mnartists.org: Amanda Downs

George (head study)

Amanda Downs — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 02:12:31 GMT

A small 8 x 8 inch portrait study of my friend George. Oil on panel.

Jessica

Amanda Downs — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:18:55 GMT

Jessica 16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas With my portraits, I try to connect the viewer with my subject on a personal level. Jessica is a good friend, a mother and an art enthusiast. She's always interested in what someone has to say. Her pose is casual but active, leaning forward with her head turned and her mouth slightly open, ready to speak. She's always got something to say and it's always insightful, funny or useful. I wanted to catch a bit of her sardonic humor, no-nonsense attitude and approachable personality with this portrait.

At the Back of the North Wind

Amanda Downs — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:34:28 GMT

Pen and ink/chalk on tinted paper. 11 x 14 inches. Based on the fairy tale novel by George MacDonald, particularly this quote below: "Well, please, North Wind, you are so beautiful, I am quite ready to go with you." "You must not be ready to go with everything beautiful all at once, Diamond." "But what's beautiful can't be bad. You're not bad, North Wind?" "No; I'm not bad. But sometimes beautiful things grow bad by doing bad, and it takes some time for their badness to spoil their beauty. So little boys may be mistaken if they go after things because they are beautiful." "Well, I will go with you because you are beautiful and good, too." "Ah, but there's another thing, Diamond:--What if I should look ugly without being bad--look ugly myself because I am making ugly things beautiful?--What then?" "I don't quite understand you, North Wind. You tell me what then." "Well, I will tell you. If you see me with my face all black, don't be frightened. If you see me flapping wings like a bat's, as big as the whole sky, don't be frightened. If you hear me raging ten times worse than Mrs. Bill, the blacksmith's wife--even if you see me looking in at people's windows like Mrs. Eve Dropper, the gardener's wife-- you must believe that I am doing my work. Nay, Diamond, if I change into a serpent or a tiger, you must not let go your hold of me, for my hand will never change in yours if you keep a good hold. If you keep a hold, you will know who I am all the time, even when you look at me and can't see me the least like the North Wind. I may look something very awful. Do you understand?"

Minneapolis Winter

Amanda Downs — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:57:12 GMT

Minneapolis Winter. Watercolor and ink on paper. Color study of my friend Amina, bundling up for a walk outside.

A Pathological and Morbid Process

Amanda Downs — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:41:45 GMT

A pen and ink illustration of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes. The title comes from a quote from the original Holmes story "The Sign of Four" in which Watson warns Holmes against drug use. He tells him to “Count the cost! Your brain may, as you say, be roused and excited, but it is [b]a pathological and morbid process[/b] which involves increased tissue-change and may at least leave a permanent weakness."

Yolandi Vi$$er

Amanda Downs — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:40:42 GMT

Yolandi Vi$$er; rap-rave artist from South Africa and one half of Die Antwoord. Die Antwoord created a musical and fashion movement called ZEF that embraces the idea of being poor but proud, outspoken and strong. I added her alien arm based on creatures in the film "District 9," a sci-fi film that addresses the social and economic issues in South Africa.

The Bride

Amanda Downs — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:28:14 GMT

The Bride. Mixed media on tinted paper. A fun illustration of The Bride of Frankenstein, toying with the ideas of female elegance and monstrosity. Just in time for Halloween!

Poison Ivy

Amanda Downs — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:49:41 GMT

Poison Ivy Pen and ink on paper. Approx. 12 x 14 inches.

Logan

Amanda Downs — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:00:39 GMT

Pen and ink portrait of Logan (Wolverine). This was a labor of love for my favorite Marvel Comics character. I love to paint realistic portraits but I've also been a comic book fan since my pre-teen years.

Resurrection Mary

Amanda Downs — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:19:32 GMT

Resurrection Mary Pen and Ink on paper. 13 x 15.5 inches. A famous ghost story in the Chicago area involves a disappearing hitchhiker nicknamed "Resurrection Mary". She appears and hitches a ride to the cemetery, then gets out of the vehicle and disappears into the sea of graves.

Back Study

Amanda Downs — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:43:26 GMT

Charcoal and pastel on tinted paper. "We must no more ask whether the soul and body are one than ask whether the wax and the figure impressed on it are one." -Aristotle

Amina's Winter

Amanda Downs — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:19:42 GMT

Mixed media portrait on tinted paper. Portrait of my friend Amina Harper (a talented illustrator who also has work on MNartists.org). The red scarf shows her personal warmth and the splashes of ink add unexpected elements to an otherwise-formal portrait.

Sibling Rivalry

Amanda Downs — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:52:24 GMT

24 x 30 inches. Portrait of my sister. The title "Sibling Rivalry" is a joke between us. She's really my best friend. I adore her free spirit and positive, colorful style. She's a bright spot of light in the middle of a dark ocean.

Tyger Tyger

Amanda Downs — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:58:32 GMT

Portrait of my sister. Oil on canvas, approx. 26 x 40 inches. The title comes from "The Tyger" by William Blake (a favorite poem of our mother's). My sister's fiery hair and attitude combined with the symmetry of her tattoos remind me of Blake's description of the tiger. An excerpt from "The Tyger": [i]When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their tears, Did He smile His work to see? Did He who made the lamb make thee? Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? [/i]

Northerner's Daughter

Amanda Downs — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:37:50 GMT

Northerner's Daughter. Oil on board. 18 x 24 inches. This is a portrait of my mother, a second-generation American and full-blooded Swede. I wanted to paint her as a woman who isliving a lifefull ofwisdom, love and strength that was given to her by her proud family history.