Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 5

It's been a very slow process. 

I focused on the shell, refining edges and making it warmer. Also, I reworked the figurine, it was too cold and muddy. 

Greg showed me how to paint the shell's corrugated form that I had had a trouble with. And that was a great demo. 

I decided to do one more session. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Le Page Homestead in Hawkstowe this afternoon. 

This charming place has become my favourite refuge for a windy/rainy day plein air painting. 

It was windy and cold, but not too bad. So, I set up my easel here. 

I spent 2 hours. It was very peaceful and relaxing. 

Now, off to Greg's painting class. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

 

 

 

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Time for reflection

One of my all time favourite songs, reinterpreted brilliantly by Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart.

"But I'm a creep 

I'm a weirdo 

What the hell am I doing here? 

I don't belong here"

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Paint Out Day

In the morning I drove to Newham, an hour drive north-west of Melbourne. 

This area is beautiful, I saw some familiar faces already painting. 

It was very windy, so I set up my French easel next to sign boards, across a general store. 

I spent 2.5 hours. I tried to capture the effect of lights. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

After lunch, I stayed at the same spot and decided to have another go at it. This time, a house across the road. 

Wind was still very strong. 

I tried to get a distance right. I'm reasonably happy with this one. I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

As predicted, it started to rain towards the end. It was actually a good timing to finish off. 

I'm glad that weather held very well all day. 

I loved it. 

 

 

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Beyond the Line: 1st & 2nd Year VCA Dance Program

I went to Southbank this evening. 

 

'Around' by Rochelle Carmichael was a standout. I've seen her works in previous years, like, 'T.Issue' and 'Stone', and was always impressed by her unique, theatrical expressions. 

This production wasn't anything I've seen before. 

It's very difficult to describe it. It's part of Tim Burton-esque mysterious fantasy world. It also suddenly descends into 'Gangnam Style' cacophonous incongruity.

Choreography itself was fascinating, a series of very complicated movements, but, dancers obviously were capable of pulling it off effortlessly. 

With dream-like costume, clever prop and soundtrack, this is a production that dares to challenge our imagination. 

I liked it a lot. 

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Oil Painting Sketch

A head study of 'Self-portrait with cigar' by Hugh Ramsay. 

I painted on a sample canvas from Senior Art, oil primed linen 68. This is a thickly woven linen, and I liked it a lot. Paints move very smoothly but not too slippery. The problem is, it's very expensive. 

Now, off to work. 

1 hour. 

Oil on canvas. 6x7 in. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

I did a small sketch with pochade box. 

This is 'Woman in black dress' by my favourite Hugh Ramsay. 

Well, she looks 10 years older :(

I'm testing a canvas roll. It's a small sample from Seniors Art, 10 oz cotton primed. 

It's a bit rough initially, but, as I build paints with medium, it gets very smooth and easy to push paints around. 

1.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 8x8in. 

 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 4

It's been a very slow process. 

After fixing a background, I spent a whole class refining the cast on the left. 

Her head is very small, and seeing subtle tonal shapes is difficult. 

It's getting there. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

It's really nice to see big clouds floating in blue sky. 

After late lunch, I decided to go to Westerfolds Park in Templestowe, and paint this beautiful Manor House. 

I painted it a couple of months ago, and loved this location. 

Because it's Monday, it was very peaceful. I felt very relaxed. 

I spent 2 hours. 

Now, off to Greg's painting class. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

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I was Vermeer

Just finished this fascinating story by Frank Wynne, narration by Richard Burnip. 

I had never heard of Han van Meegeren before. Incredible that it's a true story. Even if it were a fiction, this would still be a great read. 

His visceral hatred of Modernism, and highest respect for Old Masters somehow remind me of Max Meldrum. 

I loved this audiobook. It really makes me think. What is art? What does it mean? Who defines art? etc.....

"Art is not art until it is sold"

"Until then it is merely a storage problem."

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Sully - film

Due to bad weather forecast, I decided to go to a cinema early this morning. 

Balwyn Cinema is a charming place, maintaining a good old character. 

Tom Hanks, as always, did a superb job as the captain. 

It's a great human story directed by Eastwood. He just keeps producing one brilliant film after another, that is remarkable. 

Now off to the studio. 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 3

I've found this subject very difficult to paint. As Greg told me, there seems nothing much, no eye-catching 'pretty' colours. 

