Hiro: May 2019

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Self-portrait Oil Painting

Due to bad weather, I decided to do another selfie in my studio (bathroom), listening to Beethoven’s complete symphonies by Daniel Barenboim. What is my favourite? Hard to say, but, No 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9. No 1 is great, too.

Blissful moment.

I spent 2 hours.

Oil on canvas. 12x9 in.

Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

The fourth session.

I spent entire lesson working on the skull.

The challenge is always, to create form and depth by reading subtle tonal shift. Utilising soft/hard edges and direction of brush strokes.

The discussion with Greg about how to do the hollow area behind eye soket was particularly interesting. You need to push back the former and bring forward the latter. He put his finger behind the eye soket. But, how? Well, tone and edges!!

I’m enjoying this.

Work in progress. 16x20 in.

Erudite and lyrical, this beautifully written meditation on chosen artists and their paintings are also superbly narrated by Andrew Wincott. His tone of voice is very comfortable to my ears.

Although I had to look for paintings online to get visual references the author was talking about, I didn’t think it was a chore.

Gericault, Fantin-Latour, Redon, Vuillard, Vallotton, Oldenburg, Hodgkin... these are unknown painters to me.

My favourite chapter is on Freud.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Audible production. I learned a lot.

Landscape Artist of the Year

At last someone uploaded this series on YouTube so that we can watch.

This time, it’s plein air painting. I wish I could take part in this ‘competition’.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to Alphington Farmers Market this morning. It was recommended by my client. There’s something very relaxing about this space. Fresh food and some music. No one is in a rash. I liked it a lot.

Then I decided to paint in Darebin Parklands. Again, recommend by my clients. It only takes a few minutes from the market.

Strangely enough, I’ve been here only once, a couple of years ago. I took a walk first and decided to set up my easel here.

It’s surprisingly quiet. Although it got cloudy and cold very quickly, it wasn’t windy.

I had a great time. Looking at it now, I think water is too dark, though.

I spent 3 hours.

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in.

Selfportrait Oil Painting

In the afternoon I decided to do another selfie in my studio (bathroom).

I’m not happy with this one. I had a hard time getting proportion right, but I couldn’t.

Also, tone/temperature is all over the place.

Disappointing.

I spent 3 hours.

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in.

Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

The third session.

I reworked the big vase at back, first. Trying to keep its three dimension.

Then I did the little thing (?) on the right. Greg told me it’s a bit chalky, but leave it for now.

Finally I did some work on the skull. Putting some cracks changed its appearance completely. Very interesting.

Work in progress. 16x20 in.

Selfportrait Oil Painting

In the afternoon I decided to do another selfie in my studio (bathroom).

I think this one is better.

I spent 1.5 hours.

Oil on canvas. 11x8 in.

Portrait Artist of the Year

I’ve heard of this TV series from my client. Because I don’t have TV or subscribe to any paid services, I’ve never seen it.

Now, someone uploaded it on YouTube, I had a look at it.

What an entertaining program! I liked it a lot.

Watching different styles of portrait painting develop is quite an experience.

Fortunately, Tai-Shan Schierenberg is one of judges offering a sound commitment. It’s always great to have artists as judges. He’s a great painter.

Hearing their different options is also very entertaining, although it's always very annoying to hear non-painters (critics, dealers, historians..) pontificating about how paintings should be like.

Oil painting at LastPeek Studio

After seeing HBIA hair composition with Paige at Pullman in Albert Park, I drove to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon.

We had Carly today. Very elegant pose with a fabulous wig.

I decided to step back and framed more body this time. It’s always great to see familiar faces. Henry again made an awesome cake for us.

I spent 2.5 hours.

Unfinished

Oil on panel. 16x20 in.

Selfportrait Oil Painting

After a long bike ride, I decided to do another selfie in my studio (bathroom) this afternoon.

I wasn’t sure but I wasn’t in a mood to do a landscape.

I’m reasonably happy with this one.

I spent 1.5 hours.

Oil on canvas. 11x8 in.

Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

I started a new subject.

The main focus is that skull. I painted it about two years ago and thought it’s a good idea to revisit it.

Raw Umber wash and rub off, trusting my gut feeling without measuring anything.

Then I put some colours.

It’s a good start.

Work in progress.

16x20 in.

Creative haircutting workshop at Covet&Co Creative Studio

I had a very productive time with our staff Paige this morning in Ivanhoe.

She’s very passionate and she demonstrated her ability to create a classy shape with ease.

It was quite a fun time as well.

For more information of this workshop, have a look at here.

Plein Air Oil Painting

I went back to The Centre Ivanhoe this afternoon. Banyule council plans to demolish left side of this iconic building. Before that happens I try to paint this view in different seasons.

It was cold but not windy. I always enjoy painting this scene.

I spent 3 hours.