Oil Paintings and Fine Art Prints
Amanda McLenon
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"Why paint? Because a photograph does not tell the whole story. What I seek to express is emotion, mood, or “spirit” that a camera cannot capture. When I am watching a white egret start its preening ritual in its evening roost, and the setting sun casts a glow around its form, the silhouette and the predictable series of movements are like a dance that I just want to join, and share. It represents a moment of unguarded self-care, introspection and tranquility.
I am particularly in love with large wading birds. I would say this is because I have a background in biology, but it is likely the other way around. My passion for the natural world, as well as my desire to understand it are what drove me to my studies. A chance experiment with paint led me to a career as an artist, and I find it to be more impactful than research or even teaching. My recent series features larger-than-life birds on canvas, in motion, flying and preening. Simple backgrounds allow the bird to be the focus and enhance the tranquility of the images. I often employ 23 karat gold similar to historic iconography to elevate the status of the subject and to play with the representation of glowing light. I currently paint oil on canvas but I am always exploring new media." |