This Painting Life

2012 A very BIG year ahead...

2012-02-15T12:30:00.004+10:30

Article in American Art Collector March 2012 edition "Planes, Trains & Automobiles"

Well 2012 is going to be a big year for me...
3 Solo exhibitions...group shows, commissions & a portrait of my great uncle!

My first exhibition of the year is an invitational group show called "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" which opens on March 3 2012 at Elliott Fouts Gallery Sacremento, CA I have a small work in this show, the image has been a lot of fun producing, using the neighbours beautiful Pontiac Firebird and his wife's legs!

My solo exhibitions begin at Beaver Galleries, Canberra opening Aug 16th, the next will be a Solo exhibition at The Focus Gallery in Canada opening Sept 13th & the third solo will be at Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne opening October 16th. In conjunction with these shows, I am going to produce a large catalogue with an accompanying essay by Professor Ted Snell.

I will keep my readers updated as the work progesses this year...its going to be a VERY BIG year as I said!

FESTIVITÉ 2011 at Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne

2011-12-07T14:02:00.006+10:30

"Time passed slowly" 2011
Oil on Linen
40.5 x 40.5 cm

"The decision" 2011
Oil on Linen
40.5 x 40.5 cm

If you are in Melbourne you can see my latest paintings at Catherine Asquith Gallery in the exhibition FESTIVITÉ 2011, a Christmas Exhibition with other selected gallery artists.

The exhibition is open until 22nd December 2011

Directors' Cut Christmas Exhibition 6-16 Dec 2011

2011-12-05T11:43:00.004+10:30

"She's all legs" 2011
Oil on linen on panel
20.5cm x 23cm

Opening tomorrow is Emerge Art Space Perth's annual Christmas exibition where I have a new small painting available. Some of the other artists in the show include, Pierre Capponi, Di Cubitt, Sharon Dawes, Kathryn Haug, Lindsay Harris, Thomas Heidt and Ben Sherar.

"Safe at Home" exhibition Nov 30-Dec 10

2011-12-02T13:36:00.005+10:30

The thought washed over her 2011
oil on linen
30.5 x 30.5cm

My work is currently on show in Adelaide at the Safe at Home exhibition which is a Fundraising exhibition curated and presented by Cube Contemporary Art Projects in conjunction with Victim Support SA.

The Exhibition images centre are around the theme of women and children in our community and safety of this demographic from domestic and family violence.

The Artists in the exhibition include, Mishka Borowski, Claire Bridge, Dagmar Cyrulla, Dianne Gall, Michelle Giacobello, Erika Gofton, Stewart MacFarlane, Stephen Magsig, Brian Martin, Janette Moore, Ilona Nelson, Deborah Paauwe, Tom Phillips and Mary Jean Richardson.

In conjunction with the "Safe at Home" exhibition, I have released a small editioned print of "We will be Safe Here". If you purchase before Dec 10 I will donate a portion of proceeds to Victim Support Services in SA. There are only 5...so if you would like one, get online and purchase 1 soon!

We will be safe here 2011
Limited Edition Print
22.5x57cm image on 42x60cm paper
Signed and Numbered
Edition of 5

Printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper 308 gsm, using Archival Pigment inks.

Price AUD$220.00 + $10.00 Worldwide Postage

Group Show @ The Focus Gallery

2011-10-12T11:28:00.002+10:30

'We will be safe here' 2011
oil on linen
61 x 152cm

My first show in Canada opens this Friday 14th October at The Focus Gallery.

Group Show with Gallery Artists includes:
Jim Thalassoudis, Dianne Gall, Christopher Lori, David Shevlino, Randy Steele, Deborah Tilby, Scott Owles, Juan Martinez, Tara Juneau, Mark Strutt

Lounging

2011-10-03T19:13:00.003+10:30

"Lounging" 2011
Oil on linen
30.5x35.5cm

I think many people in Adelaide have been lounging in the perfect weather this long weekend...just beautiful! In the spirit of the warmer weather this painting is the latest work from my current series and can be viewed at Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne from this week.

Before Midnight

2011-09-10T16:51:00.002+09:30

"Before Midnight" 2011
Oil on linen
30.5x35.5cm

Recent work just finished fresh from my studio and it can be viewed at Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne.

"Thoughts beyond the door" 2011

2011-08-23T13:56:00.002+09:30

"Thoughts beyond the door" 2011
Oil on linen
61x76cm

Just finished my latest painting which you can view at Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne.

Preparations are full steam ahead for my Exhibition in Canada.

2011-08-07T12:16:00.017+09:30

'The night awaits' 2011
oil on linen
30.5 x 30.5cm

I am very excitedly working on my first exhibition of my paintings in an overseas Gallery. The show opens on the 14th October 2011 at The Focus Gallery in Hamilton, Canada.

Watch for further updates!

Now represented by Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne

2011-06-24T15:52:00.003+09:30

I am very pleased to announce that I am now represented by Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne. I will be sending her some new work next month and I will have a solo show in October 2012. So, if you are in Melbourne check out the stock room soon for new work, look out for the Christmas show at the end of 2011 and will keep you posted about future events as they occur. For now though, I'm back to the easel...

Come the Night exhibition

2011-03-16T21:39:00.007+10:30

"The fullness of it all surrounds her" 2011
Oil on Linen
61x76cm

My most recent paintings will be shown in a solo exhibition at Emerge Art Space, Emerge Art Space in Perth from the 30th March to April 15th 2011. 'Come the Night' is the latest exploration of my current interest in depicting private moments in the lives of the everyday portrayed using the Film Noir genre.

"Invitation" 2011
Oil on Linen
30.5x30.5cm

"The other door" 2011
Oil on Linen
40x40cm

"Preparation" 2011
Oil on Linen
30.5x30.5cm

Latest paintings..

2011-03-13T23:21:00.005+10:30

I am just completing a new body of work...here is a snippet, more images to come soon.

"Moonlight" 2011
Oil on Linen
30.5x30.5cm

"Silent watcher" 2011
Oil on Linen
30.5x30.5cm

Reconfigured exhibition, Perth November 2010

2010-10-29T13:53:00.003+10:30

"Trepidation" 2010
Oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5cm

This is the third work that I've painted for the Reconfigured exhibition opening November 10 and running until November 26 2010 at Emerge Art Space in Perth

Emerge Art Space exhibition November 2010

2010-10-23T16:45:00.002+10:30

"It was only yesterday...." 2010
Oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5cm

"Rivers edge" 2010
Oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5cm

These are a couple of my latest paintings in my film noir series to be exhibited in Perth next month at Emerge Art Space

Forthcoming shows

2010-10-10T22:20:00.007+10:30

I am currently working on two exhibitions, both are group shows. The first is an exhibition in Perth called "Reconfigured", which opens Wed 10th November and runs until Fri 26th November 2010 at Emerge Art Space The show will be from various painters using figurative realism as a theme for the show. I will post images closer to the date.

The second one opens on December the 11th and runs until the end of January 2011. It is an exhibition by a group of artists who have met through a private online forum and have got together to exhibit works at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the show is curated by Amanda van Gils and is called "Net Work". You can read more about it HERE and follow updates via facebook HERE

The artists exhibiting in Net Work are:

Kim Anderson / Aliey Ball / Jan Berg / Kate Bergin /Sue Beyer / Louise Blyton / Dave Brayshaw / Claire Bridge / David Coles / Simon Collins / Jacqui Comer / Dagmar Cyrulla / Chris Delpratt / Andrew Ensor / Robert Fenton / Dianne Gall / Michelle Giacobello / Minka Gillian / Erika Gofton / Debbie Hill / Robert Hollingworth / Kez Hughes / Julie Keating / Siobhan Kelley / Glenn Locklee / Vito Manfredi / Deb Mostert / Ilona Nelson / Beth Norling / Steve Rosendale / Mark Stewart / Jim Thalassoudis / Merryn Trevathan / Joanne Turner / Amanda van Gils / Steve Warburton / Irene Wellm / Darian Zam

Latest Print Release "The Visitor" 2010

2010-09-13T12:57:00.002+09:30

The Visitor 2010
Limited Edition Print
38x46.19cm image on 42x60cm paper
Signed and Numbered
Edition of 10

Printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper 308 gsm, using Archival Pigment inks.

Price AUD$220.00 + $10.00 Worldwide Postage

SALA exhibition views

2010-08-27T10:27:00.003+09:30

Main entrance to the SALA exhibition

Installation view of "The Visitor" and "The Running Man"

Installation view of the small works from the exhibition

SALA show painting

2010-08-26T23:34:00.002+09:30

Contemplating in Blue 2010
Oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5 cm

One of the medium size works in the exhibition. The SALA 2010 show was a great success for me, a big thank you to all those who came along and supported me.

SALA Installation Dianne Gall exhibition

2010-08-13T17:09:00.001+09:30

Here is a view of part of the exhibition currently showing @ my studio.

