Sunday 30 November 2014

Malmsbury Viaduct

Oil painting of an arched bluestone rail bridge and light dappled pathway viewed from a shady spot amongst trees.
Once upon a time the residents of Malmsbury crossed the Coliban River via boat, but once they'd built the bluestone train bridge, they crossed the river via viaduct.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 14"

Fountain at Malmsbury Botanic Gardens

Oil painting of a three-tiered water fountain nestled amongst long grasses on an island on an ornamental lake and surrounded by lurid green trees.
Being slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of greens in this fountain scene, I couldn't help but go to water.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Saturday 29 November 2014

Former Stable at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a grey weatherboard shed with a red roof, surrounded by trees and shrubs and illuminated by the afternoon sunlight.
Whilst I was painting this shed (a former stable) the wind got up a little, thus causing my pochade box to become unstable (sorry to saddle you with such a bad pun).

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Still Life

Oil painting of a wine glass partially filled with liquid, a bowl of fruit, a gourd-shaped green bottle and an orange on a light red table cloth.
Still life painted over two weeks in class.  Despite the term still life, nothing in this painting is true to life: the fruit is plastic and the liquid in the wine glass is tea.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Small Vase with Pear

Oil painting of a small blue and white Chinese-style vase casting a shadow on a pear.
To remove the fruit from this painting would be to make it disappear, while removal of the vessel would require a vasectomy.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 24 November 2014

Glencairn Whisky Glass with Nectarine

Oil painting of a red and yellow nectarine in partially obscuring a Glencairn whisky glass against a green background.
A nectarine beside a vessel for holding the nectar of the gods.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Sunday 23 November 2014

Plastic Rose Detail

Small painting of a close up of a red plastic rose.

My first attempt at painting was such a monumental failure that I was compelled to grab a rag and rub it off.  For my second attempt, I purposely went very small so that I could nip it in the bud.

Oil on canvas board, 2" x 2"

Saturday 22 November 2014

Lemon with Silver-Plated Jug

Oil painting of a lemon beside a small silver-plated jug, with the lemon partially reflected on the jug.
A jugged lemon left to stew in its own juice.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Friday 21 November 2014

Sandal Buckle

Small oil painting of a brass buckle on a brown leather sandal in front of a blue background.
I had limited time to paint (hence the very small painting) and I had difficulty with this finicky subject, but I think I managed to avoid buckling under the pressure.

Oil on canvas board, 2" x 2"

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Monday 17 November 2014

Willow Pattern Teacup with Zucchini

Oil painting of a zucchini partly obscured by a blue and white teacup.
Alas, I'm not particularly pleased with this painting--the teacup is a bit of a far cup, and I'm not too keen(y) on the zucchini.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Sunday 16 November 2014

Glass Vase and Ginger Beer Bottle

Oil painting of a glass vase beside an earthenware ginger beer bottle.
This was a difficult subject for me: I approached the bottle gingerly, and the paintbrush marks representing the vase show evidence of glass struggle.  Perhaps I should have tried it from a few different Engels.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"


Saturday 15 November 2014

Miniature Vase with Onion

Oil painting of a brown onion beside a white miniature vase with a blue pattern.
My brand new second-hand Chinese-style vase from Savers beside a brand new international-style onion from Victoria Market.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Friday 14 November 2014

Plastic Nose Pencil Sharpener

Small oil painting of a pink plastic nose viewed from the front.
This plastic nose has a pencil sharpener hidden in one of the nostrils.  It gives new meaning to (being) led by the nose.

Oil on canvas board, 2" x 2"

Thursday 13 November 2014

Dual Plaster-Cast Study

Oil painting of two plaster casts, one of a balding older man and the other of a young boy with a tuft of hair on his forehead.
This is the first time I've attempted two plaster casts at once--one day I might try as many as four.  In fact, I forecast that such an activity will take place. (Painted in three sessions.)

Oil on canvas board, 20" x 16"

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Portrait: Man in a Waistcoat

Oil painting of the head and torso of a bald man in a grey shirt and a dark grey waistcoat.
When I was younger I supposed a waistcoat was so named because the arms had gone to waste. (Class exercise painted over two weeks.)

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Wooden Elephant

Oil painting of a wooden elephant facing the viewer and partly obscured by shadow.
Usually I'd be disappointed if someone described one of my figure studies as wooden, but not in this case.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 10 November 2014

Teacup with Banana

Oil painting of a banana beside a bone china teacup with a yellow rose-pattern.
There's some debate as to whether a banana is a fruit or a herb (or indeed both or neither).  Thankfully a china teacup is free of such existential crises.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Sunday 9 November 2014

Saturday 8 November 2014

Art Deco Salt Shaker with Chilli Jar

Oil painting of a glass Art Deco salt shaker with a patinated metal lid, alongside a tall glass jar of chilli flakes with a gold-coloured lid.
Too much chilli can be an assault to the senses.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Friday 7 November 2014

Pepper Grinder Detail

Small oil painting of the upper part of a wooden pepper grinder.
This is such a corny pepper pun that I ought to go to ground.

Oil on canvas board, 2" x 2"

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Antique Bottles

Oil painting of four antique coloured-glass bottles (brown, green, black and transparent with green tinge).
You could say I've taken to the bottle.  (Painted over two days.)

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Monday 3 November 2014

Enamel Tin Mug and Mustard Pot

Oil painting of an enamel blue and white tin mug in front of an earthenware mustard pot with a cork stopper.  Both have been placed on a slab of white marble.
"Have a go, ya mug!" is a common Australian invitation to engage a would-be opponent in physical combat.  This painting is a variation on that theme (painted over two days), but instead I've had a go at a mug.  Less well known is the Australian incitement to "have a go, ya mustard!"

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Saturday 1 November 2014

Art Studio


Photograph of a slightly dilapidated room set up as an art studio and featuring a pochade box on a tripod and a fireplace.

Photograph of a slightly dilapidated room set up as an art studio and featuring a pochade box on a tripod, a fireplace and a small bookshelf full of books.

The habit of more than twenty months was broken on Saturday when I failed to put brush to canvas; instead, I spent the day setting up a painting studio at my folks' place.  The room was once used as my great-grandfather's art studio, but for most of the last 40 years it has been affectionately known as the junk room, and I should say that it was aptly named--to turn it into a studio required studious cleaning and hard work.

Pixels on liquid crystal display, 500px x 375px