Therefore, it challenges me greatly to see subtle tonal variations and render them on a canvas. 

I'm very slow on this one. I focused on the cast, and did some work on a jar at back. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

I've just booked a painting trip to Tasmania next year by myself. I've been meaning to go there for a long time. 

Very excited. 

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 6

Well, any great things in life have to come to an end. Then, move on. We have no choice. A new thing in life will come to us, or rather, we'll make it happen, and we should be able to embrace it. Such is a joy and sorrow in life. 

In the morning I left Dunkeld for Melbourne.

Paul & Pauline at Cloud Mountain Retreat are wonderful host. Very generous and kind. 

Architect-designed building offers a fantastic and relaxing spacetime. Reminiscent of the Eames House in California. Also, they have a great sense of interior decoration. It truly is a lovely place. 

It's also next to The Arboretum and offers an awesome view of Grampians. 

I was very lucky to have come across with them through AirB&B. I'll definitely come back. 

On my way to Ballarat, I decided to stop over at Willaura. Greg had told me that this is where Streeton painted one of famous views of Grampians. 

Unfortunately it was raining and I couldn't see much, so I set up my easel under a roof of a house across a petro shop. 

Some neighbors came around and we had a good chat. I didn't have much time, so, this is a small sketch. 

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

Then I drove to Art Gallery of Ballarat to see Archibald Prize exhibition. 

I loved Marcus Wills, Chris Browne, Natasha Bieniek, Lewis Miller...

They're all familiar names. 

I spent half an hour or so upstairs. There're two Hugh Ramsay and one Max Meldrum. That's nice. 

Well, I'm back in Melbourne now. Still raining...

It was my first trip to Grampians. So refreshing and relaxing. I needed it. 

It's certainly different when you're on your own. 

  

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 5

With weather forecast telling us about gale force winds around 40km/h, I knew it would be an enormous challenge to do plein air painting. 

But, I wouldn't give up this opportunity. 

So, I packed up my gear early in the morning and went to Arboretum.

I set up my easel under a big gum tree to avoid the wind. Actually it's not a good idea due to the danger of tree branch falling down on my head. However, this is the only option I had. 

Well, it was extremely difficult. I had to keep holding the easel while painting, and it was blown away once. I spent 2 hours but had to give up. Very unfortunate. It's a great view of Mt Sturgeon. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

In the afternoon I went to see 3 Peak Festival in a park. This is an annual community fair. I love these small festivals in a country, with local art and produce market. 

There's a good band 'Since Tuesday' from Portland. 

Also there's a lovely exhibition at a gallery 'Off the Rails'. This is a former railway station now converted as an art space. It's a great idea. 

Then I decided to try one more painting although the wind didn't seem to get better. I went back to Arboretum and picked up this location overlooking Mt Abrupt. 

 

This time I attached my easel to a big gum tree and put extra weight to the easel.

Although I had to hold the easel as I paint, it didn't collapse this time and I just managed to finish it. I spent 2.5 hours. I've never painted under this horrible condition before. Although it was a big challenge and very frustrating, I think I did ok on this one. 

 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

Again I had a lovely dinner with my host.

I really enjoy talking with them about art. With their friend joining us, it was really a great evening. 

Oh, the wind is still going crazy outside!

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 4

In the morning I drove to Cavendish, about 1/2 hour north-west of Dunkeld. 

I have a client who bought a farm a couple of years ago, and she often asked me to come around. However, due to long drive involved, I always said thanks but it's a bit too far. 

When I saw her in the salon about a month ago and told her about my trip to Dunkeld, she checked her diary and found they would be there, so, this time, I finally managed to come around. 

It's a huge property, I couldn't comprehend the scale of it. It's also incredibly beautiful. 

She offered me a tour around the property. There're many fascinating history in this place. 

I was particularly fond of this wool shed, still in use. 

There're many signatures on the wall written by shearers. 

After lunch with them, I was ready to go about painting and set up my easel here. 

Weather couldn't have been better. It was truly a memorable experience immersing myself in this gorgeous environment. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 3

In the morning I was driving to Halls Gap and I came across this magnificent view of Mt Abrupt. I had to stop my car, and although it's a bit dangerous, I decided to paint here. 

