Artist Amanda Horvath

Amanda Horvath is a contemporary artist producing vibrant colourful and highly textured original paintings. After achieving a B A Hons (1st class) in fine art at Sheffield Hallam University, Amanda subsequently lectured in colleges. She now practices full time as an artist from her studio in the Peak District where she lives with her husband.

“My paintings are about peaceful places and quiet healing woodlands. I attempt to create uplifting work bringing a feeling of optimism and freshness, capturing the spirit of these tranquil places. Inspired by ethereal light and dramatic contrasting shadows, I have a passion for expressing nature in beautiful colours, whilst imparting a feeling of calm. This affinity with nature has grown from early childhood and my past experiences,she says”.

Working from observation of nature Amanda often begins a canvas en plein air, finishing in her studio. Harnessing optical mixing techniques employed by the impressionists and using a mixture of impasto, scumbling and glazing, she works expressively in acrylics or oils. With a palette knife or other mark making techniques the work is created intuitively and quite freely, so the end result is spontaneous and fresh developed as a natural process. The paintings originate from real places and woods nearby continuing the process with photographs, drawings, memory and imagination. Each painting develops layer upon layer until reaching a natural conclusion, forming contemporary paintings that lie somewhere between abstraction and realism. Her paintings have found homes with private collectors worldwide.

What’s your artistic background?

I have been painting, drawing and creating art from early childhood. My work has changed and taken different forms many times over the years. I have experimented with textiles, printmaking as well as studying life drawing extensively. I have always had a close connection with nature, which is where my inspiration begins.

What’s integral to the work of an artist?

Where the artist takes their ideas and inspiration is integral to the artist’s practice and forms the foundation of the work. Drawing in the place is essential for meaningful artwork. Drawing outdoors  is the bedrock of painting and provides fresh ideas and compositions. For me this is the natural world, forests, moorlands and coastal scenes.

What role does the artist have in society?

Artists are in a good position to make statements and convey messages for change. This can be for a wide audience or with smaller groups. In the past I have worked in areas of art teaching where I’ve helped people recover from illness or mental health problems as a form of therapy. I now try to create works of art that concentrate on the beauty in the world and I try to convey feelings of peace and calm to people and a message that art can be a great healer.

What art do you most identify with?

I identify with the work of impressionist painters and the period over the 19-20th century .The discoveries in colour theory and advances in materials meant that artists were working in natural daylight and experimenting with light and shadow using complementary colours. Their work with optical mixing has had a great influence on my paintings.

What themes do you pursue?

Mostly nature, forests, woodlands and the sea.

What’s your favourite art work?

There are so many wonderful artworks, I don’t really have a favourite, I love all art.

Describe a real life situation that inspired you?

At a turning point in my life I went to the woods and the light was perfect, the sun was falling through the leaves and there were sun rays creating strong dramatic shadows over the forest floor. The joy I felt being in the light of the forest was like an enlightenment and that’s how the shadow and light paintings began, I’ve been painting the strong shadows, light and colours in my work ever since then.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

My true vocation has always been as an artist, however I have done other jobs such as nursing, art therapy and teaching.

Why Art?

Art has always been in my life for as long as I can remember. During my early years I developed observational skills at a young age, I was in hospital for a long time as a toddler and the nurses wheeled us all out into a courtyard where there were cherry trees. I remember watching the blossoms and the leaves, the veins of the leaves highlighted by the sun and the transparency with the dark twigs and branches between.

What is an artistic outlook on life?

It’s really about having an idea that you can bring to life and convey to an audience. There’s always an element of serendipity and it’s important to create things that make people feel happy.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

When I receive lovely emails from people who are delighted with their new painting, I always remember the kind words and letters that people send me when they are pleased with the work.

What food, drink, song inspires you?

Vegetable curry, cups of tea and music by Debussy.

Is the artistic life lonely?

It can be lonely at times. To paint you have to be alone, you can’t chat or engage with other people as you have to concentrate and be disciplined. However when I finish my work I have a wonderful husband, I have grown children and granddaughters, they are my world.

What do you dislike about the art world?

I think there can be too much elitism and  pretentiousness in some areas of the art world. I think art should be for everyone and should bring beauty and joy in to people’s lives.

What do you dislike about your work?

If I am making a painting and find I dislike parts of it I change it or start again. I don’t like my work to be dark, there is usually a sense of light in my paintings.

What do you like about your work?

What I love about my work is the way I can express woodlands and sunlight light falling through leaves; forests full of Spring flowers and Summer’s leafy dappled light. I love painting the beautiful tones of Autumn amber, gold and cherry red. Winter’s quiet snow covered woods with glinting sunlight and pale lilac shadows. I feel a deep connection to nature and this is evident in my work.

Should art be funded?

Art should definitely be funded. It has such great value for groups of people, communities and is so healing for people with mental health problems. Art can be a great educational tool too. Funds spent on artistic activities are a great investment in the health and well being of individuals, families and communities.

What role does arts funding have?

Art funding helps bring people together, create team working skills, can help with education, create feelings of worth and achievement and foster healthy community relationships.

What is your dream project?

I would love to create a stained glass window, the design based on one of my tree paintings with the shadows and light areas. I would like this to be a piece of public art for everyone to see and enjoy.

Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.

• Georgia O’Keeffe
• David Hockney
• Gustav Klimte

Favourite or most inspirational place.

The top of Mount Snowdon in North Wales. From the top on a clear day you can see for miles, it’s like being at the top of the world.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The best piece of advice I was ever given was to believe in myself and carry on with my art. This was given to me by a very dear friend who said that I should remain true to myself and if I continued on my true path that things would always work out well.

Professionally what’s your goal?

To continue working as an artist, it’s important to me to produce beautiful work for people to enjoy. I look forward to many exhibitions and continue working with lovely people.

Future plans.

My next exhibition is at a lovely gallery in North Wales over the Summer 2024. It is the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw by the sea. After that there will be art fairs represented by galleries and I have many new ideas for developing my work.