About

Lili Amanda

I am a storyteller through images, whether created with a camera or a piece of charcoal. My journey began in photography, where I learned to capture emotions, compositions, and narratives through light and shadow. As a professional photographer with over 70 international awards, I have refined my artistic vision, which now extends into my paintings. For me, painting is simply a different medium—another way to convey the visions and messages I receive as an artist. My photography has shaped my approach to composition, texture, and mood in watercolour, as I continue to evolve as a visual storyteller.

I’m merely a messenger. Passing on messages through art.
Images are a form of telling.
Centuries ago, artists created paintings for churches to convey the stories from the Bible. So people who don’t know how to read can understand the meanings in the Bible.
I create the images which are messages passing through me. The images are visions in my head. There is a force make me to create. I have no choice. I’m here to serve art.

– Lili Amanda

From Zero to Exhibition at 43: 25-Week Drawing Challenge

Two years ago, I picked up watercolors as a hobby and quickly realized I needed solid drawing skills to enjoy the process of creating art. I was an absolute beginner with no former art education. But as a self-taught photographer, I thought: Why not teach myself how to draw after turning 43 and see if I can still learn new skills?

It was an experiment on myself, and it turned out to be an adventure.

I bought the book The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaides. The book is legendary, but it’s famously exhausting—written almost 100 years ago for 3+ hours a day. I tried to follow the exact schedules a few times and always ended up giving up. I wasn’t even able to get past the first schedule! But I was super curious about the book and all the exercises, so I thought it was about time to redesign the schedule to suit my needs instead of blindly following the book.

I redesigned the schedule to be 1 hour a day instead of 3+ hours a day. This schedule was much more sustainable, and I was actually able to finish it!

The Results The goal was to finish all the exercises and see if my drawing skills would improve. And they did! I’ve bought books, joined live drawing sessions, and hired online drawing coaches—but to be honest, this drawing challenge was the single best thing I did for elevating my drawing skills and building my confidence.

Why the Reference Photos Are Special As an autistic adult with ADHD, I got through this challenge using fidget toys, audiobooks, and practical tools to stay focused. One big challenge was finding good references. So, I invited local Maltese dancers as models to create all the art reference photos for this challenge.

I’ve faced more than 2000 blank pages, so drawing isn’t scary for me anymore. Recently, one of my drawings was selected to be exhibited in Valletta, the capital city of Malta! Can you imagine how thrilled I was?! From zero to an exhibition, wow!

I originally shot these high-resolution photos for myself, but halfway through the challenge, I realized I could share them with other artists. Every photo is:

• Professionally lit and shot by a photographer (perfect for zooming in on a computer monitor).
• Fully clothed and 100% kid-friendly (so you can draw comfortably anywhere around family or in public).
• Tailored to the exercises (saving you hours of searching Pinterest for usable poses).

I enjoyed these photographs and the challenge immensely, and I hope you will too. If I can do it, so can you!

Try Week 1 for Free! You don’t need 3 hours a day to master drawing—you just need 1 hour a day and the right schedule. Week 1 of the challenge is completely free for everyone.

Hit the button below to grab your free membership on Patreon find “Join for Free”, try the Week 1 schedule, and test out your first pack of dancer reference photo videos!

Awards and Exhibitions:

• Charcoal Drawing “Carole” exhibited for the MSA member’s exhibition in September 2026 at Palazzo de la Salle in Valletta, Malta.

• Exhibit at the Malta Fashion Week in Valletta, July 2026.

• Launch mixed media series “Blossoming” April, 2024

• 3 photographic prints, “The God Of Basil (2023)”, “Autumn Collection No.1 (2021) and Raising (2020) have been accepted for the “58th National Competition & Exhibition of Photography 2023 at Palazzo de la Salle in Valletta, Malta. Link to The Behind The Scene story video.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 7 Bronze Awards in January 2022.

• Solo Exhibitions: The Blink – Fine Art Photography Exhibition and 40 Over 40 Portrait Exhibition from 7th March – 13 March 2022 News coverage:https://ohmymalta.com.mt/events/40-over-40-portrait-exhibition/, The Malta Independent, Sunday circle, Times of Malta.

• New Beginning won the Best Portrait and The Perfect Flow won an Honourable mention, both exhibited at the Malta Photographic Society exhibition at the Malta Society of Arts, Valletta, Malta 2021.

•We Are One (2020) and Forward (2020) was selected for the collective Art Exhibition, Pandemic: Survival, Art and New Action, 35% of the proceeds to support a research project through RIDT. Location: Malta Enterprise. 1st to 17th December 2021.

• Solo Exhibition: Canon Pro Exhibition “40 Over 40 – The Art of The Female Form” at Canon Malta Avantech, exhibition from 1st July – 30 September 2021. 10 Photographs at the exhibition, including 4 self-portraits. News coverage:https://bit.ly/3z0DJqb

• The Hands – Nomination in Professional Open Theme category was awarded in the 7th Fine Art Photography Awards in April 2021

• “The Dance” won Silver Award from WPE Awards International Photography 2021.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 2 Silver Awards and 8 Bronze Awards in January 2021.

• The self-portrait series “DNA Embedded” has received a Bronze Award from The Budapest International Foto Awards in December 2020.

• The series “The Hands” has received the honour of being awarded Associateship status with The Malta Institute of Professional Photography (MIPP) in November of 2020.

• Received the honour of being awarded Associateship status with The Portrait Masters in September of 2020.

• Received the honour of being awarded Licentiateship status with the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) in September of 2020.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 23 Bronze Awards in July 2020.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 20 Bronze Awards in January 2020.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 7 Bronze Awards in July 2019.