Hotel Limited Edition Print Release

2010-08-02T23:48:00.007+09:30

Hotel 2010
Limited Edition Print
38x46.6cm image on 42x60cm paper
Signed and Numbered
Edition of 20

Printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper 308 gsm, using Archival Pigment inks.

Price AUD$220.00 + $10.00 Worldwide Postage

In celebration of South Australian Living Artists Week 2010 I am launching my first digital print from my current Noir series of works.

The walls are done....its all happening down here in Bowden!

2010-07-12T17:47:00.004+09:30

It feels very strange having dark walls, but it is so much easier to see the subtle nuances in the paintings, am very excited about exhibiting the works in our new space...

SALA 2010 Painting the walls...

2010-07-06T16:31:00.003+09:30

Jim's nephew, George is painting the walls in preparation for the show...I want the Noir paintings to come out of the darkness and allow the subtle tonal and colour ranges to be more visible to the eye than they would be if they were hung on a bleached white wall...seems to work! Cannot wait to hang and light the show for the right 'Noir' mood.

SALA Week 2010

2010-06-29T10:50:00.006+09:30

Its all go in the studio as Jim and myself prepare for a joint show for South Australian Living Artists Week 2010...We've had a huge clean up, now we are painting the walls and finishing up our works for the show. Go to the SALA Week 2010/ website to download the program and for more information on the event.

I will post updates and progress photos closer to the opening.

Mount Eyre Vineyards Art Prize 2010

2010-06-18T15:26:00.005+09:30

"Home" 2009 Oil on Linen 61x71cm

I have just been selected with my painting "Home" 2009, for the Mount Eyre Vineyards Art Prize 2010/. You can see the exhibition of the finalists artworks at Rex Livingston Art Dealer, 59 Flinders Street, Surry Hills in Sydney.

Busy, busy, busy...

2010-06-14T18:10:00.007+09:30

Well its Winter, I'm freezing in my studio but am very busy getting paintings together for my South Australian Artists Week show at the studio in August... its on right after the 2010 Melbourne Art Fair. I have group shows booked up in Melbourne, Ballarat, Perth to follow on from August so its all systems go, go, go!

Also, have been out taking photos again...something I just love to do...I was particularly pleased with these two..

"A beautiful little death" 2010

"Young girl with Shark" 2010

Part of getting ready for the shows has been a clean up of my space, and surrounding store rooms..what a nightmare! I've not got many paintings left from my painting career thus far but I went through everything I could find from art school to now...and it was either slash or wrap, sell or give away...most got a stanley knife through them. It was a wonderful and theraputic excercise that I've been meaning to do for ages...now, its DONE!

Artworks program on Radio National

2010-04-18T12:42:00.005+09:30

This morning, Radio National aired the interview by journalist, Michael Shirrefs with myself and Lorelei Siegloff, you can listen to the story by following the link to the website and going to Sunday 18th April 2010 program, the story is called "Mentoring"

Radio National Artworks Program

Radio National, Artist's Week, Adelaide Biennial...

2010-03-02T15:17:00.015+10:30

To kick the 50th Anniversary of the Adelaide Festival off on Friday night I went to the exhibition opening at our State Gallery and was largely underwealmed but I did really like the work of James Morrison. Above is a a detail from his installation from the exhibition "Before and After Science", Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art.

Meanwhile, one of the projects I've just begun which is funded by donations made to the Helpmann Academy is the project of mentoring young artist Lorelei Siegloff The details of our project came to the attention of Radio National Artworks Program and journalist, Michael Shirrefs who came to interview Lorelei and myself in my studio yesterday. The program will go to air in a few weeks with a follow on at the end of our mentoring program. I will post a link to the interview when it is online on the ABC website.

Artist, Writer and Curator, Ian North Launches the Adelaide Biennial special Art and Australia Issue 1st March 2010.

I made some time to go to Artist Week and also to see "Apart we are together" curated by Victoria Lynn at several venues for the 2010 Festival of Arts. I particularly liked this work by Thai artist A. Weerasethakul being exhibited at Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of art

Video Still by Apichatpong Weerasethakul "Morakot(Emerald) 2007

So all in all its been a very interesting and varied few days.

Life is full of change for me at the moment

2010-02-17T21:37:00.004+10:30

Perhaps it is a case of who moved my cheese...but so much change has been happening in my life in the last couple of years its been such a rollercoaster. I feel that I'm on top and in control and ready for a new phase and setting things in place for the next five years or so.

I will finally have time to be in my studio and work on my paintings rather than having to be stuck to a 9-5 office job, although I'll still be doing some consulting work, I'll be able to work on my paintings for longer periods of time and have the luxury of drawing and even producing some prints as well.

So watch my two blogs and websites this year and come on the journey with me.

Summer Holidays

2010-01-09T22:01:00.007+10:30

Its been another Summer Holiday. Days have been filled with going to the beach every day, either local or country and a big trip down to the South East of the State. I've tried to relax, putting my feet in the water each day and big long walks to put my mind at ease. I'm still not quite ready for 2010 but have done all that I can to get myself in the mood! We are in the midst of our classic summer heatwave, days of extreme temperatures and making one feel very exhausted. I wish all my readers the best for 2010, may it bring much happiness to all of you.

Second Valley Beach

Old House Penola

Beachport

Beachport Cave

Artists Interview "In the Real Art World"

2009-11-01T17:01:00.002+10:30

Go to In the Real Art World for a interview about my new work currently on show at Beaver Galleries, Canberra. You will learn a little bit more about me and my painting methodology.

In the Real Art World is a great blog that looks at realist painters across the globe, focusing on current exhibitions, interviews with artists and gives the viewer an introduction to the artists' work. It is run by my partner Jim Thalassoudis.

Noir, Dianne Gall Exhibition, Beaver Galleries, Canberra

2009-10-08T00:25:00.004+10:30

"The Visitor" 2009
Oil on Linen 111x137cm

"Noir" 2009
Oil on Linen 30.5x35.5cm

"Home" 2009
Oil on Linen 61x71cm

"Hotel" 2009
Oil on Linen 111x137cm

I will be exhibiting my new major "Noir" paintings in an exhibition opening October 15th at Beaver Galleries, Canberra. The show runs until the 3rd of November. If you happen to be in Canberra, pop in and take a look!

Little Pictures

2009-10-03T17:46:00.004+09:30

"Misadventure" 2009
oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5cm

"The running man" 2009
oil on linen, 30.5 x 35.5cm

Two of my most recent works can be seen at a group exhibition in Melbourne at Charles Nodrum Gallery Little Pictures runs from 1 October to 22 October 2009. These are the first exhibited works of my new Noir series. If you happen to be in Melbourne get along and have a look! Hope you like what you see....

Quick trip over to Melbourne...

2009-09-15T23:04:00.013+09:30

Catching up on a bit of well earned rest, I spent a couple of days in Melbourne last month...

Had to take a quick snapshot of this gorgeous little number in the Arts Centre carpark, pride and joy of the owners looking at how immaculate it is...

Managed to make it to Louise Blyton's exhibition opening at Diane Tanzer Gallery, here she is with her beloved, David Coles and her wonderful installation of artworks...great show Louise!

Made it to the Dali exhibition, "Liquid Desire", with the thousands of other people! I was naughty and took pictures, but it all looked so great they way the show had been set up, I really enjoyed a lot of the works, its always great to see things in real life as opposed to seeing them in books. I particularly enjoyed this dark work, its where my asthetics are at the moment and I just found it such a treasure.

"Telephone in a dish with three grilled sardines at the end of September 1939" Salvador Dali

This exhibition room was just fantastic, a padded red dark room with Dali's beautiful and exquisite jewels all delicately and subtely placed in little cubicles. I'm sure he would have appreciated this room.

You'll always have a great time on Brunswick Street, lots of great places to eat, buy art materials, quirky books and great clothes and there are always interesting people walking about, one of my favourite places in Australia.

"Noir" Canberra Exhibition

2009-09-08T17:47:00.006+09:30

"Troubled Beauty" 2009
Oil on Linen 30.5x35.5cms

One of the first images of my paintings from my upcoming show Noir, which opens in Canberra, at Beaver Galleries on October 15th 2009. I'll be posting some more up in the next couple of weeks.

Icons of idocy

2009-05-17T14:45:00.006+09:30

Ben Lewis so eloquently described exactly what I've been feeling about some of the overpriced dross that has been occupying the contemporary art world in the past decade in his wonderful Times online article a couple of days ago. It never ceases to amaze me what people will accept if someone in authority tells then to think like this, or buy that, behave in a certain way. Society is far too easily led! We have the wealth of civilisation and knowledge at our over educated fingertips, yet why is it, when it comes to many things like purchasing art, reading wonderful literature, or deciphering what the newsreader is blurbing out on the 6pm nightly news, people loose their brains, powers of reasoning go out the window...just vanish into thin air. I've been watching totally bemused for a number of years now, no-talent artists producing 1000s of multiples of the same work, selling as many as they can produce, with poor quality materials and no sense of anything at all. I hope the current state of the economy will reset people's thinking power and they'll begin to question again. Ask the questions that need to be asked, fall in love with a work of art because it means something to them and feel that they will never part with it for as long as they shall live. Much more preferable to asking how much will this artwork be worth in five years, meaning how much money are you as an artist going to make for me. Its just disgusting, it makes me sick.

