a few
places I had always wanted to see- Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton
being one of them. Painting interiors
is tricky and relies heavily on an
external light source, usually the
ABOVE Wightwick
Manor, watercolour
on paper, 90x65cmLEFT Vernazza,
watercolour on
p a p e r, 74x 5 4 c m
Artists & Illustrators 43