Gregory Smith 42nd solo exhibition opening

After work, I went to Victorian Artists Society in East Melbourne. 

My opening speech went very well. I wish someone recorded it. 

The gallery was filled with great paintings. If you haven’t seen them, you should. It’s a great privilege to have this opportunity. 

It was great to see many familiar faces. 

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‘The Masterpiece’ by Fiona Davis

When I found this is a historical fiction about Grand Central School of Art founded by John Singer Sargent in the 20s, I immediately decided to download from Audible. The reader is my favourite Cassandra Campbell. That helps. 

The author adapted a well-trodden dual timeline format. And I think it works very well here. 

The story itself is fascinating, very clever mixture of the fictional and the real. 

Although some subplots are too contrived, I enjoyed the book. As usual, it’s read brilliantly. 

I found the author’s interview on YouTube. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

This is the third sessions. 

I focused on flowers. I must admit I really didn’t know what I was doing. 

They’re very tiny and I ended up making things up. Greg told me that I should try to study one flower from scratch. So I did the one on the left, without too much success. 

I spent the rest of the session on the horse. This one is very tricky. There’re some patterns of colours on it. Trying to paint them without losing the structure is a great challenge. 

I decided to do one more. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to North Eastern Horse and Pony Club in Viewbank this afternoon. I haven’t painted for a month now. 

It was lovely weather at first but it soon got windy and chilly. Typical Melbourne weather. 

I think it’s a compositional mistake. A bit boring. 

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

This is the second session with Lauren. 

As usual, it started to look like a completely different person :(

I have to be very careful not to lose darks. 

Well, only one more session!

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

We had a lovely model Lauren today. 

As usual, firstly, Raw Umber and Light Red wash and rubbing off with a cloth. 

Greg told me to take some time to reassess overall shape carefully and pay an extra attention not to lose darks. 

Nothing is right yet, but I think it’s a good start. We have two more sessions. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Oil painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

We had Indija again. It’s an interesting opportunity to paint something different from just a figure. 

It’s always nice to see familiar faces. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Unfinished 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Chopin Documentary - The Women Behind The Music

A very touching documentary about my favourite composer. 

Preludes, Polonaise, Etudes, Nocturnes, Ballade....

And don’t forget Piano Concerto No1 and 2, the second movement. Heavenly beauty. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

This is the second session. 

I did some work on the vase at back. The patterns on its surface are always tricky to paint. 

Then, flowers. I’ve done very few floral subjects, so, I’m really not sure what to do with them, but, it started to look ok. 

I spent the rest of the session working on the horse. The challenge is always, to get a big shape right, using subtle shift of tones and directions of brush strokes. 

I’m enjoying this one. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Churchill and His Pastime of Painting

Churchill’s short but charming essay ‘Painting as a Pastime’ is now readily available online. 

I’ve just come across this lecture on YouTube. It’s very enjoyable to watch. 

The last comment by Simon “ The second atomic bomb was named after Churchill” is quite new to me. I’ve never heard of that. It’s an astonishing claim. Did you know?

“Happy are the painters for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end, of the day.” - Winston Churchill 

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Oil painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

We had Indija today, and theme was Ancient Times/Native Regal, whatever it means. 

Not quite right, but, I think I got a basic ok. 

Always lovely to see familiar faces. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Unfinished 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Ólafur Arnalds at Melbourne Recital Centre

One of my favourite musicians is coming to Melbourne this December.

The last time I saw him was in 2014 at this iconic venue. Probably the most lyrical and touching gig I’ve been to. 

Very exciting. 

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