Stock Trailer at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

A stock trailer is used to promote a film comprising stock footage.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Beneath the Taradale Viaduct

It was a hot summer's day and I could have done with some air conditioning via duct, but instead I had to settle for shade and a breeze via wind.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

House in Fordes Lane near Kyneton

The end of Fordes Lane afforded a pleasant aspect.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Shop on Corner of Piper and Powlett Streets, Kyneton

My grandparents ran this shop as a milk bar until the late 1970s, so what better place for me to set up shop with my easel.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Barn at Stirling Estate, Pipers Creek

Painting this scene was a barn-raising experience.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Telephone Poles on Gooch's Lane, Pastoria

With such a good view of telephone poles, I was clearly in pole position.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Bridge at Ross, Tasmania

This was the only painting I managed during a week-long holiday in Tasmania, and it was quite a lot of bridge to try to fit into a limited canvas (I was travelling light with only my small pochade box).  It was, perhaps, a bridge too far.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Apple

One smart apple, minus the smart bit.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Whisky in Glencairn Whisky Glass

I'd planned to have an alcohol-free night and could have easily resisted the urge to drink; however, it was the temptation to paint a wee dram that I succumbed to, and well, once the genie was out of the bottle...

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Albert Park Yacht Club

Despite the beautifully sunny day, the wind (and wind-chill-factor) made painting especially difficult, which somewhat knocked the wind out of my sails.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Hydrangea Flower in Copper Vase

I carefully positioned this flower in a vase, and as such became a hydrangea arranger.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

House Backs from Morrah Street, Parkville

This isn't my favourite painting of late, so much so that I think it's a bit of a beast: a beast of at least three backs.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Red Pepper in Tea Towel

Dried pepper.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Manna Gum, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

This isn't perhaps my most convincing attempt at a Manna Gum--perhaps I ought to be taught some mannas.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Manna Gum Trunk, Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Truncated

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Gardener's Cottage at Flagstaff Hill, Melbourne

According to Wikipedia, the first flagstaff on Flagstaff Hill was erected in 1840 and was used to signal ships in the Port of Melbourne.  The article goes on to say that by the 1860s, signalling by flags was superseded by telegraph; I suppose flagging demand for the service eventually led to staff cuts.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Onion with Glass Vase

This glass vase is to the right of an unpeeled onion, but it does not necessarily have a right of appeal.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Rear of House on Corner of Royal Parade and Degraves Street, Parkville

Whilst painting this building it was necessary to make several adjustments to the roof line--so many in fact that I've dubbed it house of correction

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Cloud Study: Approaching Storm

I wouldn't go so far as to say that the sky's the limit, but this painting is certainly limited to the sky.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 6"

Jageurs Lane near Gatehouse Street, Parkville

This painting singularly fails to portray the extreme conditions under which it was created: the afternoon sun beat down as gale force winds tore at my pochade box (not to mention the fool lashed to it, doggedly trying to steer the brush) and all sensible folk sought refuge inside.  Relief from the sun was only occasioned by the arrival of storm clouds which destroyed all traces of reflected light and proceeded to dump their watery contents on the surrounding streets.  Alas, enthusiasm waned once the rain's domain extended to the lane.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Elm Avenue, Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne

A sunny Saturday afternoon in the Fitzroy Gardens afforded many an appealing vista for painting; this scene is just one particular avenue I might have explored.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Pear with Willow Pattern Bowl

Lawn bowls may be played in singles, triples, fours or pairs.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Yellow Box, Royal Park

From where I was standing, I had an unimpeded view of this tree; had I been sitting, you might have said I had the box seat.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Corner of Morrah and Wimble Streets, Parkville

After embarking on this subject, I realised it was slightly more difficult than I'd imagined.  In the end, however, I didn't so much paint myself into a corner as paint a corner myself.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Concrete Plant, Footscray

Whilst a concrete plant might sound like a contradiction in terms, this striking building certainly planted a concrete image in my mind.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Lighted Candle

