Glazed Terracotta Pot with Mandarine

This blue pot of glazed terracotta
Was given to me by its potter.
Said I, "I shall paint
A picture so quaint
Of brown-based small pot with white spottes."*

* This is possibly a Middle English spelling of spots, pronounced with both syllables.  Also, some kind of late-season mandarine seems to have made its way into the picture, though that's obviously for the complementary effect, not to mention the fact that its really hard to fit two four-syllable words (i.e. mandarine and terracotta) into a limerick when you've had four pints.

Rotunda in Royal Park, Melbourne

The wooden rotunda from the Australian native garden in Melbourne's Royal Park (the real thing isn't wonky like I've portrayed it).  I've spent many an hour sitting under it, snoozing under it, reading under it, and one day I even wrote under it.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Ormond College, University of Melbourne, from Princes Park

I'd planned to paint the University of Melbourne's Ormond College since I first moved to nearby South Parkville more than ten years ago; now that I've finally done so, I can claim to have achieved one of my life's goals.  Setting goals is doubtless a worthy exercise, but setting the bar very low rarely leads to failure.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Banana and Blue Mug

This painting is muggy, but not in the way that a tropical banana-growing climate is.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Apple and Antique Poison Bottle

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but drinking poison probably won't.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Rosebery Hill and Rangeworthy, Pipers Creek

This relatively peaceful scene belies its gusty creation, as these were easily the most difficult conditions I've painted under; the wind was so strong that I was rarely able to hold the brush still.  Perhaps I should paint in the wind more often.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Afternoon Winter Sun: Looking Towards Mount St Mary from Pipers Creek

Initially I planned to paint several more cows in the foreground of this work, but while I was painting, the owners fed out hay in the neighbouring paddock; unsurprisingly the cattle left.  Perhaps the title should be The Cows Hide.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Willow Pattern Teacup and Saucer

Teacup and saucer with dramatic lighting in order to convey the breathtaking thrill of a nice cup of tea.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Blue Castor Oil Bottle and Tomato

You like to-may-toes and I like to-mah-toes, but we both like blue bottles.  Unless of course they're of the jellyfish type and they have just stung us, in which case, I doubt they'd be incredibly popular.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Lemon with Small Vase

A painting of a lemon, lime and vodka, only there's no lime, nor is there vodka, and a small Chinese-style vase seems to have made its way into the picture.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Driveway at Rosebery Hill, Pipers Creek

The path to sunlightenment is paved with clouds.  This scene changed constantly, from rain (with possible hail) to beautiful winter sunshine.  I tried to keep the latter in my mind's eye, but I suspect my mind's eye needs a monocle.

Oil on canvas board, 5" x 7"

Newstead Train Station

The disused train station at Newstead--composed during a Victorian Artists Society paint-out--where we were regaled by the witty banter from drunken revellers at the nearby pub.  At least, the revellers seemed to think the banter was witty.  That said, I've been slightly under the weather myself when writing some of my painting captions.

Oil on canvas board, 10" x 12"

Joyces Creek Rail Bridge, Newstead

A quick sketch of the Joyces Creek rail bridge near Newstead (composed during a paint-out with the Victorian Artists Society).  I'm not sure who Joyce was, but we were certainly rejoicing at the winter sun, albeit fleeting.

Oil on canvas board, 7" x 5"

Copper Jug with Pear

This painting is copper fronted and pared back.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Cane Chair with Cushions and Drapery

John Cain was Premier of Victoria (and so was his father, or his son, depending on which generation you belong to), while this cane chair is a premier still life subject at the Victorian Artists Society.  Well, an occasional subject at least, replete with a lurid cushions and drapery.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Banana and Antique Medicine Bottle

Here I've gone for a banana and done a bottle, which is appropriate really, seeing as doing one's bottle is much the same as going bananas.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Chilli Jar with Zucchini

Zucchinis are green, and red is for chillies.  My paintings are small; my verses are silly.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Onion with Paring Knife

A recipe for tears.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Green Pepper and Copper Pot

A pepper and a pot, but not a pepper pot.

This painting isn't as bad as it might have been considering that the sunlight effectively ran out and I was forced to finish it in the half dark.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Tomato with Worcestershire Sauce Bottle

A tomato and a Worcestershire sauce bottle: half way to a Bloody Mary.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"