Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today I started background and a table, carefully adjusting lost edges. However, the table was too cold. Greg put Burnt Sienna in the shadow area. There’s a lot of warmth in the shadows, but, I didn’t see it. 

I spent the rest of the session retouching the objects, trying to retain the depth. 

It’s going well, I think. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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A Rift in the Earth

Subtitled ‘Art, Memory and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial’, this is another superb audiobook from Audible, written by James Reston Jr and narrated by Jeff Cummings. 

I’ve seen Academy Award winning documentary ‘Maya Lin- A Strong Vision’, so, the story in this book was very familiar to me. 

Also, there’re many great documentaries about the war itself by Ken Burns, John Pilger to name a few. 

This book focuses on the design competition of the Memorial. Its political, asthetic and social repercussions. 

I’m particularly interested in the intellectual punch-up and philosophical differences between Maya Lin and Fredrick Hart. In short, modern non-representational language of design vs classic representational one. 

This book gives us a detailed timeline surrounding one of the most beautiful architectural designs in the world. 

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Self-portrait Oil Painting

Well, inspired by Alberto Giacometti in the film ‘Final Portrait’, I decided to go straight to my studio (bathroom) and do a self-portrait in the afternoon. 

Unlike the famous sculptor, I don’t chain smoke while painting. Nor do I possess a wad of cash. However, I do swear sometimes like he does. And, date I say, I do share passion for art as much as he does. Well, probably not.  

But, I do enjoy painting enormously. 

This one is a better one. I’m reasonably happy with it. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Final Portrait - film

Due to bad weather forecast, I went to Palace Cinema in Balwyn this morning. 

As usual, Geoffrey Rush does a magnificent job portraying Alberto Giacometti. It’s a very intriguing character study better suited for a theatre than a film, in my opinion.  

I hated its camera work, shaky handheld frames always make me sick. It’s really a shame because I liked a washed out colour scheme of the film a lot. Very effective. 

The production design was brilliant, especially the artist’s studio. You can almost smell cigarette smoke and turpentine. And feel the dust on the floor. 

I had read some books on this sculptor but I didn’t know this story. So, it was great to see the film. As you know, you can’t go wrong with Geoffrey Rush. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the film as much as I did if he hadn’t been in it. 

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Breaking van Gogh

Another fascinating audiobook from Audible, written by James Ottar Grundvig and narrated by Jeff Cummings. 

This is one of those ‘fake/con art’ detective stories, and a good one if not the best I’ve ever listened to. 

The author has done an extensive research and offers a very strong case against the authenticity of ‘Wheat Field with Cypresses’, hung on a wall of Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. 

The history surrounding this ‘masterpiece by Van Gogh’ involves many lives of artists, art dealers, critics, Nazis, arms dealers, billionaires, forgers... And historical events from late 19th century to present days. 

Interweaving these events with the artist’s own life story makes the book a great read although I found some points the author is making are quite repetitive. 

I liked it a lot. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

I started a new painting today. I rummaged through a storage and put together some metallic objects. 

Greg had this great idea of displaying them like stairs. I liked it a lot. 

As usual, after initial wash with Raw Umber, I used a rag to plot highlights here and there. I had to keep telling myself not to draw. Then I put some colours. 

I think it’s a good start. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

In the afternoon, I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury. 

Today’s model was none other than Frank, probably the best male model I’ve ever seen. 

As usual, he did a great job for us.  

This is the last session this year. Thanks again Frank for organising this life drawing class in this friendly space. Looking forward to next year.  

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Loving Vincent - film

I went to Palace Cinema in Westgarth this morning.

Almost everything about Van Gogh has been published, so, there’s nothing new in this film. 

I’ve found the story line is very skimpy and boring.  

The only appeal the film possesses is, yes, how it’s done visually.  According to its website, the film was first shot using actors and then every single frame was painted over in oil, like, rotoscoping. 

The result is an astoundingly beautiful ‘moving picture’ that surely stimulates our visual senses. 

Does this film give me a profound impression? Definitely no. I’d rather go to a gallery to see his paintings (impossible in Melbourne), or, read his letters. 

Actually, the most moving scene in this film is when it quotes his writings.  

I still recommend this film. But, reading his letters in a book will give you far much more insight into his mind. And surely a more touching experience. 

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BBC - Travels with Vasari

The very best of the best art documentaries. What else do you expect from Andrew Graham-Dixon?

A long time ago, I tried to read ‘The lives of  the Artists’ by Giorgio Vasari. I have to confess I skipped most of his writings other than familiar names, like, Giotto, de Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael...