I believe in creating art for the right reasons, because you want to create as a method of expression, not to make a dollar. This is why I have always worked full-time in another profession, to support my art, so as not to be in the position of painting for money, I cannot bare that scenario. Nor can I stand myself to just walk up to the easel and blindly paint just because I can. It is not a good way to conduct your art career (except when you are just out of art school and finding your feet), to exhibit just because its your turn in your galleries cycle. You must have something to say, it is for this reason, I sometimes don't paint, it is always on my mind, but I don't see the point of painting to fill an exhibition just because your dealers space needs 30 paintings to fill it. Its just not on, it is better to have 10 large, well constructed images, that are the best that you can do at the time, with a couple of studies on the walls, than more dross for the mill. I also feel that painting is a continuum throughout your life, whilst your subject matter may change over time, it is still this journey, one that I started when I was about 5 or 6 years old in earnest. I've always wanted to paint, I feel unsettled if I don't paint, all those things swimming around in my head just waiting to get out, its almost a cathartic process, that I need to go through.

I look forward to seeing the spin out to a more credible and honest art world in the future.

I've been pondering....

2009-04-26T22:52:00.006+09:30

Its been an interesting 12 months for me, with all sorts of dramas and testing decisions which have all led me to question myself, why I paint and what I paint about. I've revisited much of Art History, poured over current contemporary art exhibitions, magazines and web-sites, found myself questioning how the young artists are using so-called modern deliveries of ideas. I regularly read the financial papers, I have been watching the rise and fall of the economies of America, China, England, Japan and India. I think its important to have a big picture of history, as well as what is going on in the current global psyche, and the evolving culmination of human endeavour. I do find it disappointing that in a time where information is so readily available, that so many are ignorant of, and even more sadly do not care about what is going on around them. I am interested to watch some of the young 20 somethings produce what I can only describe as spare of the moment art work, regardless of its delivery, i.e. electronic media, installations, or a photo of an everyday banal event. I feel empty and hollow, and it seems just so long since I've been to see a well considered exhibition, that moves me to have some emotion, whether it be anger, happiness, nostalgia, empathy but rather, I often hear myself saying, ho hum that was banal and boring. Artists like Peter Booth who painted his doorway series in the 1970's, which remind me of the monoliths in Stanley Kubrick's movie, "2001, A Space Odyssey". These paintings are larger than life size and when you walk up to them, they are like a mirror and a void at the same time, its like a meditating monk or deity , attaining all knowledge or enlightenment and yet at the same time having none at all. These works deeply moved me.

Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha), c.1650, Kyoto
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

"Voids, a Retrospective", Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris Feb-Mar 2009

On the other hand the exhibition shown at the Pompidou centre in five rooms, earlier this year, which celebrated 51 years since Yves Klein first exhibited blank walls at the Galerie Iris Clert in Paris in 1958, called "Voids", leaves me empty and in fact represents how much of contemporary art makes me feel today.

I think that as a society we are losing our way, that greed and apathy will be the worlds downfall. I sense a revolution is at hand, that people will once again stand up and be counted and will speak out. It is interesting to note that the art world has been so corrupted by greed, by the notion that the latest thing is the best thing, the bigger and more expensive it is, the better it is. Art Dealers have fostered the just out of art school clan, as their ticket to ride and in turn on the back of the attitude by the young twenty somethings, that the world owes them something, the notion of why can't I have it all, I've seen in the media how I should be living. I feel that much of the video and photo-based art today is part of the quick make a buck, make me famous ideal. The work can be like a one trick pony and I wonder if these artists will have the stamina to succeed and keep going when their dealer decides they want to promote the next hot young thing.

First Study

2009-01-09T17:58:00.006+10:30

"Study for girl at the door", 2009
Oil on linen on board, 12.5 x 18 cm (5 x 7 inches)

Happy New Year to all my readers.

I have made my first steps towards choosing my work for my Canberra show, although the finished painting will be quite large and have less saturated colour, I wanted to work out a few things with a study. I haven't worked in this way in a very long time because with a separate full-time job, I found I didn't have the time, however I will need and want to, with this new work. So I'll post the studies on my small site and post the work in progress of the larger paintings on my This Painting Life blog.... CLICK HERE to purchase this lastest study on my small paintings blog, This Small Painting Life.

Canberra Exhibition 2009

2008-11-30T12:47:00.004+10:30

I'm really excited to be having an exhibition of my new work in 2009 at Beaver Galleries, Canberra. It will run from the 15 October - 3 November 2009. I plan to blog about each piece as I work on it, the aim of which is to provide a work in progress series of posts leading up to the show.

Hugo Michell Gallery opens and other ramblings

2008-11-28T23:55:00.010+10:30

New Gallery, Hugo Michell opened in Adelaide's Beulah Park a couple of weeks ago. A gorgeous space, with bad acoustics, that made it impossible to talk to anyone on opening night...

The opening show features works by Janet Laurence, Colin Duncan, Troy Innocent, Tim Sterling and Ildiko Kovacs. Laurence's work for me was the standout of the show which can be seen until 14 December 2008. As an aside note, I am most amused at the galleries attitude of secrecy...hmmm! One would think in this economic climate snobbery would not be the profitable way to proceed.

Onto other matters and I've had a really bad month, been sick most of it with a virus thingy but have managed to get out and take a few photos..This one, Jim took of me in my well travelled and much loved car, whilst I waiting for him to take some shots of the amazing sunset as we were coming home from the country one day.

This was taken on another days' journey in a small town, it is pretty rare to find old stations these days, and whenever I do, I just have to leap out of the car and take a photo.

On another occasion, when I needed to get away from it all and I couldn't paint, I drove along the dirt road which clings to the ridge above Kapunda in South Australia and came across this old abandoned home. It is certainly very isolated but at the same time, it is just the most beautiful and peaceful place, I soaked it all up for as long as I could.

James Gleeson DEAD at 92

2008-10-20T20:58:00.010+10:30

"Sentinels of a late season", 1987, oil on linen 182x274cm

Australia's greatest Surrealist Painter, James Gleeson has died in Sydney, aged 92. He remains one of my sole inspirations as I follow the path of an artist. He never strayed from his path, he had a single vision which he painted and wrote about his whole life and continued to paint almost every day until the end, regardless of money, fashion or any other distraction. Any time, I think what I'm doing is pointless and no-one cares for what I do, I always think of Gleeson and his single vision, his need like mine to paint. The quality of his painted surface, the paint is so luscious that you want to eat it, the images so organic and primordial, they are the stuff of life.

These two paintings were from his last show on exhibition last month at Charles Nodrum Gallery. I spent quite some time devouring the qualities in these works I so admire, my only regret is that I never got to meet him. I tried several times but there was always a reason either his or mine that it did not happen. I want all Australian painters to study the work of this great man and realise what a great legacy he has left for us.

Detail "Depot for used shadows", 1999 oil on linen, 133x178cm

Following the announcement, I ran up stairs to pay homage to the work of Gleeson that I have in my home, I feel so privileged to own one of these truly great works of art.

James Gleeson "Headland", 1998, oil on canvas, 134 x 200 cm

Things that go bump in the night....

2008-10-08T01:10:00.004+10:30

For awhile now, I've been hearing the odd clanking sound in the studio late at night, the odd thing where it shouldn't be and the alarm has been going off in the early hours of the morning. So, something was crawling about but I could never find it. Then, I was greeted by the neighbour holding a mouse trap cage in a bid to help me catch the rodent, so she could get some sleep, rather than be awoken at 2am by the alarm sounding. So, setting the trap day after day, the alarm still going off at really early hours of the day, no luck, no rodent in the cage...and so when arriving at the studio around midday on Sunday, I couldn't believe my eyes, but yes, there was a rather large blue tongued lizard peering at me from behind the couch! Out with the gardening gloves, and into the bucket! Deciding to share the exciting news with the neighbour, it was decided that she would keep it in her back yard that is full of native plants and rockeries...a perfect haven for the little guy....its now really, quiet again in the studio and the alarm is quiet! I so wanted to keep him, as I just adore lizards, oh well, at least I know he is just across the road if I need to visit.

Ray Caesar Publication by Mark Murphy Designs

2008-10-05T19:38:00.006+10:30

Its taken a very, very long time, however, the wait has been worth the torment! I adore Ray Caesar's work, and the wonderful specialist art publishers, Mark Murphy Designs, have put together the most beautiful book. the quality of the reproductions are outstanding, I believe Outre Gallery, in Melbourne will be getting some copies soon! Note that this is Volume 1....so there will be more to come! It also has some fabulous limited edition cards that come with the publication, just to make it extra special.

