Painting trip to Majorca - Day 2

Weather was looking really good today. 

In the morning I drove towards Avoca. I found this sheep farm very charming, saturated with late morning sunlight. It's corner of B180 and Avoca Rd. 

I had to change initial block-in. It's way out of proportion. Once I re-established it, it was a great joy to paint this one. No clouds in the sky. Very peaceful. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

I had a chicken focaccia takeaway from Olive & Lavendar Store. It was recommended by locals. Yes, it was very good. 

Then I drove down B180 to Elmhurst. It was a gorgeous drive, but, I just couldn't find the right place to paint. 

Then I drove back towards Avoca, and finally decided to set up my easel here. It's a sheep farm between Amphitheater and Avoca. 

As the sun started to go down, it cast beautiful light. I had difficulty at foreground but I'm happy towards background, trying to get a good distance. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Painting trip to Majorca - Day 1

Well, it was very rainy when I left Melbourne this morning, but, it started to clear in the early afternoon. 

I drove straight to Talbot Railway Station. I wanted to paint this one last time, but I didn't have time. 

This is actually an old building, now it houses antique/picture framing shop. The current railway station is just next to the left. 

The weather was not bad, but, the light constantly changed. That made it very difficult to paint. I spent 2.5 hours. 

I'm writing this now at Airbnb in Majorca, right in the middle of a sheep farm, watching a beautiful sunset on the horizon, blasting Radiohead. Creep, Paranoid Android, Let Down, No Surprises, Nice Dream, Fake Plastic Trees, High and Dry, Black Star.... 

One of the greatest bands ever. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Self portrait Oil Painting

Not so happy selfie. 

2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 11x15 in. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today I started by working more on vases at front. Again, a bad habit, I was fiddling. Greg did a small demo, using a body of paints. It suddenly became much more painterly. 

Then I lightened the table to give it a depth. 

And I spent the rest of the class working on the cast. I had a problem painting at navel area. There are some very subtle bumps in there. Again, Greg helped me a lot. and now it looks better. 

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Twenty Melbourne Painters Society - 99th Annual Exhibition

My friend Kate, whom I used to work together, did a cutting/colouring course at Sassoon in London recently, so I was anxious to hear all about her experience.

I drove to Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery this morning, and met up with her. 

Organised by Jenny Pihan Fine Art at this beautiful gallery, I've been coming to this exhibition every year. I think it showcases the highest quality of representational paintings in Melbourne. 

Herman Pekel, Julian Bruere, Joseph Zbukvic, Ray Hewitt, Greg Allen, Maxwell Wilks, Barbara McCallun..... Wonderful lineups. 

I bumped into my fellow artist Andrew, a great friend of Greg's, and we had a lovely chat. 

Then I took Kate to cafe Einstein's 251. It was great to hear she's still passionate about doing hair. 

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Australian Ballet - Symphony in C

After work, my last day at Zucci Hairdressing, I drove to Arts Centre.

It was a beautiful opening with 'From Silence'. When the curtain was up, we saw a ballerina with stunning scarlet costume gracefully floating up in the air by a male dancer, with meditative piano music by Michael Nyman. 

This was followed by four small pieces. I particularly liked 'Little Atlas' with music by my favourite Ludovico Einaudi. Very cool costume and lighting effects as well. 

The second half was the title piece by George Balanchine. Brilliant work. What else do we expect from this master choreographer? Well, I really don't know anything about ballet, but, this one was spectacular. 

I love going to see  Australian Ballet. It's a privilege. 

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In Montmartre: Picasso, Matisse and Modernism in Paris 1900-1910

Another audiobook from Audible, written by Sue Roe, narrated by Emma Bering. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The strength of the book lies in the author's skilful depiction of social, cultural and artistic developments in Paris in the early 20th century. 

Here we see Picasso, Matisse, Derain, Modigliani, Braque, Gertrude Stein, Stravinsky, Nijinsky ....  All star cast, really. 

The rivalry between Picasso and Matisse is always an interesting one. I didn't know that it's John Russell, an Australian artist, who initially introduced a radical painting style to Matisse. 

There are many memorable anecdotes in the book that keep readers entertained. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Well, I didn't progress much today. 

