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November 2024

PLEIN AIR AT YARRAWONGA

I had a long weekend at Yarrawonga on the border with New South Wales,
with the Watercolour Society of Victoria.

There were around 40 artists on the trip, the weather was great for
the first few days, then a lot of rain, but it was a wonderful trip.

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October 2024

LATEST PORTRAIT

Here is my latest portrait, it's fellow artist Lin Tobias.
Lin paints on folded-out cardboard boxes as seen in her portrait.
She also has a studio in the same block as me, the City of Melbourne's
River Studios on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.

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September 2024

EXHIBITION

I teach a group of artists every week in Albert Park
and their annual exhibition is on from September 2-22
in Gasworks Arts Park

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August 2024

A WALL OF SKYLINES

The Melbourne Skylines are up to 20 in total now,
here are some of them on my studio wall.

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July 2024

MELBOURNE SKYLINE

I have been working on a series of the Melbourne Skyline lately,
in oil on canvas . The one you see here is #13.
Many more to come.

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June 2024

THE PERVICALS PORTRAIT PRIZE

I had a week up in Townsville, Queensland, for the opening night
and VIP preview. It was a wonderful night, perfect weather,
excellent curation of the exhibition and a lot of fabulous
paintings on display. I didn't win but had a great time and I would
do it again in a heartbeat.

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June 2024

BASS ROCK, FIRTH OF FORTH

I've also done a series of Bass Rock, which is 2km
off the shore of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. It is 100m high
and home to a huge colony of gannets. It also has an abandoned prison
and a lighthouse.

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May 2024

SCOTTISH LANDSCAPES

This month I've been doing some landscapes based
on my home town of Dundee in Scotland.

This one is of Broughty Ferry Castle on the
banks of the River Tay.

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April 2024

PLEIN AIR ON PHILLIP ISLAND

I went away for a few days to Phillip Island with the
Watercolour Society of Victoria.

There were around 30 artists on the trip, the weather was glorious
and the paintings weren't bad either.

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March 2024

PERCIVALS PORTRAIT PRIZE

My self portrait has just been chosen as a finalist in the
Percival Portrait Painting Prize 2024
held in Townsville Regional Gallery, Queensland.

Happy days!

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March 2024

DEMONSTRATION

i was invited to do a demonstration for the Watercolour Society of Victoria,
as one of three artists on the night, during their "Permission To Play" event.
We had limited supplies and had to paint a full sheet
in one hour. A great night, a lot of fun.

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February 2024

LATEST CLOUD STUDY

I've done quite a few cloud studies recently, and as usual,
the latest one is my favourite ...

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January 2024

UPDATED PORTRAIT

I did this portrait in 2023 but was never completely happy with it.

Anyway, I have reworked it a bit for a portrait prize this year.

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December 2023

STUDIO PLANTS

The latest editions to my studio -
two low maintenance indoor plants -
it's the first time in 30+ years that I've had a living
thing other than myself in my studio.

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November 2023

STILL LIFE WITH PUMPKIN

My latest offering to the world of oil
- and the first still life I've done in about 20 years
oil on board 12x16in

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November 2023

LATEST COLOURS ON MY PALETTE 

I change the colours on my palette depending
on what I'm working on - today I have:

Titanium White
Buff Titanium
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Orange
Quinacridone Red
Alizarin Crimson
Raw Sienna
Transparent Brown Oxide
Vandyke Brown
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine
Viridian
Cold Grey
Blue Black

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November 2023

NEW BRUSHES

Like most artists I have more brushes than I will ever need or use
but have just bought some more ...
I have been using more synthetics lately instead of hog bristle
and really enjoying these from Jackson's Art in the UK.

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October 2023

RANDOM PIC OF MY PALETTE

I keep trying new colours of background, light grey,
dark grey and now on a dark wood.

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October 2023

NEW SHELVING

I built some new shelves for the small works I have been doing lately.

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September 2023

LATEST COLOURS ON MY PALETTE 

I change the colours on my palette depending
on what I'm working on - today I have:

Titanium White
Buff Titanium
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Yellow Ochre Pale
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Vandyke Brown
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine
Viridian
Cold Grey
Warm Grey

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August 2023

NEW STUDIO

I moved into a bigger studio at River Studios, West Melbourne.
It's quite a bit bigger with more light and higher ceiling/roof rafters.

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August 2023

LATEST EXHIBITION

Was at Gasworks Arts Park
August 7-27, 2023

My latest body of work began from what I call the Point of Departure. Every artist needs a starting point, an armature or motif if you like, and mine is the Melbourne Skyline, I fell in love with it the first time I saw it over thirty years ago.Monet had his haystacks, the London series, Rouen Cathedral, and of course his waterlilies and garden, all of which he painted in different ways, at different times of the day, during different seasons using different palettes. Picasso had his Blue period, Rose period, African mask period, Cubism and many more.

I have an uninterrupted view of the city skyline from my apartment and am continually mesmerized by it. Some days I can hardly see it for the fog or rain, but most days it is visible in varying degrees depending on the famously unpredictable Melbourne weather. From clear blue skies to ominous overcast dark clouds, the city constantly changes colour and definition with the help of Mother Nature. And, of course, there are the ubiquitous cranes adding another element of interest to the skyline.

As I pushed, pulled, and stretched the Melbourne skyline it took me on a journey of size, colour and angles. Along this journey I also raised my point of view to an aerial perspective, giving everything a fresh and wondrous panorama.
 

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July 2023

OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNE

River Studios, West Melbourne
July 29, 2023

Some of the general public in my studio asking questions
about my practice - a great day!

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July 2023

SELF PORTRAIT

Oil on canvas 36x48in

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June 2023

LANDSCAPE

Oil on canvas 18x36in.

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains of NSW
has been chosen as a finalist in the
 Mount Eyre Art Prize 2023

It didn't win - I know - bummer - but I had tons of
positive feedback on it - which is awesome - thank you -
I might keep it for myself unless someone
buys it ...

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