"Eternity"

"Precious"

I was torn when coming out of art school and knowing that I needed a secondary profession to pay the bills along the way as I walked the path of an artist, between becoming a graphic artist and a Librarian. I made a choice to become a Corporate Specialist Librarian. However, if I had to make the same choice now, I would chose instead, to learn how to use Visual Effect Software using programs like Apple's Shake...I guess this is why I appreciate Caesar's work even more than just straight admiration. It is so great to see the amazing effects that Caesar obtains in his work, I'm sure that they are paintable but to generate such original works via a computer is equally mind blowing.

Exquisite Palette Exhibition 2008

2008-10-01T17:55:00.007+09:30

Here is my work for the Exquisite Palette Show 2008:

"He heard the clicking of her stilettos and then, the faint knock on the door...." 2008 Oil on wood.

Its on again, for the second year and after great success the first time round, St Lukes' call for artists to create a work of art using a standard wooden artist palette as the starting point. Its a really exciting project because all stage of career artists participate, using a variety of mediums and thus its a very eclectic and extraordinary collection of works. The opening night is sure to be a huge party, so get along if you can and have your chance to own an affordable work of art.

The Exhibition includes 120 artists and runs from 3rd October to 8th November @ St. Luke Artist Colourmen 32 Smith St Collingwood, Melbourne.

Visiting Civilisation

2008-09-23T23:54:00.011+09:30

After wanting to get to Melbourne all year, I finally made it last week for six days of culture and excitement. The occasion, apart from needing to partake in big city life was to be there with Jim for his exhibition at Charles Nodrum Gallery and you can read about it on his blog here

I feel so isolated in my home town, hiding in the studio, just going to my day job in the burbs, that I was quite desperate to talk to some practising artists about common ground. We were lucky enough to be able to spend a lunch with Rick Amor and it was just such a relief to share like minded views with a mid-career artist and reassure myself that my ideas are not crazy!

The day of the opening we spent doing my favourite thing, wandering around the city, I had the best time ambling around, with no deadline, stopping in a laneway for coffee...., checking out the odd shop or two...just BLISS! The Olympic parade was going on in the distance in Swanston Street, and the sky buzzed to the sound of helicopters and was like snow with falling ticker tape. The day was blue sky and perfect....just perfect.

Often take photos from the moving car, Jim drove and I clicked away, got some interesting shots off around the city and docklands area.

We decided to head down to Geelong where the Director of the Geelong Art Gallery, Geoffrey Edwards, kindly offered to show us around the collection and exhibiting space. The Fletcher Jones Art Prize was on too, which was an added bonus. I was so impressed with Geoffrey's energy to promote the collection, the local heritage as well as contemporary art...Some state based galleries could do well to follow his example.

The next day it was time to go to the National Gallery of Victoria and see the Art Deco Exhibition. There were some real gems in the show, unfortunately wasn't allowed to take photos, other than this one... My favourite piece was a metal four crowned serpent vase.

It was so wonderful to catch up with friends, have wonderful food and relax in the cultural capital of Australia.

Rick Amor at Liverpool Street Gallery

2008-08-15T18:09:00.008+09:30

Rick Amor
" Journey", 2007, oil on canvas, 117 x 130cm

Excitedly ripped open the envelope encasing the forthcoming exhibition catalogue at Sydney's Liverpool Street Gallery, why, because, inside I knew was waiting a Rick Amor catalogue for my eyes to devour. It is a big call, but I've seen hundreds of Rick's paintings, I own one, I love his work, but the image #5 "Journey" is a show stopper, it immediately reminded me of Arnold Böcklin's, "The Isle of the Dead" or "L'ile des morts".

I think others have tackled this imagery, the most obvious other person is Australian artist, James Gleeson, our greatest and oldest living practising artist. I'm sure Gustave Moreau painted something of this subject too but I'm just trying to place that and cannot at this point.

Amor's, "Journey", is a beautifully sinister painting and the emotion the work imbues could hold my attention for hours. So if you are in Sydney, the exhibition opens on Wednesday September 3 6-8pm at Liverpool Street Gallery, 243a Liverpool Street, East Sydney.

Trapped in Adelaide

2008-08-05T00:37:00.004+09:30

Feeling a little trapped in Adelaide at the moment. The above empty scene, from a recent photo shoot, is from the old Wool Stores around Port Adelaide, it seems to reflect my state of mind! The Melbourne Art Fair 2008 has come and gone and I wasn't able to get there, which has not made me the happiest little squidgit on the planet. I do enjoy seeing which artists have been selected as the 'push' at the Fair. Meaning, the artists that are hot one Fair are not necessarily those that are the following Fair.

It is also South Australian Living Artists Week in Adelaide until the 17th August. I haven't found a lot to interest me this year and am disappointed that local artists are actually supporting SALA on SALE, which is akin to a jumble sale at the local markets for whatever you can sell your work for. I just think its demeaning and downgrades the integrity of the having a festival celebrating the artistic talent of the state.

Meanwhile, I am parking myself by the heater, closing the studio door and painting when I can, which does help to keep me sane.

Kewpie Sparks

2008-06-10T15:24:00.006+09:30

I've just had a lot of fun with some porcelain painting materials that I've never used before from a company called Pebeo. The paints take a bit of layering of thin coats and also allowing thorough drying times in between but what a fabulous idea!

Now, I didn't just wake up one morning and think, I'm going to paint on porcelain today and what do I use??! I was asked if I would paint a platter to be auctioned for great cause that helps brighten up the lives of sick children, The Starlight Foundation. I chose the Kewpie Doll with her little wand, sprinkling sparks around for good wishes as the theme...

"Metal Pencil"

2008-06-01T00:10:00.011+09:30

This is the sort of imagery I'm working with for my new paintings, it reflects the way I am feeling and also the way I feel about the world around me. I am conflicted and troubled and I am unhappy about many things. I don't want to paint ugly and violent paintings but I do want to convey a sense of the way I feel in modern society and the way I perceive others are beginning to feel.

I have been under a lot of stress lately and have been making some really strange word associations. Last night, I decided it was time to bake a cake and as I was mixing the ingriedients, I was thinking about my art. So, it came that I needed a metal spoon and my partner was in the way of the cuttlery draw and do you think I could think of a name for spoon so I could ask him to get one out of the drawer??? Nope! So, I stumbled and spluttered and eventually came up with "Metal Pencil"...now there is a strange word association, the mind works in very mysterious ways.

My small paintings site

2008-05-30T11:56:00.007+09:30

After a short break from my little works, I'm back and I'll be painting my toy paintings but also studies for my new major monochrome and occassionally heightened coloured works. It will be a good way for my collectors to be introduced to some of my new themes which focus more on people than I have before, as well as buildings and cars. This work continues on my retro theme but has a modern focus to it. CLICK HERE to see the lastest on my small paintings blog, This Small Painting Life.

Postcards from Port Lincoln

2008-05-18T12:58:00.004+09:30

Feeling a little down and in need of inspiration, I headed of this week for three days to Port Lincoln, the home of the Tuna Farms and great open spaces or what I call BIG SKY Country! It was very relaxing and inspiring and am looking forward to doing some small works from the information that I collected along the way.

Tony Lloyd Exhibition opens in Adelaide

2008-05-03T00:16:00.007+09:30

One of the highlights of the Adelaide exhibition calendar this year is the work of Melbourne Artist, Tony Lloyd. His work evokes a retro film noir with post apocalyptic images that were around in the 1950's, other images in the show highlight the romance of driving the night road to somewhere more promising. I'm a big fan of Tony's work and have two of his works in my collection, the show presented at Hill Smith Gallery is both consistent, and accomplished.

New Gallery Space opens in Adelaide

2008-04-18T00:28:00.003+09:30

A bit of excitement in Adelaide this week as the doors on a new exhibiting space opened. Gallery 139 has been set up to show emerging contemporary artists by art dealer, Tony Bond. After several years running his contemporary Aboriginal Artworks Gallery, Bond has expanded and opened a fabulous and diverse space that will give many of the states younger artists an opportunity to show paintings, sculpture, video and installations in a beautiful old character laden building. The inaugural exhibiting artist is Thom Buchanan whose works you can see in the installation photo as above. There are also stock works in the downstairs galleries and it was great to see many sales throughout the gallery, I hope the enterprise continues to be successful and becomes a mainstay of the Adelaide Art Scene for many years to come.

My new and fabulous compact camera!

2008-04-16T13:02:00.006+09:30

My old digital camera started flashing magenta and violet at me intermittently and was taking forever to take a shot so a bit the bullet and went out and purchased a new camera yesterday... its a Panasonic 9.1-megapixel 10x Zoom DMC-TZ15 Lumix compact camera, I still have the studio Digital SLR but need a camera to carry with me all times and this one is perfect. I went out last night to try some moody black and white shots and was pleased with the results. I'm just having a ball with my new piece of equipment.