• At The Portrait Masters Awards won 3 Bronze Awards in January 2019.

•’To Lovers – Earth” and “Awakening” exhibited at the San Anton Palace, Malta, along with other artists. for The 2018 Fine Arts Auction which was launched by H.E. The President of Malta.

•Exhibition “A Perpetual Recall”, a jointed exhibition with Maltese abstract painter Damian Ebejer. A collection of her ongoing self-portrait series HER was exhibited in Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, Attard, Malta for the whole month of November 2016.

•Special guest photographer at Ragusa Tra I Fotografi workshop 2016 A.F.I. Associazione fotografi Iblei in Sicily.

•Solo Exhibition “Women In Malta 2015” at Malta Chamber of Commerce, Valletta, Malta. Inaugurated by HE Ms Marie Louise Colerio Preca, President of Malta

•Title:”Clean”, Honourable Mention of the Photography Art Contest. “Clean”, a full-page feature in Issue 10 of Artist Portfolio Magazine.

• Title:” Dreamer acting out of dream” Darkroom Gallery:Juried Fine Art Photography Exhibitions. Exhibition in Darkroom Gallery, Vermont, USA 2010

•Title:” Imagination Runs Wild” Juror Award of Merit. International Fine Art Competition, Paris. 2012

•Title:” Self-Multilation” and “Hotels of Tufo” winners of Renaissance Photography Prize. Exhibition in Mall Gallery, London, UK 2012

Artist Talks & Guest Speaker Engagements:

•Guest Speaker – The Making of Portraits – Malta Photographic Society – April 2021

•Speaker – The Portraiture of Amanda Hsu – Malta Institute of Professional Photography – March 2021

•Guest Speaker – Canon Malta – June 2020

Professional Experience:

•Owner/Photographer – Cranberry Studio, Malta
Specializing in portrait photography, I have worked with clients internationally, refining my ability to create empowering and emotive imagery.

Collections:

Private Collections – Malta, UK, USA, Germany and Italy
Selected photographic works held in private collections.

Skills:

• Photography: Portraiture, Fine Art, Conceptual
• Watercolour: Figurative, Nature, and Mixed Media
• Storytelling through imagery in various mediums (photography, painting)

Interview, TV and Publication:

• “The God of Basil” (2023) featured on Times of Malta news in December 2023.

• “Autumn Collection No.1” Featured on In-Nazzjon news in December 2023.

• Judge for MPS Internal Merit Photo Competition 2023. Link to the Podcast episode about the judging.

• Interviewed by Sunday Circle March 2022 Issue

• Times of Malta for covering our exhibition news. 2022

• Malta Independent exhibition news coverage 2022

•Guest speaker about portrait photography for Canon Malta 3rd June 2020

•Trapped in Plastic published in Pink Magazine March 2019 Issue.

Photographer & Concept & Wardrobe:Amanda Hsu
Models:Christine Aquilina and Rebecca Busuttil
Makeup Artist:Rebecca Busuttil
Prop Design:Tijn Roozen

•Portrait Prophecy / SEP VOL 4 Published in Féroce Magazine in September 2018

Photographer & Design:Amanda Hsu @amanda.hsu.photographer
Model & Makeup: Valerie Caruana @valeriecaruana

•Fruit Temptation Published in BeauNu Magazine July 2018

Photographer & Hair & Retoucher:Amanda Hsu @amanda.hsu.photographer
Model & Makeup: Rebecca Busuttil @rebecca_0012

•Fruit Seduction II Published in IMIRAGE Magazine Isuue #225 July 2018

Model: Nicolà Grixti @x_nicky_x
Retoucher:Amanda Hsu & Anastasia Mironova @desingmira
Photographer & Makeup & Hair: Amanda Hsu @amanda.hsu.photographer

•Fruit Seduction I Published in IMIRAGE Magazine Isuue #222 June 2018

Model: Daniela Farrugia @daniela__farrugia
Retoucher:Amanda Hsu & Anastasia Mironova @desingmira
Photographer & Makeup & Hair: Amanda Hsu @amanda.hsu.photographer

•Summer Coloured Clouds published in IMIRAGE Magazine Isuue #200 May 2018

Director & Photographer: Amanda Hsu @amanda.hsu.photographer
Makeup Artist: Kimberley Portelli Teuma-Castelletti @beautybykimberleyp
Hair Stylist: Mandy Farrugia @studiommalta
Model: Dahlia Mitrovic @Dahlia_
Jewelry Designer: Sam Selby @samselbydesign
Retoucher:Amanda Hsu & Anastasia Mironova @desingmira

•In The Meads published in Féroce Magazine May Issue 2018

Photography & Styling & Retoucher: @amanda.hsu.photographer
Model & Makeup: @valeriecaruana @rebecca_0012 @amanda.hsu.photographer

•Pastel Reminiscence published in ELEGANT MAGAZINE spring issue

March 2018. Model: Jade Bartolo @jad300
Make up and Nails: Rebecca Busuttil @rebecca_0012
Headpieces: Su Yue Tsai
Retouchers: Amanda Hsu & Anastasia Mironova @desingmira
Photographer and Hairstylist: Amanda Hsu

•Featured on cover and contributed an article in MIPP (Malta Institution of Professional Photography) FOCALPOINT June issue 2016.

•News coverage: Tele Nova Ragusa, March 2016 (Sicily)

•News coverage: La Sicilia, March 2016 (Sicily)

•Interview on TV Show Maltarti on TVM2, presenter Ray Calleja. (Malta)

•On TVM Madwarna, presenter Salvu Mallia. (Malta)

•Times of Malta, March 2015

•Pink Magazine Issue 124, February 2015 (Malta)