Oil Painting Portrait Workshop at Victorian Artists Society - Day 3

I'm happy with the first block in colours this time.
I think I managed to capture the likeness of the model reasonably ok so far.
I'm looking forward to next week to finish it.

Work in progress. 14 x 18 in.

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IHS Victorian Hairdressing Competition 2013

"Since IHS stopped doing onstage competitions, it took away some excitements from the event", one of scrutinisers, Gary, told me when we had a chat.

It's a rather sad comment from the person who's been in the industry for a long time.
It definitely seems to be getting more and more lacklustre every year.

Still, there were some great hairstyles today from which I learned a lot.
As everyone knows, you're creatively dead the moment you stop learning.

This one was sensationally beautiful.

I was amazed by the fact that it was created by an apprentice. 

Although I'm not keen on the shaved nape section, the cut is brilliantly designed and executed, also, the colour work is top notch. 

Beautiful cool blonde and deep violet. Superb.
And, the model with perfect bone structure. The way she did catwalk was mesmerising. Elegant, mysterious and seductive. 

As it turned out, this was created by someone from Biba Academy in Fitzroy. I was kind of suspecting that.
I spoke to her and she introduced herself as "Hiro", and I said, "My name is Hiro, too". 
Well, her name is actually "Hiroko", and she came from Japan, being at Biba for only a year.
She said that she did a cut and a colour. 

It's really amazing to see someone doing such a splendid cut and colour work after a short period of time.
That's a testament to the highest quality of training at Biba. She is very fortunate to have been with the leading salon in Melbourne, surrounded by many great stylists, colourists and most of all, best educators. She obviously is very passionate.

"People who have been through an intense, rigorous training tend to do an intense, rigorous haircut.
On the other hand, people who have been through a lazy, half-baked training can only do a lazy, half-baked haircut."

This is another one by a senior stylist at Biba.
Again, brilliant design and awesome colour. It's just beautiful.

Here're some other good stuff by stylists in an open haircut competition.

I have to say, most hair designs were basically similar, as one can see from the photos above.
When Sassoon first showed it in a collection "Vanguard", that was truly revolutionary. I remember thinking, "Gee, this is crazy."
It's kind of a 'trend', that's been going on for a while. But, to be able to execute them is a very difficult thing to do.
Starting from finding models....
Well, that's a very important training process, too.

All photos are shot by me.

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Oil Painting at Last Peek Studio

Although I was reasonably happy with the shape, the colours turned out to be a bit boring.
It seems I always have that problem. I can get a drawing ok, but, when it comes to colours.....
That only shows my luck of practice in oil painting.

We had a fantastic pregnant model Jackie today.
And I really love this class. Nice and cozy atmosphere, and very creative people who inspire me a lot.

Work in progress. 14 x 16 in.

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Oil Painting sketch

One hour sketch on a small canvas.

Oil on canvas. 8 x 10 in.

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'Turner' public lecture at Melbourne Uni

Dr Joyce Townsend from Tate had a public lecture with Michael Cathart as part of Radio National program.

She is a specialist in conservation of Turner's paintings, sharing very fascinating stories about the artist's materials, technique and life.

I didn't know that his father was a barber, and unlike other parents, he encouraged his son to pursue creative career, often telling his clients in a shop that, "My son is going to be a great painter."
Actually, he played a role of the artist's assistant and opened a gallery for him.

Turner was a very impatient and reckless painter, more interested in immediate effect, putting layer upon layers, resulting in many cracks on canvas.

In his "Snow Storm", X-ray shows the way he painted this masterpiece, sweeping brushstrokes with whole arm to depict moving water.

There were lots of fascinating stories like this, and I really had a great time.

I feel like going to Canberra to see the exhibition.

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Oil Painting Portrait Workshop at Victorian Artists Society - Day 2

I'm reasonably happy with this one.
There's more variety of tones on her skin, although it doesn't show much in the photo below.
I love the way Barbara gives me suggestions. Like, cool vs warm tones, greying background, unity of colours in the painting, etc.
I see a great improvement straight way.
I'd like to put much thicker paints once I get more confident.

Oil on canvas. 16 x 18 in.

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'People Painting People' at Victorian Artists Society

It was a fabulous day.

There were lots of great artists demonstrating their creativity in front of audience.

Watching them create paintings was really an awe inspiring experience.

From the initial stages, some of them engaging in meticulous drawings, others simply blocking in colours, to the subsequent stages, where shapes gradually emerges, to the finishing touches....

And there was a tremendous creative energy in the studios in this iconic building today.

I really had a great time. It's one of those days when I really feel great, and be inspired to do more art.

The painting above was by Bill Kerr.


Some of my favourite artists......


Gregory R Smith

John Xiong Wu

Ray Hewitt

Keming Shen

Barbara McManus

Peter Smales

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The Trials of Henry Kissinger

Based on Christopher Hitches' book 'The Trial of Henry Kissinger', this superb documentary film is a scathing indictment against what he calls "a pathological liar and a war criminal."

The film briefly traces his birth in Germany to his ascent to White House.

In the film, there're three main cases against him, war in Vietnam and Cambodia, invasion of East Timor, and assassination of General Rene Schneider in Chile.

There are more detailed accusations in Hitchens' book, but, with a lot of archival images, sounds and footage, this documentary succeeds in presenting a very convincing case against this recipient of Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.

For what?
"Efforts to broker a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam War."

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The Art of Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon is a very difficult artist to like.

His paintings are extremely painful, one can't see any "beauty" in his bleak depiction of human existence.

And his life itself was full of pains.

However, I think he was very honest in his paintings, in a sense that, that's how he saw the true meaning of life. And they are "beautifully" painted.

This documentary traces his major works, using his own words.

It's rather a brief portrait of this tormented artist, one can't help but feel missing something.
One thing I hate watching these documentaries is, the background music is so loud that sometimes it's difficult to hear the voices of the characters in the film.

Still, it offers some insight into his mind.

"Between birth and death, it's always been the same thing. The violence of life."

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Oil Painting Portrait Workshop at Victorian Artists Society - Day 1

Today is the first day of this term.
I'm reasonably happy with the progress so far.

Work in progress.

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Victorian Salon des Refusés 2013

Also called, 'The Hidden Faces of The Archibald', this exhibition at Hilton South Wharf is a selected collection of the paintings that didn't make to The Archibald.

A good friend of mine, Andrew Potter was selected for his work, ‘Kristie Coakley’. It's a big painting, and I love rather humourous rendition of the subject. Not only that, his technical ability is apparent in the dress and figures. 

I'm always amazed by his imagination. He seems to be able to create a story on canvas very easily.

I'm sure he will be in the finalist very soon. Very talented artist.

The exhibition runs until Aug 8.

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Life Drawing, Oil Painting, 'The Köln Concert' by Keith Jarrett

We had a French model today at Princess Hill, celebrating Bastille Day.
I've drawn Maud before. She creates very dynamic poses one after another, thanks to her dancing background. Awesome model to draw.

Maud. 10 min.

Maud. 10 min.

Maud. 20 min.

Maud. 20 min.

Then, I spent afternoon painting an autumn scene. Obviously, I didn't paint in the field, it's winter here in Melbourne. It's from an art book I'm reading, "The Painterly Approach" by Bob Rohm.

I really like his way of seeing and rendering scenery.

I hope someday I'm confident enough to paint outside.

Oil on canvas. 10 x 12 in.

While painting, I played 'The Köln Concert' by Keith Jarrett.
There are so many great albums by this genius, but, this is truly a monumental album.
I just can't get enough of "Part 1". His transcendental lyricism at its best.

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