Rick Amor Exhibits in Adelaide:New Jeffrey Smart Book

2008-04-15T23:47:00.014+09:30

Rick Amor "The Hour", 2007 oil on canvas 117 cm x 130 cm

It was a delight to go to the opening of Rick Amor's Adelaide show a few days ago, although containing only a few works, each provided a thought provoking reminder of the artists unique view of the world. He made the trip over for the opening, so it was great to see him again and to talk about the mutual love of painting. He was accompanied by his long time supporter and dealer, Bill Nuttall, director of Niagara Galleries, Melbourne (or Uncle Bill as I like to call him!) I was lucky enough to get a personalised signed copy of the Gavin Fry tome that has just been published on Rick's work and was doubly pleased to see that the work I own of Ricks is reproduced in the book as well. The painting has been in my collection since the mid 90's and it is one of my most treasured possessions, I'll never sell it, I look at it every day and its a part of my life. Last Sunday was another treat with ABC Sunday Arts story on Rick which was a preview to his current survey exhibition "A Single Mind" being held at Heide.

While I'm mentoning books, be sure to check out the latesst book on painter Jeffrey Smart by Christopher Allen, which looks at his "Unpublished Paintings, 1940-2007"....Its been launched by Australian Galleries this week and coincides with an exhibition of his paintings at Philip Bacon. I've also heard that the ABC program, Talking Heads are looking at a profile on Jeffrey, so watch out for that in the TV promos.

Voodoo Night

2008-03-31T15:13:00.002+10:30

"Voodoo Night" 112x107cm Oil on Linen 2008

A few finishing touches left to do but I haven't posted a large painting on my blog for sometime, I wanted you to see what I've been working on. You may remember I put up an image of this last year at the first stage. I am enjoying painting in monochromatic colours after painting with an intensified bright palette for so many years I just feel a great need to knock everything back. The question of how much information do you need in a painting is very much on my mind.

Snap Freeze Review in current issue of Artichoke

2008-03-25T23:42:00.005+10:30

Absolutely delighted when I picked up the latest issue of Artichoke magazine (number 22) on the weekend and found an article in SCAN with photos on "Snap Freeze" a survey of Still Life as a genre in contemporary Australian Art exhibition that I was curated into last year. There is a photo of my work and a discussion by the writer about my painting which is fantastic to see.

2008 Adelaide Festival of Arts

2008-03-05T00:07:00.006+10:30

Adelaide is a BUZZ with art openings, fringe performers, writers week, street performers and WOMAD...its exciting! I've been to all the major visual arts openings that started last Thursday with EAF, Jam & Samstag galleries. I was most entertained by a suitably bemused Ray Hughes wandering about going quite unoticed by most of the insular Adelaide Art Crowd...I, of course couldn't resist going up and bothering him whilst he sat smoking a cigarette and watching the crowd ebb and flow. He was there at the invitation of one of his artists Tom Moore, who had the star works of the night for me at his exhibition "Autogenic" @ the Jam Factory.

Samstag Museum is hosting Penumbra: Contemporary Art from Taiwan which I was a little disppointed in, mainly because I thought it would be more challenging. However, having said that I went on opening night and the work probably has more impact when you are not talking to people and drinking wine...I'll have to go back. Meanwhile, the 2008 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art "Handle with Care" opened on Friday night and I was impressed with this show. I thought it was a huge improvement on the last Biennial and I particularly liked the fantasy world created by Kate Rohde's sculptures.

Of the commerical galleries I very much enjoyed (although I've seen most of it before in Melbourne at Diane Tanzer Gallery)...the photographic works of Marian Drew. They are beautifully sinister and reference still life paintings of animals, food and vanitas. I particularly liked this work "Possum with five birds" in Drew's exhibition " Every Living Thing".

Australian Art World comes of age

2008-02-17T14:23:00.005+10:30

All smiles are Editor, Claire Amrstrong and Editor in Chief Steve Bush of Art World Magazine, here snapped by Vogue Australia at their Launch party at the Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst on 5th February 2008. Its the latest symbol that Australia’s Art Market has come of Age. The second new magazine in almost as many months, the previous being, Artist Profile Magazine (it does have a website...where I ask is Art Worlds???) This new bi-monthly glossy is dedicated to the contemporary art scene, but not just to the local market but more places Australia in the international art scene by how it relates to it. There are wonderful articles like Germaine Greers look at Louise Bourgois's long standing art carrer. The magazine spans the market, a look at 10 artists per issue, general gallery news and meaty feature articles.

In this time of information being at your fingrtips and the validity of hardcopy magazines being questioned, it is hard to justify putting a new hardcopy only magazine on the market. At the first issue I have found that I have read information that I've not been able to find anywhere else, so I would have to congratulate the editors and contributers on their research. I am curious at why the magazine doesn't have an online presence, is this a deliberate act and strategy to overcome the trend towards electronic information only? Will it survive in only this format in years to come?

I've named this post 'coming of age' which I call because we now have a range of Contemporary Art Auction Houses that deal in the secondary Art market, so there is a place for investors to sell and buy which didn't exist 10 years ago. We have so many more galleries opening all over the country, the Brisbane scene has completely exploded in the last three years or so enhanced by the opening of GOMA and the determination of the older stalwart, Philip Bacon. We have magazines like Australian Art Market Report, Artist Profile, Art Almanac, Australian Art Collector, Australian Art Review, Artlink, Eyeline and now Art World. Each offers a different angle and also because of the variety overcomes perhaps some of the previous bias that existed in the publications. To counteract the big end of town, we also see the young artists around the country showing in artist run spaces, and also a range of emerging artists prizes. NONE of this existed when I came out of art school. So its real progress in twenty years. I wait with enthusiasm as to what is next!

First steps for the new work

2008-02-12T18:03:00.001+10:30

Last weekend I began collecting information for the new series of works that I have planned...So, I headed off to the beach in to take shots of a architectually designed house from the 50's (you'll get to see this later!!!), and I hoped for the Saturday night classic cars out for a cruise, I found a couple and also these that were parked for a wedding...flicked the camera to black and white and yes I was on a roll...Now, I've just got to find someone to model a fifties bikini in front of the house and I'm there...Rome was not built in a day as they say...

Summertime

2008-01-16T17:49:00.000+10:30

Well is beautiful and warm and lovely sunshiny long days and my current obsession is to visit the Adelaide Botanical Gardens and the refurbished Amazon Water Lily display...its just the most amazing flower.

Meanwhile, I've been painting my small works and drawing up new ideas for very large paintings. I spent pretty much the whole of last year tortured with wanting to paint new subject matter. I thought I had it and still may paint my other idea for work in the future but right now its not what I need. I've re-looked at what my interests are, who I am and looked at historical contexts and come up with something more like where I am in my life now. Thankfully I have my small works to get the other things out of my system but really I don't want to paint in such bright colours, rather more monochrome and the subject matter is strong women who display their feminine side and sexuality not in an avert way but rather more in a controlled and knowing way. Large 6 foot black and white paintings of women is where I'm headed...I know its going to be a slow process but I'd rather put out around 6-10 well resolved large paintings and accompanying preparatory studies each year, rather than many medium sized works.

I put this painting up by Otto Dix 1926, Portrait of the Journalist because it influenced me as a young painter and I've realised it is still important to me and am keeping it nearby to remind me about where I'm at...Its going to be an interesting year and am looking forward to making new work.

Oh Xmas Tree

2007-12-17T22:23:00.001+10:30

Seasons Greetings to all my readers ! Took this photo as I was driving past at night on they way back to the studio....you get the idea...hence a blurry but pretty big nice looking Xmas tree in the heart of the city.

Its been a frantic month, I'm finishing up all my commissions and other works I didn't quite resolve through the year and then there is all the Xmas parties to got to and general madness resulting from what is the silly season! I'm hoping to make a clean start for 2008 and get working on a major body of paintings for my next exhibition in Canberra. I need a complete change and its a hard process to go through, sometimes, I wish I could just press the hold button on the rest of my life whilst I sort out the mechanisms for my new work....Meanwhile, I'm continuing to paint my small works on This Small Painting Life I am really enjoying these little works and am trying to put up several before the end of the week....

Meanwhile, I've been tagged by the wonderful Georgia based artist, Neil Hollingsworth and thus I have to tell you 5 little known facts about myself and then I'll tag five other artists to do the same.

So, here are some facts about me:

1. My first day at school, I was bored in class wondering what all the rubbish was coming out of my teachers mouth....so got up, walked out of class and plonked myself in the sand pit and began building things...much more interesting .... !

2. I am absolutely scared of heights, I cannot even watch high things on television without pins and needles under the arch of my foot, get a niggling pain in my tummy that makes me want to jump...

3. Cars, I am obsessed with them, it is one of my favourite subjects to talk about, once I start, I just cannot stop!

4. I worked in television for 16 years, both my father and cousin still work in the industry and my mother worked there too until she got married in the 60's when there was a rule that you couldn't work once you got married!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!!

