Tuesday 27 December 2016

Hay Shed at Pipers Creek

Oil painting of a distant shed in a paddock of dry grass with a number of trees in the background.
This was painted under a tree in the rain; it was a matter of making hay shed while the sun refused to shine.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 6"

Friday 23 December 2016

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Tomato on Miniature Vase

Oil painting of a red tomato placed on top of a blue and white Chinese-style miniature vase.
Nothing says "I love you" quite like a red tomato.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 19 December 2016

Copper Jug with Onion

Oil painting of a small copper jug beside a brown onion.
An onion and jug so positioned is far from a juxtaposition.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Sunday 18 December 2016

Old Quadrangle at University of Melbourne, Parkville

Oil painting of two archways that form part of a Gothic Revival sandstone building.
A fitness instructor told me I should work on my quads.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Pear with Banana

Oil painting of a green pear with a banana curving around its base.
This scene does not represent impairment, but rather imbananament.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Glencairn Whisky Glass with Zucchini

Glencourgette is Scotland's most famous fruit-masquerading-as-vegetable whisky.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 12 December 2016

Saturday 10 December 2016

Garlic Bulbs

Oil painting of two purple bulbs of garlic, one with cloves removed.
Two bulbs of garlic playing strip poker; one in the act of removing its cloves.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Wednesday 30 November 2016

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Nectarine with Sauce Jug

Oil painting of a small blue sauce jug beside a yellow nectarine.
Nectarines are apparently a good source of dietary fibre, though I'm not sure if dietary fibre makes a good sauce.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 28 November 2016

Royal Park Train Station

Oil painting of a red-roofed building with a white fence beside a rail crossing with a boom gate.
A pleasant Monday afternoon stationed at the station.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 8"

Friday 25 November 2016

Wednesday 23 November 2016

Onion with Garlic Bulb

Oil painting of a brown onion with peeling skin, beside a garlic bulb.
Onions are brown, garlic is not;
They're tasty together in wok, pan or pot.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Saturday 19 November 2016

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Building on Degraves Street, Parkville

Oil painting of a small double-storey Victorian-era building with a small tree in front.
Although this building is located in Degraves Street, the viewpoint is from Fitzgibbon Street; therefore, it was necessary to have both feet in Fitzgibbon and not one foot in Degraves.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Monday 14 November 2016

Sunday 13 November 2016

Storage Yard on Macaulay Road, North Melbourne

Oil painting of a small red-brick two-storey building with an electricity pole behind and a shipping container in front.
Plans to paint en plein air were almost thwarted when rain forced me to seek shelter under an elevated freeway beside some train tracks--I was forced to reign in my desire for a picturesque scene and simply do the hard yards.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Saturday 12 November 2016

Teacup and Saucer

Oil painting of a tea cup and saucer with an autumn oak leaf design.
Absentee:  A teacup and saucer devoid of tea.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Thursday 10 November 2016

Still Life with Plastic Peony

Oil painting of a pink plastic peony with two large earthenware jugs and two vases.
A still life is something lived by a distiller.

Oil on canvas board, 20" x 16"

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Monday 7 November 2016

Light Bulb with Zucchini

Oil painting of an older-style light bulb resting on a zucchini.
A light shedding some dark onto a zucchini.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Saturday 5 November 2016

Wednesday 2 November 2016

Apple with Porcelain Jug

Oil painting of a blue and white porcelain jug beside a red apple.
Today's jug pun is a pour effort, and thankfully apple jokes are not the core purpose of this website.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Tuesday 1 November 2016

Monday 31 October 2016

Sunday 30 October 2016

Exhibition: A Muse on Small Things

An exhibition flyer including a painting of an apple beside a book and a painting of a mushroom beside a small copper pot.

During October I'll be holding a small exhibition of paintings in the members' gallery of the Victorian Artists' Society in East Melbourne.  There'll be around 60 to 70 works on show, all painted within the last twelve months.

