Every Picture Tells A Story. Gericault's The Raft of the Medusa

I’m reading a book ‘Keeping an Eye Open’ by Julian Barnes, subtitled ‘Essays on Art’. 

In the first chapter, he writes about this painting by Géricault. 

I’ve never heard of this artist, but the story surrounding this painting is fascinating. 

I’ve found a documentary on this painting on YouTube by my favourite art critic Andrew Graham Dixon. It’s a good one. He looks very young. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

It’s great to be back in a studio!

We had Matilda today sitting for us. I cut her hair about 6 weeks ago, a modern interpretation of bowl cut. Heavy fringe to above ears, slightly down towards back, with subtle gradation at nape, no shaving. 

She’s a great model, delightful to paint. 

Again, Greg gave us lots of precious suggestions, like, focus on big structure. 

I think it’s a good start. Hope I won’t ruin it in the end. 

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to Studley Park Boathouse in Fairfield this afternoon. 

I set up my easel slightly to the left than usual spot, there was a nice shade under trees. 

However it soon disappeared as the sun moved, I should have carefully thought about that. 

It was also very awkward because I was standing on a slope therefore couldn’t stand back and check from a distance. 

It got very hot and bright, somehow I managed to finish this one. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Curious World of Hieronymus Bosch

Another superb series of ‘Exhibition On Screen’ by Seventh Art Productions. 

I had absolutely no knowledge of this painter, well, I’ve seen his paintings but they didn’t interest me at all. Wicked monsters, insects, dismembered bodies....

This film changed my rather misguided perceptions of his work. 

If you really look at his paintings closely, you’ll realise how contemporary his paintings are. As an critic said in the film, his paintings preceded surrealism well before Dali made it famous in the 20th century. 

I can also see a bit of Turner and Bacon as well. 

Bosch’s hellish visions expressed in his paintings were truly astonishing. 

He’s not a household name like his contemporaries, like Da Vinci, but, hopefully this film will help people recognise this unique artist and his limitless imagination. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went back to Spotswood Jetty in Williamstown this afternoon. 

This spot has become my go-to place to paint these days. Very quiet and a good place to study water. Its colours keep changing all the time. 

As much as I love this spot, it can get very windy and today it was worst. I struggled holding my canvas. Very difficult to paint straight lines. Frustrating!

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Beethoven Complete Sonatas by Richard Goode

Beethoven’s monumental sonatas are always my favourite. It’s like reading Van Gogh’s letters. Very personal insights and feelings expressed in a very touching way. 

I thought now is the time to get a complete set. 

The agonising question was, which pianist?

I’m no expert on music, therefore I can’t say which one  is the best in terms of virtuosity and truthfulness. I think no one can, especially when it comes to ‘complete set’. At the end of the day, it all boils down to one’s taste. 

It’s amazing to notice how different each pianist plays these sonatas. I’ve gone through most of the ‘sets’ in iTunes using ‘Moonlight Sonata’ as a reference.  

Then, there were three left.  Daniel Barenboim, Jean-Bernard Pommier and Richard Goode. 

I listened to previews of these pianists one by one. The sound quality, texture, expression...

Richard’s lyrical interpretations of these works  finally won me over. I’m happy. 

Here’s one of my favourite, Pastorale No 15, on YouTube. 

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On Colour by David Kastan

A great book by Yale University Press, apparently beautiful one, but, I got it from Audible. 

Any audiobook that talks about visual art is very tricky. Quite often, it loses meaning or impact precisely because of its audio format. 

Not this one. 

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Robertson Dean did a great job as a narrator. 

Based on seven rainbow spectrum colours, white, black and grey, the author gives us a plenty of fascinating stories about this intriguing visual sensation. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to Warneet South Jetty in Mornington Peninsula this afternoon. 

It seems I keep coming back to this area. My favourite. 

I haven’t painted South Jetty before. It was a challenge due to strong winds.  

I recently discovered how to create turquoise colour. It’s basically a mixture of green, blue and white. In this case, I used Viridian and Ultramarine Blue. 

I think I should have put some figures at front. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

I finished off this beautiful day with fish&chips from General Store, watching glorious light on water and yachts. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I joined monthly Paint Oit Day organised by Victorian Artists Society drove to K Cliffs in Werribee South this afternoon. 

It was nice to familiar faces. 

This place is gorgeous with its stunning rock formations and a river. I really enjoyed this one. I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

After late lunch and everyone’s gone, I decided to do a small sketch on the other side of the cliff. 

It was very quiet and the light was incredible. 

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 7x9 in. 

It was a glorious day. I’ll definitely come back. 

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Maudie - film

Recommended by my client. 

This is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. 

Never heard of Maud Lewis. 

I just loved the way film was shot; beautiful but restrained cinematography, costumes, landscapes....

And, what a performance by Sally Hawkins!

At the end of the day, it’s a story of Maud and her passion for painting that moves me the most. 

I’m so glad to come across this remarkable film and know her life story. Very inspiring. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

Because of hot weather in Melbourne, I decided to drive to Warneet in Mornington Peninsula, thinking it would be much cooler. 

