Summer School with Gregory Smith

After work, I drove to Queen's Park in Essendon. 

I was very late, so I set up my easel quickly here. 

Although I run out of time, I learned a lot from Greg. I spent 1.5 hours. 

Unfinished. 12x16 in. 

After the session, he did a great demo. It's really mesmerising to watch him painting. 

With many familiar faces, and fabulous weather, it was a fantastic day. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

Another head study of 'Self-portrait' by Hugh Ramsay. 

There's something wrong. 

1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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'Outside The Lines' Plein Air Painting Documentary

This is basically an advertising video by PleinAir Magazine. 

Apart from a very irritating voiceover, it actually is a good introduction to plein air painting. Very nice to see so many artists painting outdoors, enjoying themselves. 

They organise annual convention in America. It looks like a massive event. 

I wish I could get there painting and meeting fellow artists. 

By the way, I was stunned to hear the publisher, describing pioneers of plein air painting in America, said something like, "... when the West was first being developed. It was dangerous. There were Indians at the time. There were battles...."

I don't know how he was able to get away with these insensitive remarks. 

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Constable: A Country Rebel

Another good one from BBC by Alastair Sooke. I've seen quite a few of art documentaries by him. I like him a lot. 

Although I always liked his landscape paintings, I agree that Constable and 'revolutionary' usually didn't used to go together in  my mind. 

This film did a great job of convincing us that he was very unique at that time. 

I certainly have a new appreciation of his works and life. 

"Painting is a science and should be pursued

 as an inquiry into the laws of nature. 

Why, then, may not a landscape be considered 

as a branch of natural philosophy, 

of which pictures are but experiments?"

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Ivanhoe again. 

There's a charming building across the salon, now occupied by 'Kidstuff'.

I always wanted to paint it. Unfortunately, it's been ruined by horrible business signs everywhere but, never mind, I set up my easel here. 

I decided not to paint traffic lights at front. I thought it won't contribute to overall composition. 

I really struggled this one. I just couldn't get its perspective right. I ended up doing initial wash/sketch three times, wiping off the whole thing. I tried to be patient, because I knew this one was a great subject to study. I think I spent 1.5 hours even before putting colours in. 

Again, I bumped into some clients, and that was nice. 

I spent 4 hours. I learned a lot. 

Oil on panel. 16x20in. 

 

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The People's Portrait

A superb documentary from BBC about the making of a portrait of Simon Weston by Nicky Philipps.

Very touching, really. 

Watching her painting process is very educational. I like it a lot. 

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Oil Painting Sketch

A study of 'Seated nude' by Hugh Ramsay. 

1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Ivanhoe this afternoon. 

I'm standing at a corner of Livingstone St and Upper Heidelberg Road in front of Commonwealth Bank. 

The building is to be demolished and a multi-story complex will be built (usual story). 

So, I decided to paint from here, looking towards Waterdale Road. 

It was very hot and sunny at first, and it got cold and cloudy. By the time I finished, it was already raining. Very challenging, indeed. 

Some clients saw me painting, and we had a good chat. 

I spent 3.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

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I, Daniel Blake

Well, I somehow question my judgement on deciding to go to Palace Balwyn after work (in order to avoid 35°C heat) and see this film on Christmas Eve!

I knew this is a very important film, though. 

The hard-hitting social realism this film presents certainly blew away ostentatious, quasi 'festive' mood I had been forced to endure in a salon upon hearing so many idiotic Christmas songs recently. 

And I'm very grateful for it. 

Easily the best film I've seen this year. It deserves to be seen by anyone who is interested in social justice in our society. If not on Christmas Eve. 

By the way, the music in this trailer is 'Night' by my favourite Ludovico Einaudi. 

He's coming to Melbourne in February. 

I can't wait. 

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Rembrandt Presents Himself

Another lecture by Yale University Art Gallery. Very informative. 

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Oil Painting Sketch

A head study of 'Self-portrait in white jacket' by Hugh Ramsay. 

One of my favourites. A beautiful painting. Gushing! 

I'd like to do a study of a whole thing. 

Now, off to work. 

1.5 hours. 

7x9.5 in. Oil on panel. 

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'The Secret Lives of Colour' by Kassia St Clair

This is a very charming book. 

Its design and layout are well thought out. And very comfortable to hold it. Just right size and weight. One can see the creative talent behind this book's production. 

As for its contents, this is one of the best books I've read on the history of colours. 

After a brief introduction of science of colour, the author very cleverly and lucidly guides us through the whole spectrum of colours, from White to Black. 

Because the edge of each page is printed with its corresponding colour (very clever), one can easily pick up any page/colour and learn its history. 

I just love it. 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

It was windy and hot, so I decided to go to my favourite Le Page homestead in Plenty Gorge Park. 

This shelter is very useful in a day like this. 

I've done this subject before on a smaller canvas. It's a great study of perspectives. 

My iPhone can't capture the contrast of highlights and shadows, as you can see here. It's better to paint than taking photos :)

I was very careful measuring angles, spending 45 minutes correcting and adjusting. 

Looking at the painting now, I think beams are not aligned with tin roof :(

The foreground can be very monotonous when it occupies a big space. You can do sky relatively easily by manipulating clouds, though. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Yea, 1.5 hour drive north east of Melbourne, this afternoon. 