The title of the exhibition--A Muse on Small Things--reflects that the majority of works are small and depict small things painted in the small kitchen of my small flat during the small time available before work, and not least because small things keep me amused.

You may of course be less than enthusiastic about pictures of fruit and porcelain jugs, but that's no reason not to drop in: the Victorian Artists' Society comprises many galleries where you'll doubtless find something to your taste.

When: Tuesday 4th October - Sunday 30th October 2016
10am - 4pm weekdays, 1pm - 4pm weekends

Where: Victorian Artists' Society
430 Albert Street
East Melbourne 3002

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Egg in Wine Glass

Oil painting of an egg in a wine glass in front of a green background.
A glass of wine (or two) can be a wonderful device to bring one out of one's shell.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Tuesday 25 October 2016

House on Gatehouse Street, Parkvillle

Oil painting of the second story of a double-story Victorian-era red-brick house with an Italian cypress in the foreground.
Gate on housegate street, or maybe the other way around.

Oil on canvas boaard, 8" x 10"

Monday 24 October 2016

House on the Corner of Park Drive and Morrah Street, Parkville

Oil painting of a Victorian-era terrace house with a creeper growing over the front; the foreground shows a street sign and a fire hydrant.
For the first time in recent memory the sun was out and the wind wasn't: I'm looking forward to Morrah that kind of weather.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Sunday 23 October 2016

Asparagus Bunch with Milk Jug

Oil painting of a white porcelain milk jug beside a bunch of asparagus.
There's a rubber band holding the asparagus stalks together to stop them spearing off in all directions.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Saturday 22 October 2016

Silver-Plated Jug with Tomato

Oil painting of a small silver-plated jug beside a red tomato.

Tomatoes are red, silver plate isn't,
I'm afraid that this couplet is far from sufficient.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Thursday 20 October 2016

Plastic Irises with Porcelain Vases

Oil painting of white plastic irises in a creme-coloured vase with a white porcelain vase and more plastic irises in the foreground.
A three week class exercise in painting through observation; in other words, a painting of iris by pupil.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"


Wednesday 19 October 2016

Lemon in Tea Towel

Oil painting of a lemon nestled amongst the folds of a tea towel.
Dry gin and lemon (minus gin, unfortunately).

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Tuesday 18 October 2016

Red Pepper with Cider Glass

Oil painting of a red pepper beside a cider glass with a red background.
This painting represents two popular children's nursery rhymes: a pickled pepper from Peter Piper's peck, and the spider from little Miss Muffet who sat down be cider.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Monday 17 October 2016

Pear with Antique Whisky Bottle

Oil painting of a green pear with an antique black glass whisky bottle.
The pear is forward in this painting, whilst it's probably sensible to pare back on the whisky.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Monday 10 October 2016

Sunday 9 October 2016

Garlic Bulb with Chilli Jar

Oil painting of a glass jar of dried chillies beside a garlic bulb.
There once was a bulb and a jar,
And each wished to play the guitar.
But as neither had fingers
A certain doubt seemed to linger
Of finding the right repertoire.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Wednesday 5 October 2016

Onion with Sauce Jug

Oil painting of a brown onion beside a blue porcelain sauce jug.
The pickled onion had been on the sauce.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Tuesday 4 October 2016

Sunday 2 October 2016

Manna Gums beside Pipers Creek Tributary

Oil painting of two manna gums beside a creek with distant hills.
This scene appears tranquil despite the blustery conditions under which it was executed.  My father suggested the difficult circumstances might potentially lead to a blow par painting; if this is true, I'll simply declare it a draft.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Saturday 1 October 2016

Old Stables at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

Oil painting of an old shed with a red roof, viewed across the reflective water of a dam.
Following heavy spring rains, the main dam at my parents' farm has been steadily filling almost to the point of overflowing.  However, as the water has approached the shed in the picture, it seems to have stablised.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"