Max Meldrum & Associates

My client recently dropped in the salon and kindly asked me to have a look at this book at home. 

I saw the book at State Library a couple of years ago, but as you know, we can’t borrow books from there. So, I was super excited to have another look at it, spending as much time as I like. 

When I was cutting her hair, she told me a fascinating story. She knew I’m a painter and she asked me if I’ve heard of Archie Colquhoun. I was surprised that she mentioned his name, because very few people in Australia have heard of his name I guess. He’s not a familiar name as an artist. 

Obviously I wouldn’t have heard of him if I hadn’t have been studying with Greg. Greg often tells us about his teacher Graham Moore. Archie was his teacher. Max Meldrum was a teacher of Archie! 

Confused?

Ok. It goes like this. 

The founder of Australian tonal realism movement is Max Meldrum. The torch was passed on to Archie Colquhoun, then Graham Moore. Now, Gregory Smith. It’s an incredible heritage. 

So, going back to her story. 

She worked at a nursing home, and one of her patients was Archie. That’s how she got to know him. She told me lots of interesting stories about him and his family. She also told me she has some paintings by him and others. 

It was unbelievable. It’s such a fascinating life story. 

Well, going back to the book. I actually bought one from City Basement Books last Monday. I couldn’t resist it. 

Unlike books on Australian Impressionism or Heidelberg School, it’s very rare to find books on Max Meldrum and his influence on Australian tonalist painters. 

This book is a little treasure, a rare find. It’s another reminder that how privileged I have been to have the opportunity to study with Greg. 

Read more »

Oil Painting lesson with Gregory Smith

It’s great to be back in the studio. 

Greg comes up with a new project at the beginning of a year. This time, we have this one. 

He said we only need to ask three questions, “Is it too dark or light? Is it too warm or cool? Is it transparent or opaque?”

And of course, “See the patterns in the shapes.” 

I think it’s a great project to start a new year. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

Read more »

TRIENNIAL exhibition at NGV

I had to go to city this morning, so I had a look at this contemporary art & design exhibition. 

It’s a “celebration” of this modern art practice, according to the Gallery. 

Well, I found it very uninspiring. The way NGV used the gallery space upstairs is just a mess, putting these modern art in a room full of old masters’ paintings. I just couldn’t get it. 

Even in the main gallery on the ground floor, I found the only one art work was interesting. 

Yamagami Yukihiro’s ‘Shinjuku calling’ is a wonderful example of fusing modern technology with traditional practice of drawing. The result is a poetic exploration of modern life in metropolis. 

 

However, I found a little treasure upstairs. Look!

Hugh Ramsay and Corot side by side. That made my day, really. 

Read more »

Self-portrait Oil Painting

Well, it’s too hot here in Melbourne to do anything outside, so, I decided to paint in the studio (bathroom). 

BAD IDEA!

Temperature inside was well over 40°C, and I just couldn’t concentrate. I put on AirPods listening to Bill Evans. Even he couldn’t cool me down. This is a topless selfie in a state of delirium. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Le Page Homestead in Hawkstowe this afternoon. I was feeling a bit under the weather, but, didn’t want to stay at home. 

I set up my easel here. 

I can’t remember if I’ve painted from this viewpoint. The angles of the roof and fence are very tricky, so I tried to measure them very carefully. 

I spent 2.5 hours. I love this place. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Studley Park Boathouse in Fairfield this afternoon. A beautiful place. Very quiet during weekdays. So close to City but one can experience ‘bush walk’ along the Yarra River. 

I set up my easel at the same spot as the last time, a couple of weeks ago. 

I decided to get closer to the boathouse for this composition, carefully observing the effect of light. 

I think this one is better. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

I drove to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. This is the first session of the year. 

We had Carmine today. I met him before in the studio but never painted him. 

He’s a fantastic model. Softly spoken. Creates a very elegant pose. He maintains it very well.

It was great to see familiar faces. And there were newcomers as well. 

I’m happy with this one. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Dolores O’Riordan

Upon hearing the news of her passing...

When I went to London to attend Advanced Haircutting Course at Toni&Guy Academy (Why not Sassoon? It's another story) in 1994, I first lived and shared a house with a bunch of Irish guys in Crouch End, north London. Lovely people, so much fun. Crazy days.

