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Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Amy Brown was born
in Bellingham, Washington in 1972. Like most talented artists, she began
drawing at a young age.
"I was never one of those children who daydreamed of
growing up to become an artist. I just ASSUMED that was what I
would be. It was never a question of 'do I want to be an artist?'.
Often there are days when I really don't want to paint, I HAVE
to paint. The urge to create is almost a wild, living entity trapped
inside me, clawing to escape." |
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My greatest influences have been Brian
Froud and Michael Parkes, which is evident in my paintings. I have also been
greatly inspired by the urban fantasy stories of Charles deLint and the
lovely, haunting music of Loreena McKennitt.
When I begin a piece, I usually have a
good idea as to what I want the finished image to look like. However, by the
time I actually complete the painting it has often evolved into something
completely different. I start with a blank piece of paper and begin drawing.
I rarely do preliminary sketches unless there is a troublesome area that
needs special attention or I can't decide on the layout of the overall
piece. The initial drawing can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to hours,
days, months, and sometimes years.
After the pencil drawing is completed, I break out my
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors and Windsor and Newton brushes and begin
laying down the background colors. I prefer to work with 140lb or 300lb
Arches cold press watercolor paper. The texture of Arches seems the most
conducive to the mix of textures I like to use when painting. Normally I
complete the background first and then concentrate on the characters. Having
never received any formal art training, I begin each painting with a bit of
trepidation….praying it turns out well. Over the years I have developed my
own techniques by trial and error as well as studying the work of other
artists.
When I paint, I paint for myself. I find it hard to be
passionate about another person's ideas. For this reason I don't take on
commissions, as they tend to put me in a disagreeable mood and take away my
creative license. After completing more than 800 paintings, I have found
that the images which were painted for my own delight are often the images
most well received by the public. Ultimately, I wish for each painting to
evoke a deep emotion in the viewer….hopefully a longing to become a part of
the painting itself.
To date, my favorite painting is "Mystique". My favorite images are
always the ones that I can look back on and say 'I wouldn't change a thing'.
Ironically, these are rarely the images best received by the public. Quite
the reverse…..if I hate it, everyone else thinks it's great."
Technique. I rarely do preliminary sketches.
Occasionally, if the idea I have is too unformed in my head, I will spend
thirty minutes or so sketching out the main character and then I will
transfer it to watercolor paper via a light table. Usually, I start drawing
directly on the watercolor paper, though lightly so I can erase and re-draw
when necessary. If a drawing refuses to evolve properly, I will set it aside
and start on another. Some drawings can take ages to complete.
Sometimes I
get frustrated because I have so many ideas fighting to come out. Every
painting has so many possibilities.
When I am happy with the drawing, I start to paint. I always do the
background first, whether it consists of light washes of color or multiple
layers of paint. Next I focus on any inanimate objects in the background,
including trees, rocks, walls, water. I will use salt, wax, ink or colored
pencil to help create different textures. After the entire background is
finished I will work on any secondary figures. These might be goblins,
pixies, or animals. I prefer to paint the central figure last. I focus on
skin tones first, then follow with clothing, wings and hair.
Each aspect of a painting involves a gradual build up of
colors. Background washes can have as many as five or six layers of paint.
Clothing usually has at least 2 layers, while four or five layers are needed
for hair. I use white gouache or colored pencil for accents and highlights.
Sometimes I will outline the image in ink before I begin adding watercolor
washes.
- Favorite Authors - Tolkien (of
course), Charles De Lint (absolutely enchanting stories and characters),
Orson Scott Card (great lessons to learn from many of his books, with
wonderful plot twists too)
- Favorite Books - Imajica-Clive Barker,
Swan Song-Robert McCammon, Mists of Avalon-Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mythago
Wood and The Hollowing-Robert Holdstock, Someplace To Be Flying and Jack
of Kinrowan-Charles De Lint
- Favorite Artists - Brian and Wendy
Froud, Allan Lee, Michael Parkes, Stephanie Law (HI Stephanie!), Brom….there
are so many
- Favorite Movies - Labyrinth and Heavy
Metal
- Good Reference Books (for learning how
to draw people) - Pose File books (I have #1 and #4), Illustrators
Reference Manual-Nude
- Tools of the Trade - Amy uses Daniel
Smith Extra Fine Watercolors, Windsor and Newton brushes, Arches cold
press watercolor paper, and Saunders Waterford cold press watercolor
paper.
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