Summer School with Gregory Smith

After work, I drove to Queen's Park in Essendon. 

I was very late, so I set up my easel quickly here. 

Although I run out of time, I learned a lot from Greg. I spent 1.5 hours. 

Unfinished. 12x16 in. 

After the session, he did a great demo. It's really mesmerising to watch him painting. 

With many familiar faces, and fabulous weather, it was a fantastic day. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

Another head study of 'Self-portrait' by Hugh Ramsay. 

There's something wrong. 

1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Ivanhoe again. 

There's a charming building across the salon, now occupied by 'Kidstuff'.

I always wanted to paint it. Unfortunately, it's been ruined by horrible business signs everywhere but, never mind, I set up my easel here. 

I decided not to paint traffic lights at front. I thought it won't contribute to overall composition. 

I really struggled this one. I just couldn't get its perspective right. I ended up doing initial wash/sketch three times, wiping off the whole thing. I tried to be patient, because I knew this one was a great subject to study. I think I spent 1.5 hours even before putting colours in. 

Again, I bumped into some clients, and that was nice. 

I spent 4 hours. I learned a lot. 

Oil on panel. 16x20in. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

A study of 'Seated nude' by Hugh Ramsay. 

1.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Ivanhoe this afternoon. 

I'm standing at a corner of Livingstone St and Upper Heidelberg Road in front of Commonwealth Bank. 

The building is to be demolished and a multi-story complex will be built (usual story). 

So, I decided to paint from here, looking towards Waterdale Road. 

It was very hot and sunny at first, and it got cold and cloudy. By the time I finished, it was already raining. Very challenging, indeed. 

Some clients saw me painting, and we had a good chat. 

I spent 3.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

A head study of 'Self-portrait in white jacket' by Hugh Ramsay. 

One of my favourites. A beautiful painting. Gushing! 

I'd like to do a study of a whole thing. 

Now, off to work. 

1.5 hours. 

7x9.5 in. Oil on panel. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

It was windy and hot, so I decided to go to my favourite Le Page homestead in Plenty Gorge Park. 

This shelter is very useful in a day like this. 

I've done this subject before on a smaller canvas. It's a great study of perspectives. 

My iPhone can't capture the contrast of highlights and shadows, as you can see here. It's better to paint than taking photos :)

I was very careful measuring angles, spending 45 minutes correcting and adjusting. 

Looking at the painting now, I think beams are not aligned with tin roof :(

The foreground can be very monotonous when it occupies a big space. You can do sky relatively easily by manipulating clouds, though. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Yea, 1.5 hour drive north east of Melbourne, this afternoon. 

It's a very scenic drive particularly from Yarra Glen along Melba Hwy. 

After lunch, I set up easel here, looking towards Shire Hall. 

It was very peaceful. I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

There's a very modern Tourist Information Centre across the street, and I asked a man about some place I can go and paint. 

It was already 4pm, so I decided to go to the nearest one, that was 'Killingworth Rd'. It sounds very intimidating, though. 

As it turned out, it was a beautiful area, sinuous contours of hills and mountains appearing one after another. 

I set up my easel here at Goulburn River Pump Station. 

Again, it was very quiet, I could hear nothing but buzzing flies. Very annoying. One of them got stuck in my nostril!

I spent 2.5 hours. I forgot to put cows in the field :(

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

I liked the area a lot. The town itself isn't that charming, but, I'd like to explore its surroundings in the near future. 

It was a great day. 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 11

This is the last class of the year. 

I put a final touch on a basket, brightening front area with more darks at the same time. Its shape at bottom was too straight, so I rounded it off. 

I also made front of the table lighter. 

The highlights on the two bottles were at wrong place, so, I adjusted them. 

Greg put some grey on breads, and that made them more real. Interesting. 

That's it! I'm very happy with this one. 

It's been a great privilege to learn from Greg. Three years now, I think. 

Painting has become a very important part of my life. 

I think I'm a landscape painter. Well, that's what I enjoy more than anything else. Being in nature.  

Thanks Greg for introducing me to this wonderful experience of painting en plein air. I'm loving it. 