5. I have a pet Sulpher Crested Cockatoo who we all thought was a male, hence named Sebastian, at age 18years he/she layed an egg and now we call her Sebastienne. She is very important to me because I am an only child, my mother is an only child, thus our family is very small and this crazy parrot who has kept me company all night when I studied at university and always been just there for the past 35 years or so...is just well, to me, like my little sister.

These are the five artists I'd like to tag...

Otto Lange

Cooper Dragonette

Travis Louie

Nigel Cox

Edward B Gordon

Melbourne trip Part II

2007-11-19T17:17:00.000+10:30

There was so much to see and do in Melbourne that I couldn't squeeze it all into one blog post...so here is a bit more of the journey and the people along the way....
Day one in Melbourne started off with a wonderful walk in the park and then breakfast with the lovely Channel 10 Adelaide Newsreader who is based in Melbourne, Rebecca Morse and the keen eye amongst you will realise this is the person whom has been my subject for a portrait painting.

Heading off to some galleries, Nellie Caston, a peak at the new and very large premises that Mossgreen now occupies in South Yarra and a gander at the works on offer for their auction. I was very disappointed by the Christine Abrahams show of Philip Wolfhagen's work it was slapped together and although I appreciated the surfaces I saw, I found them neither abstract or literal representation of landscape and sky, they lay somewhere in the middle not sure of where they wanted to be.
Later in the day we headed off to Brunswick street for some alternative shopping, always a rewarding experience! I spent way to much money in Zetta Florence!

With my pocket suffering in shock I took myself off to see Louise & David @ St Lukes and stocked up on some art materials...with the promise of beer, we hung around after being told an artist called Martin King was coming around to show his home movie of a trip he'd taken to the sub antartica. Well, my sceptical eye was raised thinking, oh my, a home movie...Was I WRONG! Martin turned up with a DVD and some catalogues and a group of us gathered to watch his experience detailing himself and three other artists and their trip to South Georgia on the ship Australis in 2005. What a wonderful production which I immediately said the ABC should be screening to which he said they were planning to...keep your eye out for it, a really well shot, great music score, amazing scenery and exploration by the artists. King recently held an exhibition at Port Jackson Press.

Spoilt to have seen such a well put together production and all fuzzy from drinking beer, it was time to get myself together to meet for dinner, the very charming Eugene who is working with Jim for his 2008 exhibition with Charles Nodrum Gallery.

Morning of day two it was decided that town was the best idea and headed off we did to Flinders Lane, took in Hearman's show at Tolarno Galleries, which was crowded to the rafters with work, all wonderfully painted but way too much of it! Ducked into a couple of shops underground that were hidden by hidden doorways and off to look as any good tourist does...yes, Graffiti!

Jim and I met up with Daniel Sanger and Michelle Giacobello at their exhibition being held at Cafe Loco in Elsternwick, we were also joined by Triecia Gibney and had a long chat over some lunch, it was great to meet with people in the physical sense those you've only interacted with in a virtual way.

And so it came the big day of the exhibition opening but first the drive in the beautiful Gippsland...Had a great time, a few people drove over from Melbourne for the show and everyone who was there loved the exhibition. After the opening a group of us sat down to the wonderful country hospitality of Cowwarr Artspace director, Carolyn Crossley who cooked the fresh fish that her partner and great sculptor, Clive Murray-White caught..

The Melbourne Trip

2007-11-16T00:03:00.001+10:30

Had a fantastic time in Melbourne as always...starting with the long and beautiful drive down the Great Ocean Road and came across some beautiful cars there for the Porsche Great Ocean Road Escape. There were about 170 cars plus officials etc ending up in about 350 people involved, a really big group of people having a lot of fun in expensive cars! I found this replica Porsche, like the one James Dean was killed in, built by the man who was checking the tyres. Absolutely beautiful. Many people were not so impressed with the Great Ocean road being blocked off at various times over the weekend so the club members could play the driving course. They were raising money for the local hospital on the way. so that has got to be good.

After getting distracted by cars as I always do.....I went nuts taking photos of trees, Sulpher Crested Cockatoos that were running around everywhere in Lorne and of course I had to climb up on something to get a better view of the ocean!

There is a great Sculpture by the Sea exhibition along the coastline at Lorne too...well worth the look.

Finally got to Melbourne, went Gallery Hopping in Flinders Lane and a look at all the fantastic Graffiti everywhere...I thought the I love Melbourne one was really appropriate.

And here is proof I was there...its a picture of me!!!!

After a day of running around the art shops buying paint, looking at shows, visiting friends just needed a good night out, so an artist in Melbourne suggested the Blue Diamond. Had a fabulous time there, what a great view...and all those decadent red curtains everywhere are just my kind of idea of right...

Of all the exhibitions I saw, the whole exhibition and this painting called "Thought you had all the answers", 2007 oil on linen 152 x 152cm by Julia Ciccarone was the most inspiring experience and I recommend getting along to see it if you are in Melbourne.

On the road again

2007-11-07T19:45:00.001+10:30

This is the view from my car as I drive to the studio at the end of the day from my job..although its a lovely view and I really should stop taking photos as I drive, but then I'm usually so bored at driving at these ridiculously slow speeds we are forced to go at these days...Anyway....I'm leaving in the early hours of this morning and heading up the coast to Victoria via the Great Ocean Road...I just cannot wait! I'll be back in a few days from my trip and the opening and I'll tell you of my adventures then.

Dianne Gall - Recent Paintings Cowwarr Artspace

2007-10-31T01:12:00.000+10:30

Just finishing packing up my next solo show, which is being picked up on Thursday by the courier. Now, as I gaze around the studio, it looks really empty and the space is inspiring me to fill it up again with some new work! I'll be heading off to wonderful Melbourne next week and then travelling to the Gippsland for the opening at Cowwarr Artspace on Sunday November 11th. I'm so looking forward to the show and the hunt around the galleries in Melbourne, as well as stocking up on art materials :)

The exhibition runs until 17th December and is open Friday through Monday 11am-5pm...so if you are out for a nice drive in country Victoria, stop on by the show...

Finalist : Eutick Memorial Still Life Award 2007

2007-10-09T00:31:00.000+09:30

"My Adventures with Astro Boy" 40x132cm Oil on Linen

I have been selected as a finalist for the Inaugural Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, to be exhibited at the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery in New South Wales. The exhibition opens on the 26th October when the winners will be announced...The exhibition concludes on the 25th November.

Small Paintings Blog

2007-10-04T23:39:00.000+09:30

Have just set up a small paintings blog, This Small Painting Life I plan on posting one a week. I see this as a great way of exploring ideas and expanding my artistic practice.

William Robinson Exhibition - Australian Galleries Sydney

2007-10-04T17:10:00.000+09:30

Blue sea and coastal forest 2007 oil on linen 100 x 162 cm

This wonderful painting looks to be the highlight of the William Robinson exhibition which opens tomorrow night at Australian Galleries Sydney and runs until October 24th, I wish I could see it. This work is just inspiring, I feel so relaxed looking at it and the light on the water in the distance just adds to the mystery and emotion embued in the work. Just wonderful :)

What's on the Easel?

2007-10-02T01:02:00.000+09:30

I made very sure that the first thing I painted was his rope tie, so that he couldn't escape! I have a few of these objects, they give me the heebee jeebees! For some reason, which I cannot explain, I'm really drawn to them. I did see Karen Black in the Trilogy of Terror when I was a kid and it made a BIG impression on me, so believe me, that tag is never coming off my little Voodoo Doll! At least I can rely on Devil Girl to watch him.....she is just as bad but a lot more subtle about it!
This is the first stage of the painting which I'm experimenting with tinted B&W, it'll look a bit different when finished, a bit of red tinting here and there...just want to have some fun with it really....

Opening Night @ St Lukes - Exquisite Palette

2007-09-10T17:26:00.001+09:30

I couldn't be at the opening but thankfully Triecia took some great photos of the works and crowd on the night....you can find out more @ her blog A Reason to Paint

Artist Profile Magazine

2007-09-09T16:04:00.001+09:30

Popped into the Art Gallery of SA today and picked up the new Australian Art magazine Artist Profile published by Horwitz Publications quartlery and edited by Paul Flynn who is well known in Sydney as an Art History specialist and gallery assistant previously at Brian Moore Gallery and now at Michael Carr Gallery (who represents me in NSW).

This is a much needed publication, that is taken from the artists perspective, rather than the commerical one that Australian Art Collector focuses on. The first issue looks at the Sidney Nolan Retrospective at AGNSW, profiles young artist Alan Jones, abstract painter John Hoyland, takes a peek inside Nicholas Harding's studio and Steve Lopes talks about the creative process.

I wish Paul and all invoved in the Magazine success, its going to be a very valuable resource for the Australian Art community in the future.

