Watercolor has captivated Amanda Amend since she was a child, when she watched a friend of her parents' as he painted. Amend was sure she didn't have the talent to do such a thing, but many years later she has taken up the brush and dedicated herself to this wonderful medium. She loves how the paint moves on the paper, the thrilling variety of edges as the paint diffuses on a wet surface or makes a crisp edge on a dry one, the natural blending of colors, the endless subtleties of paint properties, and the unending challenge of interacting with such a dynamic medium. Each painting is a discovery in terms of composition and technique, but also in terms of what excites her as an artist. What moves her to delve deeply into this scene, to catch its essence?
The Historic Burlington series was inspired by a sense of living and breathing the history that surrounds us in this little city. In Burlington’s architecture she senses the aspirations and struggles of generations past, the character of this place. She envisioned this work as a part of a Celebration of Burlington which could include artists of all media, writers, historians, and storytellers, the creative sector which sees the city through different lenses. Perhaps that vision will be realized, in time. For now, these works are a unique collection of watercolors that seek to raise awareness of the built environment in which we live and grow.
