In the Studio: Amanda Oliphant • dot-art

This month dot-art speaks to artist Amanda Oliphant.

Amanda Oliphant graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art at LJMU followed by an MA in Art as Environment at MMU. Amanda is a trustee of BADA (British Art and Design Association) helping to facilitate projects and collaborations both nationally and internationally.

Amanda speaks about her latest series of works:

“My paintings attempt to capture the emotions and thoughts I encounter whilst walking through the landscape. They reflect sensations of footsteps upon uneven paths, the chaos of dense woodlands and the delicate beauty of open vistas. Hidden layers reveal themselves only to be captured through a degree of abstraction onto a surface. The paintings reveal the experience of awe-inspiring landscapes that leave me breathless. Through textured mark marking and tonal values, these elements become an exploration of the natural world. Back in the studio, ideas are transformed into visual stories through paint and unique mark-making techniques – an essence of my creative journey is recorded.”

Can you describe your style of art?

I mainly paint Abstract Landscapes but occasionally I like to work in concertina sketch books that allows for creative experimentation. My paintings attempt to capture the emotions and thoughts I encounter whilst walking through the landscape. They reflect sensations of footsteps upon uneven paths, the chaos of dense woodlands to the delicate beauty of open vitas. Hidden layers reveal themselves only to be captured through a degree of abstraction onto a surface.

Which medium do you work with and what do you like about it specifically?

I mainly work in Oils and Cold Wax medium, a medium that facilitates layering and abstracting the landscape. When I am experimenting I like to use Acrylics, stabilo crayons, charcoal sticks and any mark making tools that help to create lines.

Can you talk us through your process? Do you begin with a sketch, or do you just go straight in? How long do you spend on one piece? How do you know when it is finished?

I know when a new series of paintings is ready to start. It organically leads on from the last body of work I have completed. I usually start working on paper or pieces of board before I scale up giving more freedom and energy to a piece – sometimes the small studies become a finished piece. Building textured layers with free mark marking and earthy tonal values – all elements become an exploration of the natural world.

Back in the studio, ideas are transformed into visual stories. Through paint and unique mark-making techniques an essence of my creative journey is recorded.

When did you begin your career in art?

I went to Art College in my twenties and then re-emerged back into the art world as a mature student gaining an MA in Art as Environment in 2008. This restarted my artistic journey to where I am now. I can not imagine doing anything else but art.

Who or what inspires your art?

Outdoors is my inspiration, its not just about ‘looking’ but about feeling a place. My paintings are a direct response to the landscape, sometimes working on location or back in my studio where I attempt to record elements through memory and research.

I am inspired by artists like Joan Eardley and David Tress who have worked within the landscape itself and Kurt Jackson for his dedication to bringing awareness to fragile environments in unique ways but most recently I am reading Clear Seeing Place by Brian Rutenberg, an American artist who abstracts the landscape using colour and form to create large energetic compositions .

Why is art and creativity important to you?

Creativity is important, it being essential as the foundation to new ideas inspiring others to engage in the art world, taking part in workshops or through viewing exhibitions that have the power to transport us to another world. Art is in everything.

What do you gain from being a member with dot-art?

dot-art is a great platform for exhibiting my work within the city of Liverpool. I was fortunate to have a solo exhibition which enabled a large body of work to be presented to a new audience. Through mixed exhibitions and events, the gallery is a great facilitator for different creatives and an ambassador of the Liverpool Art Fair bringing art to the masses. dot-art also enables collaborations with other artists and businesses.

What does it mean to be an artist in the Liverpool City Region?

Liverpool is an iconic city for creativity.

It has a vibrant mix of professional artists with great networking platforms such as the Liverpool Biennial, Independents Biennial, Tate, The Walker, Capital of Culture and of course, the Liverpool Art Fair to name a few but also the Wirral has a large artist community with independent galleries that support local artists and projects.

This year I will be mainly based out in the Peninsula working on location where exciting things are happening.

What are you working on at the moment?

I just completed a new series of paintings ‘Rhythms of Colour’ when unfortunately I broke my wrist and shoulder on location whilst on a research trip. I am excited to be painting again and starting new ideas as its the experimentation period that brings unexpected results. I always feel the need to go as big as possible but this can be physical and challenging in many different ways.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

Be yourself, be true to who you are and enjoy ‘creating’, you can’t do anything wrong as everything is an exploration! This actually has helped me. I would say = enjoy being an artist as its a privilege to be able to create.

Discover more of Amanda Oliphant’s work on our online shop!