Bone Handle Knife with Lemons and Biscuit Barrel

 

It was difficult to name this piece because, visually, it has a number of competing priorities: will the viewer buy a lemon, stare down a barrel or pick a bone-handle knife?

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Pears with Earthenware Jug

 

Pairing pears with moonshine

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Still Life with Old Books

 

Including books in a still life painting is hardly a novel idea; or is it?

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Off Blackhill Road, Kyneton

 

Paint it black (hill road)

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Vintage Mannequin in the Studio

 

The one-armed man-nequin

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Towards South Kyneton

 

The degree of difficulty for this painting was greatly increased by the almost freezing conditions -- it was always in danger of going south.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Former Morgue at Old Kyneton Hospital

 

Once morgue for good measure

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Portrait of Gino

 

This was painted as part of the Victorian Artists' Society Portrait Painters in Action day 2024.  I was suffering from a wee bit of jet lag, and towards the end my progress slowed somewhat -- a condition known as portrait painter's inaction.

Thanks to fellow artist Gino Severin for being such an excellent sitter.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Outbuilding at Château de Campagnac, Sarlat-la-Canéda

 

I don't think I offended my fellow painters, but I did find myself on the outer.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Tower at Château de Campagnac, Sarlat-la-Canéda

 

Painting many castles kept me on my châteaux.

Oil on gessoed board, 6" x 8"

Gateway at Château de Campagnac, Sarlat-la-Canéda

 

Although entirely uncontroversial, the activity I engaged in on this day was known as painting gate.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Château de Beynac from the Dordogne

 

Dipping a château in the water

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Archway below Château de Beynac, Beynac-et-Cazenac

 

An overarching vision

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Dordogne River from Domme

 

This was painted from the medieval village of Domme, from a high vantage point -- the river was a long way dogne.

Oil on gessoed board, 6" x 8"

Looking North from Domme, Dordogne

 

This scene was a long way in the distance and I deliberately simplified it as much as possible -- you might say I Dommed it down a little.

Oil on gessoed board, 6" x 8"

Houses at La Roque-Gageac

 

This is a 30 minute sketch of some houses at the village of La Roque-Gageac.  Maybe I succeeded, maybe I flew like a Roque.

Oil on gessoed board, 6" x 8"

Château La Malartrie, La Roque-Gageac

 

A scene similar to this is typically depicted on La Roque-Gageac tourist brochures.  You might say it's classic roque.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Malmsbury Viaduct

 

This is my final piece for the VAS 9x5 Exhibition done today at the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens. It was a glorious late-autumn day with no sign of rain: not such good weather for ducks, but great weather for ducts.

Oil on plywood, 9" x 5"

Self Portrait in the Studio

 

Selfish portrait: A portrait that looks a bit like the artist

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Still Life with Mandarine and Assorted Flowers

 

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and a mandarine cannot live without love (apologies to Max Müller).

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Wedge Street, Kyneton

 

You might say the necessity to paint on plywood for the VAS 9x5 Exhibition drove a wedge between my normal approach to painting and the approach followed for this picture.  You can definitely say I drove on Wedge as I took a little jaunt in my car looking for subject matter.

Oil on plywood, 9" x 5"

Autumn, Kyneton

 

This is the first painting I've done directly on plywood, as per entries into this year's VAS 9x5 Exhibition.  It was certainly a different way to ply my trade, though I'm not sure I'd trade my canvas for ply.

Oil on plywood, 9" x 5"

Mandarines with Enamelware Jug

 

A man is judged by his deeds, and a mandarine is judged by its seeds (or lack thereof).

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Onions with Enamelware Bowl

 

Usually when I paint onions I'm reasonably happy with the results -- I'm not, however, enamelled with these.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Quinces with Enamelware Jug

 

These quinces make a good subject, but are also for eating; if they were merely for display they'd be mannequinces.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Still Life with Lemons and Linen Tea Towel

 

The towel saved the citrus by providing lemon aid; otherwise they might have dried of natural causes.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Murphys Road, Near Kyneton

 

Painting like I own the road.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Still Life with Large Squashes

 

I had to paint these squashes of unusual size on a larger canvas -- I didn't want the scene to be too squashy.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Off Dan Hallorans Lane, Pastoria

 

Having nominated a location for a paint-out with my friends Paul and Hiro, I said, "See you in Hall-orans Lane".

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Colour vs Skull

 

Don't be bored out of your skull, add a little colour to your life.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Near Kyneton Station

 

Trialling the 9x5 format in preparation for the VAS 9x5 Exhibition.  I quite enjoyed it, though I'm not sure I could do it 9 to 5.

Oil on canvas board, 9" x 5"

Still Life with Garlic Bulb

 

The cloven hoof in the depths of allium.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Ripening Tomatoes with Enamelware Bowl

 

A subject ripe for wordplay (or not quite, as the case may be).

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10" 

Pear with Brass Fire Starter and Apple

 

A pear beside a pair (of things).

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Still Life with Fruit Spectrum

 

Richard of York before the battle (or ROY for short).

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Bosc Pears with Bottle

Keen observers may notice a subtle echo of the pears in the bottle glass; you might say it's two Bosc in reflected glory.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"