This candle is known as Wayne, for when his flame is in the wind, he waxes and wanes.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Car in Munnering Lane, Princes Hill

Car puns are tyred.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Nectarine in Wine Glass

A dry wine with robust stone fruit characteristics.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Laneway off Fitzgibbon Street, Parkville

Usually I steer away from including cars in my paintings due to their propensity to move before the work is finished; however, in this case I was driven to include it.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

House on Gatehouse Street, Parkville

'Tis not the gatehouse from Gatehouse Street, for you would know it by its gate.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Maribyrnong from Steele Creek Reserve Essendon

After some Google Maps research, I've discovered that the building in the foreground belongs to the Department of Defence, and the tower in the background is a mobile phone base station.  In these days of high security, authorities often take a dim view of the photographing of such structures; however, I hope they're somewhat less defensive about simple artistic interpretations (standing on a hillside with an easel for two hours is hardly a clandestine activity).

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Vibration Study

Recently I've read a series of lectures given in the first decade of the twentieth century by L. Birge Harrison (whose wonderful tonal work I discovered through the Google Art Project), and in one particular section he mentioned the use of broken complimentary colours of equal value (tone) in order to render atmospheric vibrations.  This was a quick Friday morning experiment in said methods using an imaginary landscape (which is a thinly disguised version of the Royal Park native grassland circle) and is accompanied by an imaginary pun.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Still Life with Lemons and Brass Teapot

Still life is hard, but even if you're brassed off, there's no reason to be sour.

Oil on canvas board, 20" x 16"

Apple in Small Copper Pot

A bad apple arrested by a copper.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Earthenware Jar with Banana

Bananas in pyjarmas.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Plaster Cast: Female Torso

Perhaps I used a few too many warm colours in trying to portray plaster in sunlight, but there's not much I can do about it now because the dye is cast.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Jageurs Lane, Parkville

As I was painting this scene (the laneway behind my flat), a little girl--who was passing by with her family--stopped to tell me how much she liked my painting.  I suppose this means I've got street cred.  Well, lane cred at least.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Jar of Chillies with Blue Castor Oil Bottle

A polite euphemism that springs to mind is Montezuma's revenge.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

View of Pipers Creek from Rosebery Hill

A lovely afternoon painting paddocks in the sunshine.  You could say I had a field day.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Old Stable with Tasmanian Blue Gum and Atlantic Cedar at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

This was actually my second choice of scene for the day: the earlier spot was abandoned after I disturbed a particularly large fanged-reptile in the nearby grass.  It's a shame really, as the previous location offered a wonderful sense of scale.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Self Portrait

An obsession with self is one of many poor traits.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 8"

Old Stable at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

My parents' vegetable garden is depicted in front of this former stable.  It provides part of their stable diet.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Copper Kettle

In fine fettle I settled down to test my mettle painting a metal kettle.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Apple with Ginger Beer Bottle

The big apple is no small beer.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Nectarine with Vase

According to Wikipedia, the nectarine, a smooth-skinned variety of peach, originated and was first cultivated in China.  Likewise, this vase also appears to have originated in China, though I can only vouch for its origins in a Brunswick charity shop.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Carrot with Silver-Plated Jug

This is certainly not the first time I've painted this jug, nor is it rare for me to choose a carrot as subject matter.  In fact, a certain former Australian Government Minister and one-time Midnight Oil singer is named after a recurring root vegetable: Repeater Carrot.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Tomato with Copper Jug

Once upon a time we heard things on the vine (admittedly grape rather than tomato) or down the copper wire.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Still Life with Plastic Roses

If the past tense of arise is arose, why isn't the present tense of rose rise?

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Pear with Cider Glass

Pre-fermented pear cider.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Onion on Linen-Bound Book

Peeling back the layers of an onion is like opening a closed book; well, figuratively at least.  Literally there's scant similarity.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"