It's a very scenic drive particularly from Yarra Glen along Melba Hwy. 

After lunch, I set up easel here, looking towards Shire Hall. 

It was very peaceful. I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

There's a very modern Tourist Information Centre across the street, and I asked a man about some place I can go and paint. 

It was already 4pm, so I decided to go to the nearest one, that was 'Killingworth Rd'. It sounds very intimidating, though. 

As it turned out, it was a beautiful area, sinuous contours of hills and mountains appearing one after another. 

I set up my easel here at Goulburn River Pump Station. 

Again, it was very quiet, I could hear nothing but buzzing flies. Very annoying. One of them got stuck in my nostril!

I spent 2.5 hours. I forgot to put cows in the field :(

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

I liked the area a lot. The town itself isn't that charming, but, I'd like to explore its surroundings in the near future. 

It was a great day. 

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The Story of Women and Art - BBC

This is a great documentary that focuses on women artists in history. Very educational as a gender study. 

Some familiar names, but, many discoveries here in the film. Names like, Properzia de Rossi, Clara Peeters, Lady Elizabeth Butler...

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Noam Chomsky 'Because we say so'

Another Chomsky from Audible. 

As an audiobook, I enjoyed 'Understanding Power' far much more than this one, but, it's still a great collection of his recent writing (2011-15). 

Looking back, Hitchens' critique of Chomsky 's position immediately after 9-11 was misguided. As much as I like Hitchens' writing in general, on this issue and later his fervent support of the invasion of Iraq, it was very unfortunate. Chomsky's subsequent rebuttal was sharp, precise and deadly.  

This book is a powerful and rigorous indictment of the forces that sabotage the true meaning of democracy. 

His voice definitely needs to be heard. 

"Unless the powerful are capable of 

learning to respect the dignities of the victims,

impassable barriers will remain. 

And the world will be doomed to 

violence, cruelty and bitter suffering."

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 11

This is the last class of the year. 

I put a final touch on a basket, brightening front area with more darks at the same time. Its shape at bottom was too straight, so I rounded it off. 

I also made front of the table lighter. 

The highlights on the two bottles were at wrong place, so, I adjusted them. 

Greg put some grey on breads, and that made them more real. Interesting. 

That's it! I'm very happy with this one. 

It's been a great privilege to learn from Greg. Three years now, I think. 

Painting has become a very important part of my life. 

I think I'm a landscape painter. Well, that's what I enjoy more than anything else. Being in nature.  

Thanks Greg for introducing me to this wonderful experience of painting en plein air. I'm loving it. 

Of course, painting still life in a studio is the most fundamental way of learning. At the end of the day, subjects don't matter. They shouldn't. We're just painting truthfully what we see. 

And you know what? That's the most difficult thing to do. It will take a lifetime, or two :)

I just enjoy my journey. 

I'm looking forward to going back to the studio in January. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio - retouching

I did some more work on yesterday's painting. Still not quite right. I gave up. 

Now, off to Greg's studio. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

We had Carmen, a lovely model. 

This is the last session of the year. Thanks Frank and Henry for organising this class, and great models.  

I'm loving it. 

2 hours. Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

 

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'Understanding Power' by Noam Chomsky

22 hours of sheer delight. 

Incredible breadth of knowledge and razor sharp intellect. Very inspiring. 

I've been revisiting his writings, after seeing what happened in the US election recently. 

I can't help but think what Hitchens would have been writing now if he were still around. 

This is a very impressive production from Audible. Editors did a superb job organising his talks into a very accessible format. Also, a very good narrator. 

Highly recommended. 

"If the general population in the most powerful country in the world remains marginalised,

we're not going to have to worry very much about history. 

Because there's not going to be any.

And that's not very far away at this point. "

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'Western' by Alex De Grassi

One of the best antidote I've found to a hangover during this 'festive' season :)

Lovely to wake up to this great guitar tune. One of my all time favourites. 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 10

Today I started by refining a table. It has some decorations at front, and I tried to make sense of them by capturing patterns of their big shapes. It's all about tones. 

Also I did some work on a cloth. Greg gave me a good tip. Always remember where the light is coming from. 

It's actually a lot brighter than in the painting, but, if I paint that way, I'll miss the point. The priority should be on the shell. So, I keep the cloth deliberately darker than reality. 

Well, that's what Greg told me :)

Then I refined a green bottle. 

I'll finish this one next week, the last lesson of the year. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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A.M.E Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize 2016

I went to Glen Eira City Council Gallery this morning. Traffic was really bad, and it took me an hour. 

Ben Winspear is this year's winner with prize money of $50,000. Congratulations Ben!

I know him a bit, actually have been to his studio to visit and paint. Great artist. 

He's just recently been awarded Artists of the Year at Victorian Artists Society. 

I'm very happy that his work have been recognised. He deserves it. 

Almost all the works are of highest quality. I reckon that this is one of the best exhibitions I've been to this year. 

I've never heard of this artist before, but I was very taken by the quality and aesthetic of the works by Sheri Elphick. I will do some research on her. 

Now, off to Greg's studio. 

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Self-portrait of an artist

Mercury rising to 34° in Melbourne today, and I'm painting this in my studio (bathroom). It's very hot here. 

I spent 4 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 



 

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