Loreto Spring Art Exhibition September 2007

2007-09-05T23:55:00.000+09:30

These are my two completed works for the Annual Spring Loreto Art Exhibition which opens Friday night September 7 2007 and runs for one weekend only. This is a very successful event for the College and artists alike, many months of work go into getting sponsors, publicity and selecting artists to participate and I always find it a rewarding venture to be part of.

"Still life - Frog cake composition #1" 2007

"Still life - Frog cake composition #2" 2007

Loreto Art Exhibition Work In Progress

2007-09-01T23:33:00.000+09:30

A work in progress after four hours of painting, the subject is an Adelaide tradition! On the left are two cakes...they are known as Balfours Frog Cakes and these little sweet sensations were first made in the 1920's. Back then, it was a real treat to go into the heart of the city on a Saturday morning and have morning or afternoon tea at the company's popular tea rooms. Everytime I exhibit paintings of these, I add to my collection of "Frog Cake Tales"....it is always a joy to hear them.

Astro's Dream Car (Exquisite Palette piece)

2007-08-30T01:08:00.000+09:30

This is the completed work for the Exquisite Palette show..."Astro's Dream Car (1951 Ford Mercury)" 2007

Exquisite Palette

2007-08-29T18:09:00.001+09:30

My latest work (will post soon) will be exhibited at The Exquisite Palette exhibition, on show at St Luke's Artist Colourmen (the only place to get your art materials in Melbourne!). The show will open next week with works by over 150 artists, including David Band, Graham Fransella, Louise Hearman, Melinda Harper, Paul Boston, John Young, David Bromley etc etc Its going to be a great show with the artists all presenting work on kidney shaped Palettes that range from the exquisite to the bizarre!
If previous functions at St Luke's go, this one should be an even bigger hit! St Luke's proprietors, Louise & David are on the right...

The Exhibition runs from 8th September-20th October Monday- Friday 10-6 Saturday 10-5 @ St. Luke Artist Colourmen 32 Smith St Collingwood

Its College Art Show Season

2007-08-10T23:44:00.000+09:30

A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by Wilderness School to donate a work on paper, my first thought was, I didn't have time but then I thought oh well its only small and I always do something for Loreto College each year and so it was only fair. I chose to give the School a digital print of my Astro in a Swirl and this will form a collaborative piece by major female South Australian Artists to be auctioned at an event held at the SA Museum with the theme of "Life is Amazing" next week.

SALA Weekend

2007-08-09T16:28:00.001+09:30

We had about 100 people in the studio on Sunday and it just got too busy to take photos but managed one! Sold some work which is great and there are some flow-on enquiries which is really good.

Tim Lloyd from the "The Advertiser" came in on Sunday with a photographer to cover the 'open studio'...They spent over an hour with us talking about our work, the studio, our ideas for SALA week in the future. I really advocate a Visual Arts Festival that is biennial, with big name artists talks and events, rather than the current format which has grown like topsy for anyone who'd care to tape something to the wall and call it an 'event'. When I was just out of art school, Anslem Keifer, Robert Hughes and other big names came to town for the Adelaide Festival, Visual Arts component and people flocked from far and wide...why can't we organise a fully-fledged well thought out Festival like Artists Week for example????

3 Little Paintings

2007-08-04T16:16:00.000+09:30

I have enjoyed painting these small little studies of landscapes so much, they've been very theraputic as I've been quite sick over the last three weeks or so with a nasty evolving flu/virus infection....I think I need rest and it is my body's way of telling me to stop.

Here are the images of the works...

"Little oasis", 18x12.5cm

"Sunday afternoon drive", 14.5x19.5cm

"Dreaming of other times", 12.5x18cm

South Australian Living Artists Week 2007

2007-08-04T15:14:00.000+09:30

South Australian Living Artists week is open for another year and for 2007 Jim & I have opened up our studio/gallery space and stockroom to the public for one weekend only. It is a good opportunity for people to come in and talk to us about our practice, what we are up to as we exhibit mainly in other states, so our collectors in South Australia rarely get to view our work.

I cleaned up my painting space for SALA week, you'll see works by other artists that I have in my collection, Stewart McFarlane, Reg Mobassa, Deb Paauwe as well as my cabinet containing objects that inspire me and have found their way to images for paintings. Its really nice and cosy in my space, I can close my door and feel really happy hiding away from the world...it is my small sanctuary where I can indulge myself and my thoughts, nobody can bother me, the mobile is off, and the landline is on answer machine...ahhh bliss!!!

Here are some pics of the main exhibiting space, showing the small works and my Koi Fish painting all framed up.

Also, here is a few of the salon hung stock room works that Jim and I have left from the last 7 years of painting...when I look at it, I've sold quite a lot of works and am pleased that this is all I have left barr a couple in dealers stockrooms. This means I need to paint some new works! But I knew that!!!!

Waiting for love

2007-07-28T12:58:00.000+09:30

It is SALA (South Australian Living Artists Week) time! The studio will be open for one weekend only when the public are welcomed in. As well as a salon hung stockroom and other work in the main gallery, I've put together a small group of paintings that are just personal little memories collected from varied places at different times. This first of these is called 'Waiting for love' and is 5"x6" in size, inspired by David Lynch's, 'Twin Peaks'. I drew this sketch some time ago and have been wanting to paint it for ages and seeing as how I'd purchased a group of panels, the same ones Duane Keiser uses, I thought it would be a great time to just do it!

So here is a clip to remind you of / or introduce you to the mastery of David Lynch...and a short snippet from one of my favourite scenes from 'Twin Peaks'..enjoy! (PS Cannot wait to see his new movie 'Island Empire'!)

Vasari Paints

2007-07-23T10:58:00.000+09:30

I'm working on several paintings at once and don't really want to put them up until they are finished...hence me talking about 'other stuff' meanwhile. However, what I do want to say is how much I like using Vasari Paints the texture and consistency together with the great colour range has me very happy. Unfortunately they are not available in Australia but you can order them direct from the website. I have to thank David Kassan for alerting me to these fantastic paints. I was really impressed with the service and the way they are packaged as well. You can see the care with which the paints are created as opposed to those disgusting chalky Art Spectrum crappie excuses for oil paint. These are in fact exquisite hand made paints with good pigment concentration and coverage....my favourites so far are Brilliant Yellow Light, Bluff, Ship Rock, Jasper, Bice & Cedar....but really ALL of them are great colours! Save your pennies to get your mitts on them NOW!

Fast car driving, sleek and modern

2007-07-11T19:47:00.001+09:30

I've been driving around thinking, walking and thinking...that is in between working....I've got so much I want to paint about at the moment, I've got a traffic jam going on in my head that is just not making it to the hand, to the paint to the brush to the canvas! I've prepared eight little boards for some studies to be displayed for SALA week...(South Australian Living Artists Week), I'll put them up on the blog before hand and you can have a look. I was going to partake in the painting a day caper but think I really don't have the time for it, so it'll be a joint two-day SALA and online show.

I somehow feel like I did at art school, I want to paint everything again, buildings, industry, streetscapes, people, just life as it happens around me. I've been too long constrained to one genre and to one way of painting. I'm terribly frustrated that I've not got the luxury of daylight hour studio time except on weekends.

Off topic now...

So, what did you all think about this???

Best bit of social commentary art I've seen in ages! It wasn't even trying but its just well, brilliant! What were they thinking! I know I'll be heading down there when next I'm in Sydney to get my picture taken with the white pointer!

Egyptian Exhibition /Waterhouse /Booth /Alpacas /Blue Wren / Mt Bold

2007-07-02T00:24:00.000+09:30

Visited the Art Gallery of South Australia to see the Egyptian Exhibition "Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre - Journey to the Afterlife" and to have a look at some of my favourite works in the Gallery Collection. Every man and his dog was at the Afterlife show, but its good to see people coming to the gallery, even if they do march past the States collections! Of the Louvre exhibition, I enjoyed the very small objects of affection, particularly the bird like creature known as the 'Ba' sitting beside his master ready to take his soul into the afterlife.

Strolling through the major collections, I noticed the Asian Cultures Galleries have had a 'makeover' and saw quite a few new donations from the Heaven family. A row of wonderful silver objects that are all odd shapes, great stuff! So then I wandered off to look at the European Collection and stopped by William BOUGUEREAU's, "Virgin and Child" 1888, whilst the subject matter is not of interest to me, the way he painted flesh is worth the examination...I always look at it every time I go past...

Just across the way is another painting, I don't really care for the subject matter but the colours J.W. WATERHOUSE, used in "The favourites of the Emperor Honorius", painted in 1883 is something every painter should examine. It has wonderful realism yes, but it is the textures, the salmon pinks, the lemons and soft greens and pale blue's, I see contemporary abstraction of colour rather than the perfect form...I could and have stared at this painting for the longest time...

