Lemons with Stoneware Jars

 

To truly paint something you have to get into the mind of the object; therefore, if you think like a stone(ware), it's a piece of pith.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Workshop: An Approach to Tonal Realism

 

Please join me for an oil painting workshop in Kyneton's historic Piper Street during the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival.

Two separate workshops will be conducted over two weekends allowing attendees to complete a still life work following methods inspired by Australian Tonalist approaches to oil painting.

All materials will be supplied and no prior painting experience is necessary.  Accommodation and meals are the responsibility of attendees but I'm happy to assist with bookings on request.

Dates:

Workshop 1 (SOLD OUT)

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April 2025

Workshop 2 (SOLD OUT)

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April 2025

Time:

10am - 5pm (including lunch break)

Cost:

$350 (per workshop)

Where:

The Milk Bar Gallery

66a Piper Street

Kyneton 3444

Email:

milkbargallery@gmail.com

Book now:

https://milkbargallery.com.au/

Small Copper Jug with Persimmon

 

I've painted this small copper jug many, many times, which reminds me of the old saying, little and often fills the persimmon.

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 4"

Onions with Saucepan

 

I painted this at my partner's place where I'm still trying to figure out the lighting.  Though I'm fairly confident that I know my onions, I wasn't sure how the pot would pan out.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10" 

Pears with Oil Lamp

 

All sweetness and light

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Williatts Lane, Pipers Creek

 

Not much to offer in the way of a pun I'm afraid, just this lane excuse for word play.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Banana with Blue School Case

 

Bananas contain high levels of tryptophan which can apparently help with a small case of the blues.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Old Milk Bar on Piper Street, Kyneton

The piper played a few bars.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Still Life with Pumpkin and Enamelware Plate

 

This natural light painting was a bit of a challenge -- I had to find a compromise somewhere between painting the light falling on the pumpkin and maintaining the bright orange colour.  I'm not sure it quite worked, but I wonder if I should have stuck at it until midnight when it might have turned into a pumpkin all by itself.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Tomatoes with Peacock Vacuum Bottle

 

These tomatoes were grown in my vegetable garden and are, by definition, the most organic element in this painting.  They appear to be snuggling up to the Peacock bottle, leading me to conclude that nature adores a vacuum.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Green Apple with Glazed Jar

 

A duet between Fiona Apple and Julio Iglesias.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Tomato with Small Brown Jug

 

Jugs are brown, tomatoes are red,
Can't think of a pun, here's a couplet instead.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Hochgurtel Fountain at the Royal Exhibition Buildings

 

Whilst I'm not disappointed with this painting, it's hardly the high water mark.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Eggplant with cream milk jug

 

I'm unsure of what it is that eggs me on, but I can't keep from milking the same old jokes.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Dahlia Flower in Glass Vase

 

I considered painting multiple flowers, but thought it best to take one dahlia at a time.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Pullman Hotel from Fitzroy Gardens

 

The hotel in the distance lodged into view.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

P.S. This was painted as part of a most enjoyable workshop with Robert Kelly, organised through the Victorian Artists' Society.

Copy: Percy Leason Self Portrait

 

This is a copy of a Percy Leason self portrait -- from the collection of the Castlemaine Art Museum -- that I painted as a class exercise.  It was cut into eight sections, with students given the task of painting one section each, upside down, in an effort to disguise the final picture.  At the end of class, each section was brought together to form the whole.

You could say this gave the picture a new Leason life.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Pears with Kerosene Lamp

 

Things got a bit fruity in the red light district

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20" 

Vintage Fan

 

At the beginning this painting was a breeze, but the complexity of the subject soon became tedious.  I must admit, when it comes to complexity like this, I'm not a fan.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

The Cascades, Metcalfe

 

When I was driving towards this body of water, I knew I was heading for a fall.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"