My best friend Mark, (Where are you Mark? Does anyone know Mark Allen from Belfast?) played a song again and again from his cassette tape recorder (??). I was instantly mesmerised by the voice of the singer. Well, that was a song 'Linger'.
There's some very uniquely Irish sensitivity in her music and voice, I thought. And found them very attractive.

Blonde, textured French crop hairstyle. I was actually creating these funky hairstyles during a day at the Academy. Very exciting. I just couldn't believe that I could do those haircuts on real humans, young girls, not mannequins. They all looked fabulous no matter what. And they were all willing to do that, and happy. I had never done it before in Japan. Obviously it won't work with Asian hair, in general.

I had never been a big fan of Brit-Pop phenomena at that time, somehow their music didn't catch me. Let alone, Alanis Morissette (I saw her in a small night club in Notting Hill before she became big).

There were only two musicians/bands that really interested me. That was Dolores, and of course Thom Yorke.

Later in the year, I went to Hair Expo in Wembley Park. First time. "Is it real? Am I actually in London?" It was a long way from home in those days. Going overseas was very expensive and unimaginable for me and my family

. 

Suddenly I was sitting in a big theatre. I think it was Toni&Guy. Maybe it was Sassoon, I can't remember. It was a great hair show. Probably the best one I've ever seen. 

The opening of the show... The lights were gone. Pitch dark. Silence with massive excitement among audience. You could feel it. 

A fuzzy black&white film clip started to roll, models wandering around in forest. And this song. I didn’t know what it was, but, I immediately recognised the voice, that stratospheric pitch, thinking “It must be her.” It was just brilliant.

Probably my favourite of hers.

Read more »

‘Portraits of Courage’ by George W Bush

Disclaimer: I haven’t read the book yet.

You wonder sometimes what a former Commander in Chief is doing these days?

I know he took up paint brushes after reading Churchill’s great essay “Painting as a Pastime”.

After going through these new paintings, I was very impressed how quickly he developed. Well, it’s a completely different style to how I paint, but, I actually like them. 

Of course, you can’t compare him to Ben Quilty, whose splendid portrait exhibition of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan was one of the most touching experiences I’ve ever had. His emotional and emotive brush strokes were work of genius. 

Anyway, back to “43”, well, that’s how President signs on his paintings. 

In this lively interview, he spoke about his love for oil painting, “Painting has changed my life.” Well, that’s precisely how I say about painting. It’s a very fascinating talk and I really enjoyed it. I even feel like having a cup of tea with him, talking about painting, not politics.

Now the book is in my wish list. One thing I hate is its subtitle ‘A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors’.  

Excuse me? Warriors? That’s disgusting, in my opinion. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Woodlands Historic Park, near Melbourne Airport, this afternoon. 

This place has become my favourite refuge, so to speak. 

When I feel like a good antidote to busy work during a week, I often find myself getting here. It only takes 30 min drive, and always very quiet. Watching airplanes come and go is very exciting. 

I set up my easel here. 

I’ve painted this view before without much success. I focused today on creating a distance. You can just see air traffic control tower. The last time it looked too close. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting

I’ve just happened to come across this great lecture. 

It’s an introduction to a blockbuster exhibition at National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. 

It focuses on Vermeer and his contemporaries, how they exchanged artistic ideas and influenced each other in mid 17 centuries Holland. 

Well, it brings together more than 70 works, of which 10 are Vermeer’s. Can you imagine that? 

I really liked the way they displays paintings according to their relationship with each other, compositionally and thematically. Very clever.

I had a look at the Gallery’s website. I was very impressed. There’s a plethora of materials in there for us to learn. And the design is very clean and simple, easy to navigate. 

They really put our NGV to shame. I always feel horrified every time I go to NGV’s website. It’s a full of clutter, not much substances. 

And there’s no way NGV can put together an exhibition with this magnitude.  

Well, if there’s one reason to go to America right now, this is it. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Healesville Railway Station this afternoon. I’ve been here many times. It’s always quiet. The drive from Melbourne is also very beautiful. 

I’m looking towards abandoned trains from the station. They have nice characters to paint. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Today is the last day of my two week holiday, so I decided to do another one. By then, the sun started to go down and there was no one in there. I put AirPods in my ears and played Bill Evans. My favourite painting buddy :)

This is a quick study of trains. I’ve found these mechanical objects very difficult to paint. So many straight lines, circles and linear perspectives to get them right. I tend to end up drawing them. I wonder how Greg approaches these subjects. 

