HOW I PAINT
colourless sky. Everything else will
contrast against it and you have
created “light” without even trying.
Reculver Towers in the DVD was
painted between downpours. The sky
was heavy with rain, so I chose to
exaggerate this. As a Romantic artist
I never paint exactly what the scene
presents. I use it as stimulation to
create my own interpretation of it.
Copying the image literally is a killer
for spontaneous creativity but I
concede that it is necessary to do so
in certain genres such as botanic art,
portraiture where the sitter has to be
recognised, and architectural
drawing. Stagnant or stationary
paintings result from literal copying
though and take huge amounts of
time to paint relying on a different
labour-intensive skill set. For more
spontaneous, creative art, it is
advisable not to copy everything you
see because you are creating a piece
of art rather than “just a painting”.
You are using the scene to stimulate
your own individual response to it.
You can exaggerate, change the
colour, change the position of items
and leave others out. You are in the
driver’s seat, so to speak.
To remain present while painting
is quite easy. Time passes very
quickly, and you are unaware of what
is happening around you. After the
initial intellectual thought process,
which often involved the need for
inspiration, and when that ‘lightning’
hits you, you are off and running.
After 20 minutes you are aware
that the image you are looking at can
only do so much for you and your
natural creative urge steps in. You
actually stop looking at your reference
and you let go and create. Use the
accidents watercolour presents to you
without fear or panic. Wait for a few
seconds to see if the accident can be
exploited then change your thinking.
I hope my new DVD can inspire
aspiring painters to have a go. It’s
easy to stay in the studio where you
can become complacent, but it is
thrilling to go outside and paint from
your heart. Painting outside will
improve your studio work in all aspects
because you learn what not to do.
http://www.amandahyatt.com.auArtists & Illustrators 47