Portrait of an Artist
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Meeting Imogen at her puppet show for the Brighton Festival was a real treat! And soon got to know her as an inspirational weaver, storyteller and mother.
I was delighted that she entrusted me with painting her portrait. Knowing someone doesn't mean that you can take liberties with a portrait! So I approached this commission with an open mind, listening to her ideas of what she wanted included, her favourite things and places and how she saw herself at this time of her life. I took several photos of her until I felt her relax and on painting her I started with her compassionate eyes. We then discussed the Art Nouveaux frame that I thought I would suit her home.
Imogen Di Sapia writes: " I have so much respect for Amanda as an artist, her paintings are so rich in colour, symbolism and detail, and her style is really captivating ; her use of rich textures and depth. Amanda has a way of capturing movement and energy in her paintings too, which gives them a whole other dimension and vivacity.
I was honoured and moved to have my portrait painted by Amanda.
I trusted her completely to paint me in her style, waiting until the painting was completed to view it.
I was overwhelmed by the painting and felt she had captured me exactly as she sees me, set amongst the tools of my craft and featuring symbolic objects and places. Amanda had worked from a detailed set of images she took of me when she visited to discuss my portrait, on what I would wear and what were my thoughts.
My reasons for commissioning the portrait were varied, but I wanted to have something to pass onto my children in the future and to own a piece of work by an artist whose style I admire. You can trust her to create something powerful, meaningful and incredibly beautiful."
The Greyhound Portraits
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I first met John in a coffee shop where he saw me sketching someone's Basset Hound. He had his two stunning, greyhounds with him so naturally I asked if I could draw them sometime too. Next thing I knew we were at a gallery viewing discussing a potential portrait commission and so we arranged a likely day for me to see them at their best, outdoors in a local gardens.
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We discussed their individual characters and I took loads of reference photos before sending John my composition ideas and his ideal, size and medium before I went ahead with the pencil, pen & ink drawing. I was very pleased when John returned with a request for a painted portrait. This time I worked on wood and we discussed the use of an oak frame to set it off.
John Coates writes:
'"By a stroke of luck I met Amanda at a gallery viewing, I enjoyed her work, in fact I did have something Ii wanted Amanda to paint for me. We did talk and I now have two pieces of work by her. The pictures I so much wanted were of Reggie and Arron our greyhounds.
I can't say enough on how very happy we are with both portraits. One, the larger in inks and the other in acrylics. Both capture the sitters as they are and give me much pleasure each time I look at them. I can see when looking at each picture the thought and understanding of my boys that Amanda has put into both pictures."