I found there were too many artists, and, I got bored without visual reference. 

For a lazy person like me, this excellent documentary is a great introduction to his account of the lives of Renaissance artists. 

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VCA Dance: Program Two 2017

I went to Space 28 in Southbank this evening. 

This is a graduating students’ end of year performance. 

There were four productions tonight, two of which I liked. 

‘Around’ by Rochelle Carmichael is a comical interpretation of belonging and self exploration. Wonderful costume designs and brilliant choreography as usual. 

‘Reference Material 0.1’ by Alisdair Macindoe is an energetic piece, and ode to historical and cultural icons. Very exciting sequence of movements fades into a fitting finale of the evening. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Greg told me there’s something wrong with the plain these objects are sitting on. 

Compared to the left side, for example, the right side looked too flat, lacking the depth. It looked as if my perspective was a bit too low. 

The reason for that was, the baseline of the two objects on the right was too straight. So, I painted them so that they are more curved. That made my eye level higher, creating depth of the plain. 

Then I put a finishing touch to other objects.  

So, that’s it. The mask was very tricky, but, I’ve learned a lot.  

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

This is definitely the best audiobook from Audible I’ve listened to.  Superbly written by Walter and masterfully narrated by Alfred Molina.

I had read a great biography of Steve Jobs by the same author. I’m very fond of his writing style and the way he put together fascinating life stories. 

Da Vinci’s thoughts on painting were very refreshing, I thought. He was one of the first ‘tonal painters’,  I reckon.  He clearly recognised that there are no outlines in nature. Therefore we shouldn’t draw outlines when painting. 

With accompanying PDF files, this audiobook is a wonderful way to get closer to one of the most creative persons ever lived.  

“The first intention of the painter is to make a flat surface display a body as if modeled and separated form this plane.... This accomplishment, with which the science of painting is crowned, arises form light and shade, or we may say chiaroscuro. There are two principal parts into which painting is divided: ...the outlines which surround the shapes of solid bodies...and secondly what is called shading”

“There are three branches of perspective; first, the diminution of objects as they recede from the eye, known as Diminishing Perspective. Second, the way in which colors vary as they recede from the eye. Third, the explanation of how the objects in a picture ought to be less perfect and complete in proportion to their remoteness. The names are as follows: Linear Perspective, The Perspective of Color, The Perspective of Disappearance.”

These words are precisely what I hear from Greg. It's very exciting to think that I'm a student of this Old Master as well. 

Also, here is a great lecture by the author. 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

Tijana is a wonderful model, always creative and holds a pose very well. 

I painted her before, but, this one is a lot better. I tried to observe carefully the effects of light falling on her body. 

I spent 2.5 hours.  

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Self-portrait oil painting

Melbourne Cup Day. 

To celebrate this iconic event, I decided to paint a selfie. Weather was so bad that it was perfect to spend some time in my studio (bathroom).

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 11x15 in. 

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Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

I’m still working furiously (?) on the mask. 

It was initially he, then, she. It was angry, now a bit smiling. It’s a big challenge. I’m happy with its head gear though. 

I fixed up a background on the right. I couldn’t get that colour by mixing French Ultramarine and Alizarin. It got too milky with too much White. Greg gave me a tip. I borrowed some purple from a friend, and did some experiments. It was very interesting. 

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Hiro at Debra Luccio’s exhibition opening - YouTube

I know I was interviewed, but didn’t know it’s actually used in her YouTube video until now. 

What an honour !

I think I should have had a haircut:)

I had written a blog on this remarkable exhibition. 

The link is here. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

One of my clients invited me to come to Open Garden event in Mt Macedon. 

I drove to Ard Rudah this morning. A massive property. It’s Gaelic for ‘High Promontory’. It has a fascinating history. 

It’s really a wonderful place, saturated with tons of flowers and trees. A full spectrum of colours everywhere. 

I decided to set up my easel here in Sunken Garden. 

It was cloudy at first, but, it soon became clear. There were many visitors walking around, enjoying a perfect spring day. They were all very nice, giving me a lot of compliments.  I’m happy with this one. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

I took some photos so that you get some idea. The owner said the last time it was open to public was 5 years ago. Well, I was very lucky to have this opportunity.  

Then I decided to drive up to Memorial Cross. 

It’s been a few years since I painted here last time, I guess. I set up my easel here. 

Soon it got very cold and windy, and I wasn’t prepared for that. It’s very difficult to paint under such a condition. So, this is a quick sketch. 

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

It was a great day. I’ve got two more days off. Great !

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