I did some work on two vases at front, and spent the rest on the cast. 

The drapery on her is very tricky. It's so easy to be distracted by its flowing shapes. 

Greg's help is always valuable, "Try to see fundamental shape underneath it. Using brush strokes to suggest direction of the form."

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

We had Leandro, a Brazilian artist returning to his home country after two year stay in Australia. 

This is basically a study of his portrait, focusing on the effect of light. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Gregory Smith solo exhibition 2017

My mentor Greg's exhibition is coming in two weeks. 

Nifty titled, 'Shift In Tone', this is a culmination of his creative endeavour in the year. And certainly a celebration of this man's lifelong pursuit of 'seeing'. Portrait, still life, landscape... 

We will surely witness the highest quality of oil painting by one of the most accomplished artists in the field, and certainly the most passionate teacher I've ever had a privilege of learning from. 

Here is his website. 

I'm very disappointed that I won't be able to make it to the opening, but, definitely have a look later. 

Official opening: Sep 1 Friday 7pm

Victorian Artists Society 

430 Albert St, East Melbourne 

Gallery hours:  Weekdays 10-4 pm

                         Weekend  1:30-4:30 pm

Until Sep 19 Tuesday 

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Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Another great audiobook borrowed from Ivanhoe Library. 

I first came across this book when I was living in London, recommended by my French friends who declared themselves as Existentialists. I had no idea what they were talking about, so started to read Sartre, well, a big mistake. I didn't understand a thing. 

Then came this one. Absolutely brilliant. Since then, it's been a beacon of light in my life. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today's the last session with Sam. 

I think I fiddled too much doing his eyes, nose... I mean, drawing. That bad habit is very difficult to get rid of. 

He's a lovely young man. But, in my painting, he seems to get 10 years older in a week, looking angry :(

Well, I've learned a lot. 

Next time, I'll do better. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Due to bad weather, it's been a few weeks since the last time I painted outside . So, I was very excited yesterday when I saw today's good forecast. 

It was a beautiful sunny morning. I decided to drive back to Woodlands Historic Homestead near Melbourne Airport. 

I set up my easel here, exactly the same spot, but I wasn't happy with the painting. 

I zoomed out a bit, and carefully studied its tonal structure. It was very quiet. I just loved it. Definitely better than the last one. I spent 2.5 hours. 

I took a long walk later. Such a beautiful day. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Hiro is leaving Zucci Hairdressing, Ivanhoe

I've decided to get rid of toxins from my life.

One of my all time favourites by Frost. 

Succinct, transcendental and, best of all, painterly. 

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today, I started by making the background more solid. It's a mixture of Cad Red and Ivory Black. It gives a lovely body of paints. 

A cast is always a challenge. Greg gave me a great tip. A form is everything, and in order to get it right, we not only use tonal shifts but also a direction of brush strokes. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Self-portrait Oil Painting

Because it was raining and windy, I decided to do a selfie this afternoon. It's always tricky painting in my studio (bathroom). 

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 11x15 in. 

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Oil Painting at Hawthorn Artist's Society

Because weather was very bad, I went to this studio in Hawthorn this morning. This is my first time painting there. 

It's actually a lovely space with good lighting. 

We had Roxanne as a model today. I spent 2 hours. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on canvas. 11x15 in. 

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Australian Dance Theatre - Be Your Self

I drove to Southbank Theatre after work. 

This work is probably the most innovative therefore challenging contemporary dance I've ever seen. 

Lightning and sound production were superb. 

The mechanical precision of dancers' movement was mesmerising to watch. 

I was a bit lost halfway through, not sure where it's going. 

However, towards end, we were given a beautiful denouement. 

As you can see, this simple set design worked brilliantly. Very touching and memorable finale. 

No wonder standing ovation lasted for a long time. 

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Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Another audiobook borrowed from City Library Service, narrated by Audra McDonald, Ari Fliakos, Cassandra Campbell. 

The author tackles racism in America head-on in this gripping book. I think she successfully creates a believable story featuring a main character as a nurse. It challenges us to do a deep soul searching and reexamine a rather dubious notion of 'equality'. 

Featuring three different narrators is a brilliant idea. They're all great, keeping me enthralled throughout. 

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