AMANDA HYATT

One of Australia’s leading watercolour artists shares her unusual alla prima techniques and reveals why she loves conjuring shades of grey from overcast scenes

Amanda Hyatt is one of Australia’s leading watercolour painters. She has a degree in Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, though incredibly she received no formal art training of substance. Nevertheless, she sold her first work, an oil painting of irises, at the age of 10 and never looked back.

A member of the Australian Watercolour Institute and other leading societies, this award-winning artist has staged more than 30 solo exhibitions and produced two DVDs. The latest, Tonal Watercolours, is available to buy or stream from APV Films.

LIGHT AND MAGIC

I tackle all subjects in the same way, whether it is 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”.