Plein Air Oil Painting

Weather was very promising. I decided to go back to Williamstown this afternoon. 

I was looking for some other places to paint, and I stumbled across this spot across Scienceworks. 

It’s called Spotswood Jetty. There’s Westgate Punt ferry service to and from here. 

The good thing about this spot is, there’s a pagoda so that I was able to avoid direct sunlight. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, although the colour of water wasn’t quite right. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

It was so pleasant that I decided to do another one. A small sketch. I moved slightly to the left this time. 

This was more like watercolour effect using oil painting. Although it’s small I carefully measured angles. Late afternoon sunlight was just gorgeous. 

I think I got the colour of water right this time. 

I’m very happy with this one. 

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 12x8in. 

I almost forgot today is New Year’s Eve. Well, I’m not really interested in this kind of thing. What’s the difference anyway?

It was a great day, though. 

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Selfportrait Oil Painting

I decided to give myself a break from plein air paintings, and do another selfie in my studio (bathroom) this afternoon. It was raining anyway. 

It was a relaxing exercise, listening to Ludovico Einaudi. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

Someone asked, so here is the process. 

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Summer School with Gregory Smith

My painting teacher Greg conducts summer school in January. I was able to attend today’s session at John Morley Reserve in Williamstown. 

I chose this spot, wanting to learn how to deal with so many things going on.

His suggestions are, focus on primary objects, in this case, boats at front, and loosen up everything else. 

He did a demo first. Seeing the different tones in sky and water. The sky was walm grey, Raw Umber and White. The water is cool grey, Alizarin, French Blue and White. 

I think I ended up warming the sky too much with Naples Yellow Deep in this one. 

I learned a lot. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Unfinished 

Oil on canvas. 12x16 in. 

Then he did a fabulous demo. It’s incredible watching him paint boats. They were small but he was still able to see tonal subtleties and creat 3D forms. 

And, composition! Creating a visual pathway for viewers. 

Also, the way he did ducks! Putting dark blobs first, then, reshaping it from outside. Voilà!

Then I took a long walk. I’m glad it didn’t rain. I was able to resist temptation of getting fish&chips and ice cream today 😉

It was a great day. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Another hot day, so I decided to drive down to Mornington Peninsula. 

I first went to Crib Point, then Hastings. I didn’t like them for some reason. The latter is very commercial. 

I wasn’t sure where I was going to, and thought somewhere towards Warneet again. 

Then I got to Cannons Creek which turned out that directly opposite from Warneet. 

I liked this place a lot and set up my easel here. 

I thoroughly enjoyed painting this one. It was very quiet and weather was very pleasant here  with lovely cool sea breezes. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

I took a long walk, and right now I’m sitting on a bench writing this. This is such a lovely place. 

Thought about getting another fish & chips from Warneet General Store, but better not for two days in a row. 

I think it’s slightly cooling down in Melbourne. Time to drive home.

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Mercury rising. 

I decided to evacuate Melbourne to avoid heat. 

I was wondering where I should be going, and remembered I painted in Warneet in Mornington Peninsula, and how much I enjoyed it. 

So, here I am, I set up my easel at Warneet North Jetty. 

Again, it was very quiet. I struggled painting the jetty. I always had a problem drawing straight line. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

It was a very pleasant day here. Not hot at all. 

After a walk, I went to General Store and ordered fish & chips. The flake was very big and tasty. 

I’m sitting on the jetty writing this. Actually it’s getting colder here. It’s still 35°C in Melbourne. Unreal. 

It was a great day. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Westgate Park in Port Melbourne this morning. Because it’s Boxing Day, I thought traffic wasn’t too bad. 

As it turned out, this is a industrial area, but, it was very quiet today.

I found a good spot to paint. 

There was constant noise from the bridge, but it didn’t bother me. It’s kind of ‘white noise’, I guess. I enjoyed painting this one. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

It was just a pleasant afternoon, so I decided to do a small sketch. 

I drove along the river and found this spot. 

It’s a perfect subject to do a study of perspectives. I carefully checked angles whilst painting this one. The sun was still high above. 

Some leisure boats coming up and down, blasting horrible techno music, kind of drinking party for morons, I guess.  

Apart from that, it was very peaceful and I thoroughly enjoyed this one as well. 

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 12x8in. 

Then I took a long walk. It’s not a pretty area, but, weather was irresistible. 

It was a beautiful day. I’m glad I made a trip. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Rachel and Greg kindly invited me to her parents’ place in Kyneton for Christmas lunch this afternoon. 

It’s a beautiful area with stunning views. 

I decided to set up my easel here. 

I wasn’t sure how to paint the foreground, Greg gave me some advice, applying different brush strokes and using cooler tone of grey. 

I saw his painting. He did a great job painting haziness of hot summer Australian landscape with gorgeous gum trees. Inspiring, really. 

I spent 3 hours. 

It was a great day. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

After maddening grocery shopping in the morning, I decided to go back to Studley Park Boathouse in Fairfield. 

Because it’s Christmas Eve, it was very quiet. 

I chose the spot a bit different this time due to lack of shade. 

I struggled painting the big tree on the right. And I think colours of grass are not quite right. 

