Wednesday 31 December 2014

Cobaw Ranges from Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a snow gum beside a gate in a post-rail fence, with a tree-covered hill in the distance and dry grass in the foreground.
The tree on the far left is a snow gum (actually, it's two snow gums, one dead and one alive), but due to the intense summer heat, the snow melted and left only a gum.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Old Windmill, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a windmill without sails beside two water tanks on a hillside, with dry grass and wheel marks in the foreground.
An old windmill sans sails, which has doubtless not been assailed by any wind of late.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Monday 29 December 2014

Art Studio: New Weatherboards

Photograph of an exterior wall clad new cedar weatherboards.
I wanted to get out and paint, but instead I hit a wall (several times with a hammer and nails).  This should help to keep the elements out of the studio, and keep the paintings in.

Pixels on liquid crystal display, 375px x 500px

Sunday 28 December 2014

Old Dairy at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a galvanised iron shed with a tall conifer behind.
My uncle used this shed as a dairy about fifty years ago.  Keeping a dairy is similar to keeping a diary, except with a diary you don't have to get up so early and it doesn't necessarily involve cows.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Saturday 27 December 2014

Old Stable, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a shed with a red roof, with trees behind.

This is at least the third time I've painted this shed.  I wonder how many paintings constitute a shedload?

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Friday 26 December 2014

Old Pipers Creek School

Oil painting of the doorway of a brick Victorian schoolhouse.  There are steps leading up to the doorway, and the schoolhouse is surrounded by trees and shrubs.
This is literally an old school painting.

Oil on canvas board, 10"  x 12"

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Ornamental Pond, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of an ornamental pond surrounded by shrubs and small trees, with an olive tree in the background.
I pondered this scene at length, and responded--perhaps ponderously--with a preponderance of bright colours.  Here endeth this correspondence.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Art Studio: New Roof



For the second time in almost as many months, I failed to paint.  I did, however, spend the day helping to put a new roof on the art studio.  I'd make a bad joke about a roof, but it'd probably go over your head.

Pixels on liquid crystal display, 500px x 375px

Monday 22 December 2014

Manna Gum with Storm Clouds at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a manna gum on a hillside with dry grass and stormy cumulus clouds in the background.
It's Christmas day and I've had all manner of things to drink; hence, like the sky in this painting, everything's a bit cloudy.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Sunday 21 December 2014

Jars Containing Wasabi Peas and Cashew Nuts

Oil painting of a tall and slender jar with a black lid containing wasabi peas beside a shorter jar with a red lid containing cashew nuts.
Inventing original puns is starting to drive me nuts; from such a jarringly obvious joke it is evident that I've given up trying to appease my small audience.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Saturday 20 December 2014

Rear of House in Park Drive, Parkville

Oil painting of a grey-green Victorian house and chimney.
The backs of people's houses can make very interesting subject matter, and can often be painted out of the public eye; however, such a position is not necessarily out of the eye of the residents, and a budding artist can look somewhat suspicious prowling around back alleys with a view-finder.  A father and daughter emerged from the back gate of this house while I was painting, ostensibly to kick a ball between one another, but I suspect, instead, they were trying simply trying to ascertain why I was staring their house so intently.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Friday 19 December 2014

Apple with Small Copper Pot

Oil painting of a Pink Lady apple beside a small copper pot.
Trying to come up with a caption for this painting is giving me the pip; it seems I've gone to pot.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Still Life: Bottle, Plastic Fruit, Plate and Drapery

Oil painting of a black bottle beside a light red drape, with a plastic lemon and a plastic pear on a white plate in the foreground.
Single session class exercise.  Some of my fellow students complained about having to paint yet another still life--apparently they don't find still life particularly moving.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 12"

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Hydrangea Flower in Silver-Plated Vase

Oil painting of a pale pink hydrangea flower in an Art Deco-style silver-plated vase.
I've always thought that hydrangeas live up to their name: the ranger is so well hidden that I've never been able to find him or her.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 15 December 2014

Miniature Vase with Nectarine

Oil painting of a miniature blue and white onion-shaped vase beside a yellow and red nectarine.
An onion-shaped vase beside a nectarine-shaped nectarine.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Sunday 14 December 2014

Saturday 13 December 2014

Blue Castor Oil Bottle with Plastic Yellow Flowers

Oil painting of a blue castor oil bottle surrounded by yellow plastic flowers and illuminated by the afternoon sunlight.
Castor oil: to choose Grace Kelly to play a part in your film; or, to make a bronze of someone such as George IV.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Friday 12 December 2014

Antique Whisky and Worcestershire Sauce Bottles

Oil painting of two bottles illuminated by late afternoon sunlight, one black and one transparent.
Whisky and Worcestershire sauce: two great tastes, but not in combination.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Onion and Vase

Oil painting of a brown onion beside the base of a white porcelain vase.
An onion unpeeled, yet not unappealing, by a vase of white that reaches the ceiling.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 8 December 2014

Sunday 7 December 2014

Mary's Room, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

This scene features Romneya coulteri in the foreground (I think I've got that right--my folks will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong) which is more commonly known as a fried egg plant.  This is not to be confused with fried eggplant, which is delicious but not nearly so pretty.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Saturday 6 December 2014

House at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a house with a gabled roof, painted in a warm apricot colour with light green edging and surrounded by trees and shrubs.

The day was overcast and hence the light was particularly dull.  I once asked one of my teachers for a strategy to deal with such uninteresting lighting, and he simply told me to try harder; I'm wondering if I should heed the same advice where my captions are concerned.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Friday 5 December 2014

ISO Tasting Glass with Apple

Oil painting of a Pink Lady apple beside an ISO tasting glass, both on a cutting board and illuminated by the morning sun.
In a world exclusive, paintingaday.net is proud to reveal the first pictures of the latest rival to Google's wearable technology: Apple Glass.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Still Life with Red Hat

Oil painting of a red women's hat with a fawn-colour band, beside a glass of light red liquid and a plate with two pieces of fruit cake and a blue-handled cheese knife, all on a checked table cloth.
This was an interesting single-session class exercise set up by my teacher.  While we were painting, I named this piece Auntie Nibbs comes for afternoon tea, though quite why Auntie Nibbs left her hat on the table and was apparently using a cheese knife to cut fruit cake, I don't know.  I suspect Auntie Nibbs might have had one nip of sherry too many.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 12"

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Pink Rose in Green Bottle

Oil painting of an opened pink rose blossom protruding from the next of an antique green bottle.
This Tuesday morning I arose to find a rose had risen from the bush in my communal back yard, and like the fause lover from Bonnie Doon, I stole the rose and left the thorn (at the risk of getting a rise from the neighbours).  At least I'm sharing the serenity.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 1 December 2014

Medicine Bottle Detail

Small oil painting of the lip, neck and shoulder of an antique brown glass medicine bottle.
So much to do and so little time; I had to be content with a very small painting as the day's dwindling hours lead to an activity bottleneck.

Oil on canvas board, 2" x 2"

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"