Amanda Greiner will debut her vibrant oil paintings in her newly finished studio in Bynum on the 25th Chatham Studio Tour. Her first time on the tour, Greiner’s paintings have an unusually radiant feel because of her signature oil painting process. “I use only one brush and mix the colors directly on the canvas,” she explains, “I draw with the paint and have fun applying larger areas of color. I usually paint over areas only to bring them back in a different way.” Unlike other artists, she utilizes the canvas not just as a support, but as a layer of the painting. Her bold application and vibrant, primary color pallet emphasize the joy she has creating each piece.
A North Carolina native, Greiner has always been artistic. She has been a commissioned artist since high school, but discovered her passion for oil paints in college at UNC Wilmington. While pursuing dual degrees in business and art, Amanda found her medium. “I was getting frustrated with how fast my acrylic paint was drying in class one day – my professor just gave me his oil paints and said, ‘here play with these’ – I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Over a decade later, Greiner has honed a unique style which runs through her ever evolving subjects that she has dubbed realistic abstract expressionism. She expresses herself through her work and stresses “My art is about perspective and emotion.” Inspired by current events, people she interacts with, and her travels, she emphasizes “I want the viewer to feel something from it – not necessarily what I feel. I want them to think about it.”
Greiner has been exhibiting at juried art festivals in and out of state for several years. She has also donated several pieces to charity auctions and has maintained “I want my art to be attainable.” She will have limited edition giclee prints and her original oil paintings, starting at $200 available on the 25th Chatham Studio Tour. Visit Amanda Greiner the first two weekends in December and online at GreinerStudio.com.