ABOUT AMANDA: AGE 9

Amanda (age 9) has been at the studio since June, 2001. Her very first oil painting, “The House” is a delightful piece! Amanda first photographed her house so that we could use that as a reference. She determined what size she wanted her surface to be—it would be a traditional, horizontal, landscape size (in this case, 28” x 21”). Next she constructed the canvas, applied gesso, and made several preliminary drawings. Our first day of painting was a beautiful summer day, so we decided to begin by setting up our easels in front of her house where we could directly observe light and shadow, color and composition. Amanda’s finished piece is very colorful with bold, expressive lines and brush strokes. Color is one of Amanda’s strengths, she has excellent ideas about how to go about paint application and does so with assurance. Her impasto style adds both texture and mass to her subjects and results in a fresh and immediate look to her work.

Amanda painting "The House" in front of her house!
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Continuing the painting in the studio.
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The finishing touches to the painting: painting the edges of the canvas.
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Completing the "Painting Worksheet" in the studio.
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Photograph of the actual house.
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"The House"
Amanda, age 9
28" x 21", Oil on canvas, 2001
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In her next painting, “Blue Life,” Amanda switched from realism to a monochromatic abstract composition. This painting was all about experimenting with a variety of brush strokes, shapes and values of blue. It clearly displays Amanda’s energy as an artist and her love for bold painting. (Yes, this one took a loooong time to dry!)

Beginning the painting, "Blue Life."
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"Blue Life"
Amanda, age 9
11" x 14", Oil on canvas, 2001
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In preparation for our field trip last fall to the Cleveland Museum of Art to view “Picasso: The Artist’s Studio,” Amanda did a study of a Picasso composition from the exhibit. As with all her work, she put her own “spin” on it by changing the colors and inventing her own methods of applying the paint. Her title is "Shapey Life."

Amanda painting "Shapey Life," a study of a Picasso piece.
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"Shapey Life"
Amanda, age 9
14" x 16", Oil on canvas, 2002
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In the true spirit of both the holidays and of art, Amanda undertook a design project in December of painting her own holiday wrapping paper. She applied tempera paint to large pieces of white paper to create interesting and unique patterns and designs.

"Holiday Wrapping Paper"
Amanda, age 9
Tempera on paper, 2001
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More holiday paper!
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“I have learned that when I get an image in my head, that it doesn’t matter how it got there, just get it down on paper.” (Amanda) This is how Amanda’s next painting project emerged—–an image in her head about an object that she likes a lot, a jingle bell. She began with this image of the bell, and gave us a close up and wide angle view of the bell on a necklace which was around the neck of a girl. This piece is so interesting to look at, not only because of its unique view point and subject matter, but also because of its very rich paint mixing and application. Notice the use of the near compliments (blue and yellow) as well as the activation of interesting negative and positive spaces.

"The Bell"
Amanda, age 9
16" x 16", Oil on canvas, 2002
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In summary, Amanda’s art is fresh, unique and energizing! She leaves us with this advice:

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad it (your art) is, it is just fun to create! Do it because you want to and have fun! Don’t do it to be better than someone else. Like Picasso, he didn’t worry about whether it was good or bad, he just wanted to do it.” (Amanda, 2001)

INTERVIEW WITH AMANDA, age 9, January 2002
What are some of the things that you like about creating art?
It’s just fun! I really can’t explain why; I like it because it is fun and I love it! It interests me. Basically, you are always experimenting. It is an adventure.

When did you first start making art?
I started when I was a real little girl and just kept drawing. Drawing pictures on paper, poster board and all kinds of stuff

Who is your favorite artist and why?
I like Grandma Moses because I love the colors in her paintings and her style is out of this world and wonderful!

What is your favorite medium?
Oil paints.

What kinds of subjects do you like to paint?
I like animals and people. Sometimes I like plants and scenery, but, usually, animals and people.

What is your favorite color?
Green

What is the most important thing that you have learned about art?
I have learned a lot about different artists (Grandma Moses, Picasso, Mark Rothko), about different textures and different kinds of paint. I have learned how to color mix tints and shades. I made my own canvases and that is fun.

What have you learned from your art, about yourself, art techniques, etc.?
I have learned that when I get an image in my head that it doesn’t matter how it got there, just get it down on paper. Just do it.

What advise—what words—would you share with others with regard to making art?
It doesn’t matter how good or bad it (your art) is, it is just fun to create! Do it because you want to and have fun! Don’t do it to be better than someone else. Like Picasso, he didn’t worry about whether it was good or bad, he just wanted to do it.

What advise would you give to parents whose children are interested in making art?
Let them go for it because I think they will have a great time!

Of all your paintings, which is your favorite painting and why?
My favorite painting is “The House” because it is of my house and it was something that she (my mom) really wanted and when she got it, she was very happy. And that made me happy!

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I like to play the violin and the piano; I used to collect special pencils. I create stories and make up games. I like to bake layer cakes with yummy things between the layers. I love soccer and basketball.

What would you choose for a career when you are older?
I know I want to play soccer as my school sport; and at some time I would like to be a mom. I love so many things that I am not sure right now. But as I get older I am sure I will figure it out!