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

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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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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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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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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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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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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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Well, I spent entire lesson on reworking the statue. I still have a bad habit of drawing a line. Greg kept reminding me of this, fortunately. It’s all about 3-D form. “Do not draw”

Maybe I should get a tattoo on my arms🤪

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Selfportrait Oil Painting

Weather wasn’t good, so I decided to a selfie in my studio (bathroom). 

Daniel Barenboim is playing tonight at Sydney Opera House. I wish I could go. 

Well, I put on AirPods and was listening to his Beethoven piano sonatas. What a treat!

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Today I started by refreshing background, bleeding into objects a bit. And a table at front. 

Then I reworked on the cast, observing its subtle tonal shift. The book stand needed a fresh colour and I changed its shape a bit. 

I put a more pinky tones to the flowers. 

Finally I put more Burnt Sienna to the metronome to enhance its timber texture. 

It’s getting there. 

Work in progress. 16x20 in. 

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Plein Air Oil Painting

I drove to Glenlyon this morning. I’ve got a theme song in my car these days on my way to painting spot. Beethoven’s 6th by Daniel Barenboim. It’s really sad that he’s not coming to Melbourne. 

There’s a lovely General Store and I had some savories. Nice!

They recommended Loddon Falls to paint. 

It’s a bit of a walk after leaving a car, but it’s definitely worth it. 

It’s a wonderful spot, and very peaceful except annoying flies. 

Painting rich formations is very difficult, I don’t think I did a good job. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

After late lunch, I decided to do one more. I had a look around and found this spot. Even better than the last one, I thought. 

Unfortunately the cliff was mostly in shadows but, water was catching lights. This place is amazing. 

I spent 2.5 hours. 

Oil on canvas. 14x18 in. 

Weather was perfect. It was a great day.

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Firstly I worked on the book at back. Greg did a great demo, darkening it then lighter tones. It was fascinating to see how he did music notes on the pages. 

The book at front wasn’t big enough so I enlarged it, then carefully putting shadows. 

Finally I worked on the feather and ink pot. Its  delicate structure and subtle tonal differences are hard to see. 

Work on progress. 16x20 In. 

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Selfportrait Oil Painting

I was very inspired by Greg’s demo in the morning. In the afternoon, I had a go at another selfie in my studio (bathroom). 

I carefully plotted subtle tonal balance. I still feel it lacks warmth. 

I spent 3 hours. 

Oil on panel. 16x20 in. 

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Oil painting lesson with Gregory Smith

Greg told me last night that he would do a demo at today’s morning class. Well, it’s a public holiday, there’s nothing better than watching him paint. I’m not going to watch horses running. 

It’s an amazing journey from this beginning 

to this one in just 2.5 hours. Don’t you agree?

It’s always inspiring to see him in action and hear precious wisdom. 

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