A big thank you to the Lane Cove Art Society, Lane Cove Council and the judges of the 2010 Exhibition Ann Cape and Joe Penn for my award on Friday for “Fiore” Tryptych. An honour and so happy to be included in this amazing exhibition!
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Winner 2010 Lane Cove Art Exhibition – Traditional Oils & Acrylics
Monday, August 16th, 2010Mad Max
Monday, February 15th, 2010
- Mad Max and Goose on a break from filming, with “The Interceptor”.
Once again I’ve had a great time creating two more scenes from the iconic Aussie film “Mad Max”. I have used oil on canvas, my favourite medium.
The first painting depicts Mel Gibson and Steve Bisley leaning against “The Interceptor” in the bright Australian sun.
The second shows the final bike chase between Mad Max and Toecutter.
Have a look at the complete images in the “Just for Fun” section of the Gallery.
Old Australian cars seem to be a recurring theme for me …
The Australian Icons Suite
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Fine Art and Decorative Painting Magazine
Saturday, September 12th, 2009
I’m having a great time compiling a 16-part series of “How to” articles for Fine Art and Decorative Painting magazine.
The series is called “So you want to Paint a Portrait?” It will take an amateur portraitist on a step by step journey from the first sitting, basic proportions, observing features and forms and initial sketches. Then through to composition and preparing your first tonal drawing and painting before we move on to painting the actual figure.
It’s been challenging to sit down and actually think about, photograph and document processes that I do now practically by autopilot!
Thanks Annette for allowing me the opportunity!
The first issue will be on sale 11 December 2009, Vol. 17, No. 3.
Happy reading …
Sydney Pink Ribbon Ball
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009As you know, each year I offer a portrait sitting for the Silent Auction at the Sydney Pink Ribbon Ball. Last years successful bidders were the Giakoumelos family and I’m looking forward to painting their three children.
The Pink Ribbon Ball raises funds for the Sydney Breast Cancer Institute. The Institute is one of Australia’s leading centres for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
Nabil Gazal, My Life So Far
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Nabil’s portrait was a joy to paint and was also my entry for the Archibald Prize.
This painting is a story in pictures of his life. His lovely wife Maud and I spent hours going over old family photos. We discovered old sepia shots of his first car, first boat, his baby photos, Maud in her first car at age 17 and we combined these with snaps of his children, grandchildren and objects d’art from his home.
To top it off, his lovely new Aston Martin Vanquish as a juxtuposition to his old Honda S600 Coupe, and his amazing Sunseeker 82 Motoryacht beside his first Sunseeker runabout.
We sat in my studio, chatted about his life and he told me a story from his childhood growing up in Beirut. He was watching a “wealthy” cousin eating mangoes. These were a delicacy in those days and the cousin didn’t offer to share the fruit. It was at that point Nabil made a decision to become successful, so he would be able eat as many mangoes as he wished …
In the painting I have layered images of the photos in 3D over canvas painted to look like folded parchment.
When Nabil first saw the painting he actually tried to remove the painted-on photos!
Tim Freedman, The Whitlams
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
When I contacted Tim about painting his portrait he asked “Why?”
Well, why not?
He’s an interesting character and probably one of my most challenging portraits yet. Tim has many facets to his personality and was almost a different person each time I saw him.
Tim’s next question was “Where?” I envisaged him at a grand piano of course and he suggested one of his favourite old venues, The Basement. If you’re familiar with this club, let me tell you it’s a very different-looking place during the day. It was surreal to sketch and photograph Tim as he played a few tunes on the old Steinway.
I first painted a small study of the portrait, which was a finalist in the 2007 Lexus Mortimer Art Prize.
Tim gifted the portrait to his mother – I hope she likes it.
Coffee @ Bertoni’s
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Not sure if drinking 5 of Bertoni’s amazing coffees made my sketching hand any steadier, my brain was certainly buzzing!
It was also buzzing when the organisers of the 2008 Lane Cove Art Show called to tell me the painting won Highly Commended in the Urban Landscape division.
I presented the crew from Bertoni’s with a print of the painting – wonder where they’ve hung it?