Studies of the old masters

Over the last few weeks, I have started working through a series of studies focusing on some of my favourite portrait paintings.

They have included old masters such as Charles Willson Peale, Bartolomeo Schedoni, Jan Van Bijlert, Jan Lievens and  Govert Flinck.

This week I tackled Peder Severin Kroyers portrait of Michael Ancher.

It's been a great experience getting up close and personal to these old paintings and something that I will continue doing for the foreseeable future.

As I flick through my sketchbook, I feel like a have captured a little bit of magic in its pages thanks to the lessons of these great painters.

Graphite and white charcoal drawings

I was in art supplies store recently and purchased a toned paper sketchbook and some white charcoal pencils.

I really like the contrasts you can get with graphite pencils and white charcoal. So I sat down on the weekend and came up with these two drawings.

Where it all began.

I first really started enjoying drawing when I was a child reading Asterix and Obelix. Uderzo was my childhood hero. I spent countless hours reading and admiring the drawings. Thank you for the inspiration Uderzo.

Drawing practice.

With my continued focus on portrait painting this year, I've started a series of graphite drawings to help me with my tonal range and practice drawing the human face.
I think the extra practice will help me get closer to my goal of painting better portraits.

Cosmo Kramer

Mr Bean

Bearded Man

Heisenberg

Focus on portraits for 2019

It has been way too long between posts. I have continued painting and drawing over the last several years but not as consistently as I would like. This year I am hoping to change that and spend more time on my journey to art.
In particular, I want to improve my portrait drawings and paintings.
I've only painted a handful of portraits so I have a lot to learn.
At the bottom is my very first portrait that I painted back in 2010. The photo below is my recent painting of my late father. I would like to revisit at the end of the year and gauge my progress. I wish dad was here to see my progress.

My fourth portrait 2019

Way back in 2010, my first portrait.

Ode to Eugene

This is a small practice run, an inspiration from Eugene Von Guérard. It is painted oils on stretched canvas (30cmx40cm).

I want to turn this into a large piece 36"x24" but want to improve on a few things. Your constructive criticism is most welcomed.

I worked on simplifying Eugene’s composition but I hope I haven’t ruined the composition in the process. The proportions of the houses, sheep and man at the fence need tweaking to get them right.

4"x4" Acrylics Study

The girls and I had an craft afternoon and we did some painting. This was my little study on 4"x4" canvas board done in acrylics. I haven't painted with acrylics much in the past so this was a little challenging but fun.

Ode to Asher

I really love the work of Asher Brown Durand and he is the inspiration behind this painting. I've adapted some of the components from his pastoral landscape painting. The first photo is the study on 6x8 canvas board. After getting some feedback on how I could improve it I had a second go on a large 36x24 gesso hardboard.

English Cottage

I finished this one a couple of months ago but never got to taking photos of it. Small oil painting on 5x7 canvas board finished in oils.

Aussie Duo

Experminenting with the hues of the red central. Oils on canvas board 5x7

View from Gunners Quoin

A small painting in oils on 5x7 canvas board. Gunners Quoin Rd is located in Old Beach Tasmania.

Zorn Palette Study

In my continuing quest to get nicer greens I thought I'd take a different approach. I've been experimenting on reducing my palette to 6 colours + some earth tones and this led to going down to 4 using the palette often associated with Zorn. This was done with Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Light, Lamp Black and Titanium White. It was interesting and challeging but it did get me thinking about colour theory a lot more. I think I will try this again with a different red and yellow and change the black to a paynes grey.

November Paintings

This is a painting I finished a few months ago off a reference photo. It was doe in oils on 11x14 inch canvas named "Aussie Bush"

I also went back to the small paintings finishing my first en plein air finished at Nurragingy reserve. It's aptly named "Nurragingy on a Summers Day" It was painted in oild on canvas board 7x5 inches.

The final one to finish off this post is a small oil on 4x6 canvas named "The Old Mill". I hope you like them and can see some progress.

Two New Painting both 5x7

I've been dabbling and painting on and off. Quite a fair few paintings done but I've not been consistent with my picture taking. Having said that, I came across a few 5x7 inch canvases and I must say I really enjoy these tiny painting.

Both done with oils.

Distant Fields

I started painting this before I attended Johannes class on the weekend (how to select photos) it wasn't until after the class that I realized I had started out with a terrible photo. So I completely rearranged the painting on the fly and learned a lot from the process. Now that I'm a little better prepared, I hope the next one I can choose a better photo.

The main reason behind the painting is to practice mixing greens. I think this is the first painting I've done without using a tube green at all. It was also the first painting that I really tried to focus on the value scale as well as colour.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse
Medium: Oil
Surface: Canvas
Dimension: 18x18

Track to the Hills

My favourite painting to date. Oil on canvas 14x18. Taking a different approach to painting this year. Hopefully for the better.

Study on skies and trees

12"x16"
Oils on canvas

Running water

14"x18"
Oil on canvas

Study

12"x12"
Oil on canvas