It was a big challenge. I think I need more practice. 

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 11x15 in. 

Read more »

Summer School with Gregory Smith

I drove to Williamstown this afternoon. 

Well, mercury was already rising to 42°C and gusty winds were so strong that it was almost impossible to set up easel. 

But you know, Greg will never give up. It was great to see three other artists showing up. 

It was the worst condition I’ve ever had painting outside.  Holding a brush, easel and a hat at the same time requires a lot of coordination. 

A wall of heat was constantly attacking me from front. Impossible to concentrate. 

Still, Greg gave me great suggestions, and I learned a lot. 

Unfinished. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Montsalvat in Eltham this morning. 

Its founder, Justus Jorgensen, was a student of Max Meldrum and spent many hours painting in the area. It’s a fascinating history of Australian tonal realism painters. 

It’s really a lovely place with charming buildings, gardens and sculptures scattering around, in the mean time, there are some peacocks wandering about, making funny sounds. 

I decided to set up my easel here. 

It was very peaceful. I enjoyed every single minute painting this. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

After quick lunch, I decided to do another one from here. 

I think shadows are not dark enough. I need to do some work on this one. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

It was a lovely day. I’ll definitely come back again. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to SeaWorks in Williamstown this afternoon. 

I’ve been here many times, it’s always very quiet, and there’s this gorgeous boat ‘Stardust’. 

I changed a composition a bit. More than anything else, I tried to capture the effect of light. And the distance to Melbourne skyline. In previous paintings, it looked too close. 

I’m reasonably happy with this one. Certainly the best one so far on this subject. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Now, ice cream and a long walk along the water. It’s a beautiful day. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I went back to Studley Park in Fairfield this afternoon. 

I had souvlaki takeaway from Spitaki on Station Street. They are my favourite. 

I decided to paint a boathouse, so set up my easel from here. 

When I started to paint, this view was my practice sessions. I’ve painted it many times. 

However, I haven’t painted this one for a long time. So, it was a good reminder of how much I progressed since then. 

As it turned out, not much :(

I really struggled this one. I’m happy with the boathouse, but, the background was not good at all. I think I need to come back. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

The Divine Michelangelo

Borrowed from a local library, this BBC documentary is a concise life story of this genius. 

Well, it’s a pointless exercise to think about which one is greater genius, Leonardo or Michelangelo?

However, I always thought Michelangelo’s achievements are far much greater. 

As mentioned in this film, just think about it. Pieta, David, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s.... Astonishing. 

Even the name sounds much gutsier, well, to my ears at least. 

I particularly liked its docudrama style of this film, very well acted as well. 

Another superb production from BBC. 

I’m in a mood of Michelangelo at the moment, ever since I read ‘Oil and Marble’ by Stephanie Story. 

Both are highly recommended. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Yarra Bend Park in Fairfield this afternoon. I used to come here a lot for a long walk, but haven’t been here a long time. 

I remember painting from this spot in Westfield Reserve a couple of years ago, so decided to try it again. 

What I failed last time was its distance. Melbourne skyline looked too close. So, I paid extra attention to its tone. It was very peaceful. 

I spent 2.5 hours.  

I’m going to take a walk along the Yarra River now. It’s a beautiful day. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Read more »

Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Kyneton this afternoon. 

Rachel and Gregory kindly invited me to do some painting together. 

It’s a lovely place with tons of country charms. I forgot to take a photo :(

I’m looking towards a windmill. It was very peaceful and gorgeous weather. I really enjoyed it. 

I spent 2.5 hours.  

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

They suggested we should have dinner together and paint an evening scenery. Well, that was lovely. 

I set up my easel here, looking towards a water tank. 

Greg gave me a great tip, “Burnt Sienna wash in the sky.” It would give a warmth of the evening sky. Voila!

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 9x12 in. 

Well, it was a great day. It was also very nice to see her parents. 

I don’t give a special meaning to any particular day of a year, like, new year’s day. I think it’s pointless. Every single day is special to me.  

However, I must say, it was a fantastic way to start year 2018. Am I contradicting myself?

Read more »