Well, it wasn’t. Never mind. 

I set up my easel here at North Jetty. 

I painted from this point before, I stepped back a bit to incorporate more depth. 

It was a low tide, showing skeleton shapes of the jetty which,  I thought,  would be a good exercise. 

Again, I had a hard time painting straight lines. Apart from that I’m reasonably happy with this one. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

As usual, I had a great fish&chips from General Store. Lying on a bench writing this. It’s lovely here with cool sea breeze. 

I’m not sure how hot Melbourne is now. 

I think it’s time to go home now. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went back to Spotswood Jetty in Williamstown this afternoon. 

I decided to set up my easel at the same spot as the first time, under a pagoda. 

It’s a simple composition, but, it takes a lot of measuring to get proportions right. And, how difficult it is to paint straight lines!

It was a very pleasant afternoon with lovely sea breeze coming from the bay side. 

I really enjoyed this one. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Then I spent an hour or so reading a book, sitting on a camping chair. 

I love this place. 

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Thinking of Answers by A.C. Grayling

Another great audiobook from Audible.

Narrated by Derek Perkins, this book is a collection of essays the author wrote in the London Times and others. 

Aptly subtitled, Questionnaires in the Philosophy of Everyday Life, they offer a wide range of moral issues we face in our time. 

Each column is only five or so minutes, but, he has a very lucid and persuasive style of thinking, that I enjoyed enormously. 

Narration is also very suitable for this type of writing material. 

I liked a lot.

“A few minutes at the zoo is enough to convince most people that apes and monkeys are close kin to humankind. Some say that a few minutes watching proceedings in any parliament is enough to show that humans are close kin to monkeys and apes.”

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Plein Air Oil Painting

The last day of end of year holiday. 

I decided to drive back to Warneet Jetty in Mornington Peninsula this afternoon. 

Unfortunately there’s no fish&chips at General Store today. Never mind. 

It was very peaceful but very windy, not an ideal situation. I set up my easel just next to a big tree. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I experimented different ways to paint water. I’m not sure if it’s successful or not, though. 

I spent 3hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Then I took a walk and now watching a lovely reflection of the late afternoon sunshine. 

Time to go back to Melbourne. 

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Portrait of Wally - film

I didn’t know of this fascinating, at the same time, rather depressing story about Egon Schiele’s painting. 

The use of acronym ‘P.O.W’ is very clever. 

It’s a tense and gripping film that I think keeps viewers mesmerised from star to finish. 

I liked it a lot. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

As weather was irresistible I decided to go back to Spotswood Jetty in Williamstown this afternoon. 

I raised my viewpoint up and tried to incorporate the flag. Again, I carefully measured the angles and its perspectives. This one is better proportioned than earlier paintings, I think. 

However, I feel something missing in its composition. Also, it was very windy and water was very choppy. I didn’t know how to paint that. I need to ask Greg. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

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Margaret Olley - A Life in Paint

This is a great film tracing the life of one of the most famous if not accomplished Australian painters. 

It’s very intimate and thoughtful. A celebration of her creative commitment to the art of painting. 

Here’s a nice ABC clip on YouTube. 

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Summer School with Gregory Smith

It was raining heavily around 12pm on my way to Afton Street Conservation Park in Essendon. 

Fortunately it stopped when the session started and it got sunny. 

I’ve never been here before. It’s a lovely place, very peaceful. 

I forgot to take a photo, but, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Greg gave me precious suggestions painting palm trees, the bridge and reflection of light on the river. I learned a lot. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

He did a fabulous demo painting a walking path along the river. The effect of light on the path, trees and water was just beautiful. 

It was a great day. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went back to Spotswood Jetty this afternoon (3rd time!) That shows how much I enjoy painting here. 

I started a small sketch today, looking towards the bay. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Painting small feels different. 

I spent 1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 7x8 in. 

After lunch, I decided to paint from this angle. 

I had a massive difficulty in drawing straight lines again. Although I thought I checked angles carefully, I see some mistakes now. I’m not entirely happy with this one although I enjoyed the experience. I need to fix them later.  

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

It was great watching beautiful scenery at dusk. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I met up with my friend Paul at Woodlands Historic Park near Melbourne Airport this afternoon. 

It was very cloudy at first, so we set up easels here, towards Essendon. 

Gradually it got sunny and warm. This place is always very quiet. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Here’s Paul painting with a airplanes approaching the airport. He did a fabulous painting. We exchanged ideas of paint, composition and structure etc...

It was a great day. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I decided to go back to Spotswood Jetty in Williamstown this afternoon. I enjoyed the spot very much yesterday. 

I set up my easel under the pagoda again. 

What I did today different from yesterday was, I split the canvas in half and painted more panoramic views, firstly the bridge, then the industrial scene. 

I’m not happy with the latter. It got very windy and the easel collapsed twice. Impossible to paint. Besides I wasn’t sure how to deal with its complicated structure. 

Although it was very frustrating towards the end, it was still a great day in the sun. 

I spent 2 hours each. 

Oil on canvas. 7x18 in. 

Oil on canvas. 7x18 in. 

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