Of course, painting still life in a studio is the most fundamental way of learning. At the end of the day, subjects don't matter. They shouldn't. We're just painting truthfully what we see. 

And you know what? That's the most difficult thing to do. It will take a lifetime, or two :)

I just enjoy my journey. 

I'm looking forward to going back to the studio in January. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio - retouching

I did some more work on yesterday's painting. Still not quite right. I gave up. 

Now, off to Greg's studio. 

Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

 

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Oil Painting at LastPeek Studio

I went to my favourite studio in Thornbury this afternoon. 

We had Carmen, a lovely model. 

This is the last session of the year. Thanks Frank and Henry for organising this class, and great models.  

I'm loving it. 

2 hours. Unfinished. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 10

Today I started by refining a table. It has some decorations at front, and I tried to make sense of them by capturing patterns of their big shapes. It's all about tones. 

Also I did some work on a cloth. Greg gave me a good tip. Always remember where the light is coming from. 

It's actually a lot brighter than in the painting, but, if I paint that way, I'll miss the point. The priority should be on the shell. So, I keep the cloth deliberately darker than reality. 

Well, that's what Greg told me :)

Then I refined a green bottle. 

I'll finish this one next week, the last lesson of the year. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Self-portrait of an artist

Mercury rising to 34° in Melbourne today, and I'm painting this in my studio (bathroom). It's very hot here. 

I spent 4 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 



 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 9

Today I concentrated on bread and a basket. 

Greg put Burnt Sienna right at the center of bread, that was a surprise. But, he is making a point that it had looked dead and needed more warmth. Now it looks more edible. 

The basket is another good lesson. I was fiddling with details, completely forgetting its forms. 

Then I refined a vase. 

I'm enjoying this one. 

Work in progress. 16x20in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I went to Banyule Swamp this afternoon. 

This is by now a familiar spot to paint, but I've found it's always a challenge. 

I spent 2 hours. This 8 oz cotton canvas from Seniors Art is a bit rough. 

It was a beautiful afternoon. 

Now off to Greg's studio.  

Oil on canvas. 12x16 in. 

 

 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Kyneton this morning. 

Paul supplies us with painting panels. For storage purposes, I've decided to get canvases without panels from now on, so that they don't occupy any space, and very light when painting en plein air. 

We decided to do some paintings together near his place, and we set up our easels here, somewhere in Fordes Lane. 

It's a beautiful place. Very quiet. While painting, we had a great chat about art and painting. I really enjoyed it. 

I spent 2 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 

We decided to do one more, and I chose this angle from the same spot. 

This one is very tricky. There's not much happening here, so, I needed to focus on subtle tonal differences. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

 

He is very passionate about art. We just kept talking about painting. I had a fabulous time painting with him. 

It really was a great day. 

 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

Another head study of 'Self-portrait' by Hugh Ramsay. 

I can't get enough of him. Such an inspiration.

1.5 hour. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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Oil Painting Sketch

Another head study of 'The Mandolin, 1902' by Hugh Ramsay. 

Now, off to work. 

1.5 hour. 

Oil on panel. 7x9.5 in. 

 

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Oil Painting Lesson with Gregory Smith - Day 8

Thank Goodness, it cooled down by the time I got to the studio. 

Greg told me to start today by making background and foreground solid with simple block tones. It's amazing how the rest of the painting started to look coming forward. 

The table is a mix of Cad Red and Ivory Black. It creates beautiful tones. 

Then I refined the shell at front, which is a focal point. Greg put White as its highlight with his finger (of course!) and I was amazed how much it jumps out. 

I think it's going very well. 

Work in progress. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in.

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Self-portrait of an artist

Mercury rising to 38°C in Melbourne!!

Although there's no air con here, I decided to stay inside and try a sel-portrait in, well, a bathroom!!??

Let me tell you, it's really hard to do it in there, also it's stinking hot. 

As expected, I'm not happy. 

Now, off to Greg's studio. Hope it's cooler. 

4 hours. 

Oil on panel. 12x16 in. 



 

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