I spent 3 hours. 

I’m still in the park. I’m writing this while lying on grass. There’re no clouds in the sky. And there’s no one. It’s a beautiful evening. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Exhibition on Screen: The Artist's Garden, American Impressionism

Another superb documentary series by Seventh Art Production. 

I didn’t know anything about these American painters. The film features their beautiful work along with not just history of art movements but from social, economic and gender perspectives in the late 19th to early 20th century America. 

I liked it a lot.

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Plein Air Oil Painting

The idea was, going to Healesville to paint this afternoon. Weather was very pleasant from early morning. 

Then, while driving on Old Healesville Rd in Tarrawara, I thought, just stop my car and have a look around, and decided to paint here. It’s on Bleases Lane. 

There were black cows huddled under the tree. 

I think I lost darks, it all looks a bit too flat. 

It was a beautiful day, though. I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Painting People - NFSA Films

This is a rare find on YouTube. 

Very fascinating interviews with Australian painters made in the 60s. I particularly enjoyed William Dargie who was a student of AD Colquhoun. The latter was a student of Max Meldrum who was a founder of Australian tonalist painters. 

Their method of tonal realism painting is what I’ve been studying with my teacher Gregory Smith. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to Yarra Bend Park this afternoon. 

I painted from this spot before. A long time ago, actually. It offers a lovely view of city. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Nutcracker - Melbourne City Ballet

After work, I went to Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre. 

I’ve seen this dance company before. They’re not Australian Ballet, of course, without grandiose scale and glamour. But I enjoyed their production enormously. There was something intimate in their work, and I thought all dancers were superb. 

This Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is obviously a good repertoire at this time of year. 

Although the venue wasn’t ideal, (sound system was poor, stage was small and floor makes a big noise),  I thoroughly enjoyed this ballet. Again, I thought dancers did a superb job, from main characters to little children. 

Lovely choreography throughout. Costume was particularly impressive. 

It’s a shame that the place was half empty on Saturday evening. What’s wrong with people in Melbourne? These guys are showing top notch ballet productions at very affordable price for all family to see and enjoy. 

They definitely deserve more audience. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today is the last session of this year. 

I decided to do a little study. 

Greg showed me a new way of starting a painting. Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna wash gives warmth and if you rub back, it gives nice base tone for a lemon. 

Next,  cover the background with Black, then Naples Yellow Deep. That’s it, it gives warm green!  

I learned a lot. 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 8x12 in. 

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Selfportrait Oil Painting

Due to bad weather, I decided to do another selfie in my studio (bathroom). 

Well, I’m not so sure about this one. Always trying to learn a few things. 

I spent 3hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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National Gallery - film

This is a well-crafted, fly-on-the-wall documentary by Frederick Wiseman. 

At times, it seems a bit too long, but, it gives us a meditative feeling.

We don’t think much about what it takes to prepare an exhibition.Apparently, a lot. 

When I used to live in London, it was my favourite place to go to. The wealth of  collections is stunning. 

I thoroughly enjoyed curators’ (and other specialists’) talks, their knowledge and passion. 

The implication of slave trade and the Gallery was particularly fascinating. 

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Evita at State Theatre

After work I went to Arts Centre. 

I’ve seen a film featuring Madonna, but never seen a musical production, so I was very excited. 

Well, it was fabulous. 

Eva by Tina Arena was impressive with her vocal range. Paulo Szot as Peron was most powerful as a baritone. Kurt Kansley as Che was also brilliant with his versatile styles. 

The set design and costumes are all great. 

The song “Don’t cry for me Argentina” is often credited as the best song in the play. 

But I always preferred “Another suitcase in another hall”.  In the film, Madonna sang it, but, that was a travesty. It should be sung by a teenage mistress. That’s why the song is so touching. 

I was anxiously waiting for that moment. To me, that was the highlight of the evening. 

So beautiful, and moving. Amazing soprano voice by Alexis van Maanen. What a talent! So young and promising. 

Here’s the clip of the scene. Again, whoever sang it in this production, I think she did a great job here. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Well, that’s it. I finally finished it. 

I thought Lady ‘flat-top’ was a no-brainier. 

What a challenge! 6 sessions. 

I’ve learned a lot. 

Oil on panel. 16x 20 in. 

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Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Pre-Concert Lecture,

Listen to this, people. 

The very best lecture on the symphony I’ve ever encountered, by Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D. 

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Oil painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

Ali is a very graceful model. I just focused on her portrait today, after failing an attempt to paint top half. 

Highlights on her hair are tricky. I’m reasonably happy with this one. 

Unfinished 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Ólafur Arnalds at Melbourne Recital Centre

Oh, what an amazing evening!

This is my second time seeing him play in this beautiful space. 

I managed to get a front seat in Circle this time. Wonderful view and great sound. 

Very touching and lyrical, at the same time, enormously rhythmic. One moment, complete silence fills the air, and next, thunderous beat shakes the space. Yin & yang of acoustic landscape, beautifully performed by great musicians. 

His latest release ‘re:member’ is another masterpiece by this sound architect. 

Thanks for coming to Melbourne from the other side of the world. 

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