Windmill Farm, Near Kyneton

 

The mental game of realist painting always involves a certain amount of tilting at windmills

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

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"