Proteas in Glass Vase

Proteas in Glass Vase by Anica Amphlett is an original watercolour painting. It measures 27cm x 37cm and requires framing to hang.

Proteas are South African native flowers and are commonly grown in Australia. Some of our Australian natives, such as Banksias, Grevilleas and Waratahs are distant cousins to the Proteas as they all belong to the same family.

I have a friend who grows them in her garden, and she gave me these three. I photographed them and waited for a rainy day to paint them. Today was the day.

My style of painting combines both loose strokes and detailed ones, as I aim to capture the delicate nature of my subject. I am slowly loosening the reigns on myself and allowing the magical nature of the medium to do its own thing.
The painting will arrive in a flat pack in a supported clear cello wrap and include a certificate of authenticity.

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Born in 1963 to Slovenian parents, I divided my first 20 years between Australia and Slovenia. My love for art took root in early childhood. I vividly recall the arrival of my first mail-order acrylic paint set and a "How-to-paint" book featuring a classic lesson on painting a fruit bowl. Discouraged from pursuing Art School, I relegated my dreams to a hobby and became self-taught.

At seventeen, during a visit to Switzerland to see a friend, I found myself with only 20 Swiss Francs. I chose to invest half in paper and paints. After painting all night, I sold three paintings the next day, which luckily saved me from a bind.

I've always been drawn to a variety of mediums—oils, acrylics, gouache, pastels, and lately, watercolors. My goal? To capture both light and emotion. I recall as a teenager pondering if paint could be used in such a way that it breathes life into a canvas. This curiosity has stayed with me over time. Each medium offers a unique avenue for self-expression, yet the subtle conveyance of emotion and vitality remains my never-ending challenge and aspiration.

I am inspired by Australia's vast beauty, the diverse landscape, colourful birdlife, amazing flora and fauna! I am mesmerised by the power of the sun and am in awe of great artists both past (Vincent Van Gogh) and present such as Thomas Schwaller and Alvaro Castagnet.