Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Exhibition: Leave No Tone Unturned

 

Exhibition flyer (details in text)
Folks,

In a world of emissions and rude impositions --
With stifled ambitions and scant recognition --
Can I make a submission or put a petition?
For my proposition (is): you make it your mission, to 
Put cares in remission and observe apparitions
Of mixed compositions in tonal traditions.
Though I risk repetition, I request transposition
To my latest edition of art exhibitions.*

In short, I'm having another exhibition.  I'd love you to come along for a gander.

When:
Friday 18th April - Monday 21st April 2025
Friday 25th April - Sunday 27th April 2025
10(ish)am - 4pm

Where:
The Milk Bar Gallery
66a Piper Street
Kyneton 3444

Web:

I'll be in attendance most of the time, but please let me know if you plan to visit so I can be on hand to pontificate about the artwork.

*Though no precondition, I support acquisitions.

Monday, 31 March 2025

Lemons with Stoneware Jars

 

Still life oil painting of three lemons with two 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"

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Workshop: An Approach to Tonal Realism

 

Flyer for workshop with text as per post
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
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:

Book now:

Monday, 24 March 2025

Small Copper Jug with Persimmon

 

Still life oil painting of a small copper jug beside a 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"

Friday, 21 March 2025

Onions with Saucepan

 

Still life oil painting of two brown onions beside a stainless steel 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" 

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

Monday, 10 March 2025

Williatts Lane, Pipers Creek

 

Landscape oil painting of a eucalypt beside a dirt road
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"

Friday, 28 February 2025

Banana with Blue School Case

 

Still life oil painting of a banana beside a old 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"

Monday, 24 February 2025

Sunday, 23 February 2025

Still Life with Pumpkin and Enamelware Plate

 

Still life oil painting of a small pumpkin on an enamelware plate with a brass ladle, a brass firestarter and two earthenware jars
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 painted this at night instead: if I painted until midnight it might just have turned into a pumpkin.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Tomatoes with Peacock Vacuum Bottle

 

Tomatoes beside a vintage green Peacock brand 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"

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Green Apple with Glazed Jar

 

Still life oil painting of a green apple beside a red glazed jar
A duet between Fiona Apple and Julio Iglesias.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Monday, 27 January 2025

Tomato with Small Brown Jug

 

Still life oil painting of a tomato beside a 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"

Sunday, 26 January 2025

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"

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

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"

Tuesday, 21 January 2025

Dahlia Flower in Glass Vase

 

Still life oil painting of a dahlia flower in a tulip-shaped 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"

Saturday, 18 January 2025

Pullman Hotel from Fitzroy Gardens

 

Landscape oil painting of a tall building behind a mass of trees
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.

Monday, 13 January 2025

Copy: Percy Leason Self Portrait

 

Portrait oil painting of a bald man with glasses
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"

Monday, 6 January 2025

Pears with Kerosene Lamp

 

Still life oil painting of three green pears beside a red kerosene lamp
Things got a bit fruity in the red light district

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20" 

Friday, 27 December 2024

Vintage Fan

 

Still life oil painting of a 1960s era blue Mistral brand pedestal 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"