How would you describe what you do to someone who hasn’t seen your art?
I love to capture realistic scenes of people swimming, surfing, sunbathing or playing in the sand and water. My oil paintings are inspired by life on the Gold Coast and the works of David Hockney and Brett Whiteley.
When were you first drawn to your art form?
In 2016. Water is a symbol of life, change and renewal and has many moods and colours. When I paint water, I escape the noise of the world and enter a realm of tranquillity. Painting water is my way of celebrating life and expressing gratitude for its gifts.
Does your studio reflect any personal traits?
I’m based on the beautiful Gold Coast and am lucky to have a home studio that goes through iterations of mess and chaos to beautifully ordered and serene, depending on the style I am painting on any given day.
Did you study fine arts, or are you self-taught?
I am a self-taught painter. However, it was a natural transition from graphic designer, for which I have formal qualifications. Being self-taught means I wasn’t afraid to try new things, and I taught myself how to paint by watching YouTube tutorials.
What does a typical day in the studio involve?
I treat being a full-time painter as any other job, meaning I dedicate a set amount of time to certain tasks every week. Typically, I decide what kind of painting I wish to work on and spend time finding models and reference materials. Free days are for varnishing and framing and Fridays are for packaging and organising courier pickups.
What’s something people may not know about what it’s like to work with the materials you use?
Other painters have told me they don’t like using oils due to the extended drying times. But I’ve tried other mediums and always come back to oils. I love the buttery consistency and texture.
Which art-world players would you invite to dinner?
Yuki Terase, who has been involved in some of the most record-breaking sales of contemporary art, including the Basquiat skull painting that sold for $110.5 million. Oliver Miro, the founder of a VR app that allows galleries and collectors to view and interact with digital representations of physical artworks. And Iwan Wirth, the co-founder and co-president of one of the most influential galleries in the world.
What is your dream artistic project?
A series of large-scale paintings that depict the different seasons and times of day on the coast, capturing the changing colours, lights and atmospheres of the sea and sky. I would also love to collaborate with photographers, sculptors and musicians to create a multidisciplinary exhibition that showcases the beach as a source of art and culture.
Above: artist Amanda Cameron. Courtesy: the artist.
Amanda Cameron, Always, 2023. Oil painting, 122 x 153cm. Courtesy: the artist.
Amanda Cameron, Chameleon, 2023. Oil painting, 101 x 10cm. Courtesy: the artist.
Amanda Cameron, Drops of Gold, 2023. Oil painting with gold leaf, 122 x 122cm. Courtesy: the artist.