It was very tricky painting this subject because light changed constantly. At one moment, entire scene was in shadow, and 10 minutes later, it was all bright. 

I spent 2.5 hours. Considering the fact that I was standing just off the road where cars were passing me by at 100 km/h, I think I did ok. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

Then I drove to Halls Gap. This trip was very picturesque and I loved the change of lights a lot. 

Halls Gap itself is a bit too touristy, I thought. 

After late lunch I drove to Boroka Lookout. It offers a fantastic view of this area. 

Again, light changed all the time, and that was very difficult. It got very cold towards the end. 

I spent 2 hours. I don't think I did a good job on this one.

I saw a spectacular sunset from here, and that was really great. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 2

In the morning I drove to Hamilton. 

There's a wonderful exhibition by John Wolseley at Hamilton Gallery. I think I'd seen it at NGV. This is a beautiful gallery. 

I had a takeaway sandwich at Tosca Browns. A funky cafe. I like it a lot. 

It was still very windy and rained heavily every 10 minutes. So, I definitely needed a shelter. 

I was driving around, and finally found it at Lake Hamilton. I set up my easel here. 

Even under the shelter, because the wind and rain was so bad that I had to hold a board and paints on palette got lots of rain. It was a big challenge. I think I need to trim top of the tree. It's too big. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

After late lunch, weather was still bad, I was at a loss, didn't know where I should be painting. 

By accident, I drove by a railway station, and found a house that offers a shelter at the entrance, so I set up my easel here. 

Compositionally this set up must have been a mistake, but I was desperate. 

I spent 2 hours. I got some compliments from locals, that was nice. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

Again, I had a lovely dinner with my host. It was a great day. 

 

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Painting trip to Grampians - Day 1

I left for Dunkeld early this morning. 

I had lunch at Beaufort, and then drove south to Streatham. This area was beautiful. Big clouds floating in the sky, and the fields leading up to hill were just gorgeous. 

Because I was driving by myself, I had to restrain myself from looking at them all the time. 

After arriving at Information Centre in Dunkeld, I found this spot near the Arboretum where I'm staying for the next 5 days. 

This is near a gate of a private property just off road, overlooking Mt Sturgeon. 

It was sunny at the beginning, but, it soon got very dark and an aweful gust of wind started to hit me, and I had to hold a canvas as I painted. 

Worse still, it started to rain very heavily and I had to return to my car, leaving my easel behind, worrying that it might collapse. 

Due to bad weather, in the end, I couldn't continue. That's a shame. I was liking this painting. It was quite a challenge. I can't say I enjoyed it, but, it was fantastic, painting in this beautiful environment. 

I guess I spent 2 hours. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

I had a lovely dinner with my host. Some neighbors came around as well. It was just wonderful. 

 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 2

Today, I started by unifying background with solid dark. Lighter drapery was interesting. Greg told me to paint it with Raw Umber, then mix White with Naples Yellow Deep, and lighten it up. 

I refined the subjects, but, it was a struggle. Reading a subtle tonal and temperature shift is really hard. 

I'm learning a lot. 

Work in progress. 16x20in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Because weather forecast was very bad, I decided to go back to Le Page Homestead in Hawkstowe early in the morning. 

I set up my easel at the same spot as before, and tried to focus more carefully on my observation. 

It was very windy, but, the easel and I were well protected under the homestead. It really is an ideal place to paint on a day like this. 

I spent 3 hours. Although I can see some errors now, I think I did better than the other day. 

Then, I did a study of Camellia in the garden. It was a complete disaster, so I wiped it off. Not happy. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Yale University Art Gallery

Treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom in the world of visual art. Very grateful for uploading these lectures.
I love them, I've learned a lot.
And this is one of my favourites, 'Velázquez’s Masterpieces in Seville and Some New Proposals'.

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Stefan Baumann's 12 Insights on Painting Plein Air and Studio Art

I've been enjoying his YouTube lecture series.
There're so many things he says that I've found very similar to what I've been learning from Gregory Smith.
Very inspiring. Particularly his passion for plein air painting.

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Plein Air Oil Painting Sketch

Weather was so great that I went to Banyule Swamp early this morning, and decided to do a tree study here. 

I spent 45 min. Now, off to work. 

Oil on canvas. 8x10 in. 

 

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