I wanted to see what the contemporary section had to offer...The large Gerhard Richter painting is cracked very badly and think it should be taken to ArtLab immediately for restoration work! I was disappointed that the Ah Xian's sculpture had been moved from the centre of the room where you could walk around it to a place where it isn't lit and also with its back against the wall! WHY??? Feeling a bit grrr about all of that I felt I needed to look at the work I'd left until last...The amazing, thought provoking work by Peter Booth titled, "Painting 1982" featuring cannibals and flying people, its rough, gutsy and just where my mind is right now. I'm feeling like I don't want to paint small delicate paintings, perhaps it is time for me to go back to large, emotionally driven works that somehow realise some of the stuff I keep hidden from the world. As my day job becomes more and more regimented, I feel that this is why I'm needing to break out and be free so to speak. I guess I'm doing a bit of soul searching and wanted to see what I responded to by looking at a microcosm of art history and it was Booth who spoke to me most....

Managed some painting time and worked on the portrait that has been on and off the easel for awhile. Thought about doing some quick studies but decided fresh air was more important, so got out and about where I came upon some Alpacas :)

and a very nosey little Blue Wren at Mt Bold Reservoir that just couldn't keep away!

Just as aside to the reservoir, our State Government, as of July 1st, has just instituted the next level of water restrictions and a no watering policy (buckets are ok) and yet as you can see, they are letting out plenty of the so called precious commodity...curious, don't you think????

Cape Jervis Echidna

2007-06-25T00:29:00.000+09:30

Spent the afternoon and early evening driving to and around Cape Jervis and the Star Fish Hill Wind-farm, taking pictures for some new works for Jim's paintings....on the road we couldn't believe our eyes...waddling across right in front of us was one Echidna...we stopped the car ran across the road with me screaming I don't believe it, do you know how fricken rare it is to see one of these????? Now for my readers overseas, this is only the second such animal I've seen in the wild in my life! They are very, very, very rare! Documentary crews have spent months on Kangaroo Island tracking these spiny creatures and there we were, it just trotted along on the road in front of us....Isn't he gorgeous! I feel privileged to have been able to look at him so closely before he scurried off into a spinifex bush.

Banality and the modern photographer

2007-06-19T23:11:00.000+09:30

Well, I watched the second of the three part series on the Art Life (ABC Television) and well, once again, I'm left feeling empty! I'm am a big fan of the power of the photograph but am becoming increasingly disappointed in the contemporary photographer. Darren Sylvester put me to sleep, he even puts himself to sleep! In his interview he admits to being lazy and not even liking taking photos. The image above by Sylvester "Learn To Adjust, Learn To Get Over It", 2006 is so boring it looks like a bad album cover from the early 90's that should have remained on the cutting room floor. The episode examines the image in advertising, a dangerous thing to do. The pretext of taking a photo for advertising is to illustrate a product or idea, this is exactly what many of these contemporary photographers are doing. Put another way, they mimic the disposable imagery of advertising to make and sell limited edition 'artworks' as permenant art. My verdict is most of this 'art' is that it is bad advertising material that in 10 years time people will be taking down off the walls (if you are lucky, perhaps more likely 2years) and thinking what did I see in that image? Compare it with something like the work below. It was set up but not staged, the group came together, there was quite a story behind it if you watch the doco about it "Girl in the Mirror" by Toi-Toi Films 2005. You get a sense of the three people in the picture, you can sense an unease about them, you sense the toughness of existence, aggression, self protection, in fact a whole range of things.

Carol JERREMS 1949–1980, Australia
Vale Street 1975

The Little Cavalier

2007-06-19T00:03:00.000+09:30

Poor Edmund Capon, captured beautifully by an associated press photographer, was called back from the anyone who's anyone soiree in Venice to the terrible news that some bastard had swiped one of the AGNSW's Dutch masterpieces from right under some sleepy guards nose! Just stuck the little gem under their jumper and waltzed out into the torrential rains of old Sydney Town.

I always head for the little room in AGNSW that held this painting by 17th Century Frans van Mieris, "A Cavalier (Self Portrait)" it is something I've studied and studied, I really enjoy the way the fabric is painted on the sleeve. Now its bloody well been nicked! I'm really upset about it...these paintings need to be in the public arena for all to see.

Work in Progress #6

2007-06-11T16:50:00.001+09:30

Here is the latest development with my Koi fish painting...I've put a few more slight references to water reflections but not too much as it is a still day depicted and there is not much movement by the fish in the shallow water. Any more light effects would mean distortion or disruption in the form of the rocks and fish which clearly there is not. I've also put a retouch varnish over the painting. The surface is quite textured, so, I wanted to seal it so that when the final varnish is applied a nice shiny film is created and thus the varnish serves as a unifier and a sealant at the same time.

I've been taking lots of trips to the newish art shop here, getting some stretcher bar and another roll of linen to help get me through the next 24 paintings I need to do for this year at a guesstimate...I'll be needing another order of those fantastic Vasari paints before I know it!

I went to the local toy fair the other day, very disappointing, mainly toy cars...now I like toy cars but they were mostly hot rod matchbox cars! I couldn't find a D-type Jaguar anywhere, and hardly any interesting cars at all! I did get a little Astro Boy and this diecast Model 51 Ford Mercury which is quite cool.

This is for a little project I'm doing which will be exhibited in a fun group show in Melbourne in September this year. I'll post it up when its done!

Found this vintage 50's advert for the car...couldn't resist putting it up for you all to see!

Diamonds are forever?

2007-06-03T17:00:00.000+09:30

Love him or hate him ( I love him!) Damien Hirst certainly gets the public a chatter about his artistic endeavours..."For the Love of God" is the title of Hirst's latest work. The skull is covered with 8,601 flawless diamonds and I cannot help but compare it with my favourite painting of all time....Holbein's "The Ambassadors".

What use is all your wealth when you die? I guess you could sell up and put every cent into encrusting your head with jewells, thats useful! Thats a worthwhile thing to do with all the blood sweat and tears that went into getting them from the Diamond Mines! ISN't IT???!!! But, actually, it probably is if buried because its being returned to the earth for the next meniacal nutcase to dig it up again....

£50million pounds is what they are saying this baby is worth, it really is quite amazing. The thing that sparked my interest is the similar thought patterns behind Holbeins' masterpiece. The very idea that you can spend your whole life with everything you could possibly want, travel the globe, experience life in all its fullness, or be a simple man and live a quiet life, although rich in other ways, its all meaningless in the end because we are human, flesh, blood and skeletal form, the same in the earth or as ashes to the wind.

I have been reading what the critics are saying and many have referred to this work as 'vacuous nonsense'. I'm sorry guys but I just don't agree! We are living in an age where the young facile and rich appear to get everything, those who don't have it, want it (well thats what the media tells us)...Why else would Paris Hilton be so popular if thousands, nay millions of girls all over the world didn't want to emulate her. Much of the modern world has its cars, its MacMansions, its Summer holidays, Foxtel, electronic gagets that supposedly make our lives better and more luxurious. What an apt symbol of the modern world this diamond encrusted skull is, it is an absurdly useless object, insanely decorated with one of the most universal symbols of wealth and power.

Hirst, you've cracked it perfectly for me.

Work in Progress #5

2007-05-24T02:20:00.000+09:30

Just finished stage #5 its 2.30am and I need some sleep! Its pretty much there, just need the varnish and a couple of touches and I've completed the painting.

The opening was fantastic...

2007-05-22T22:26:00.000+09:30

Well, made it to Melbourne...As ever, I had a wonderful time. Got some paints from St Lukes, bumped into Jenna Blyth, the curator of Snap Freeze whilst looking at the Jan Senbergs show at Niagara Galleries. Its a big show with some good honest free painting, very refreshing to see. Went to the Stencil Festival where there were artworks from all over the world. I felt so inspired by it. Then met some artists from the JAC artists community that have studios on the grounds which formally housed a school where the festival was being held. They were all really nice and unlike community studios I've been part of before these artists seemed to work well together and were considerate of each others needs.

Sunday was the big day and the wonderful drive up to TarraWarra, I had no idea what to expect other than I knew how much I love the architecture and how everything is done so well in every way with the Gallery. I walked through the door and was just elated to see the first thing was my picture hanging on the wall, then I looked at the catalogue and found my painting reproduced twice...I was just so happy. Lots of friends turned up as they said they would and supported me in this important show.

I did get to meet Dr Janine Burke and was pretty excited about that...just had to get a picture taken with her :)

Snap Freeze opens this weekend

2007-05-19T01:29:00.000+09:30

I'm hopping into a bright blue gas guzzling thumping great big Ford XR6 and heading off to Melbourne in the morning for the exhibition opening at TarraWarra. Really looking forward to seeing lots of people I haven't caught up with in ages and meeting Dr Janine Burke who is opening the show.

Dr Burke has wriiten many texts about Heide and the people involved. This has been a special subject area of study for me for many years and even was able to use my research and interview one of the characters from this story of Australian Moderism on one occassion with a journalist for two ABC progams. This colouful character was none other than the publisher, poet and victim of the Ern Malley Hoax, one, Max Harris. The main program we produced was "A Life-Max Harris" but the material collected is in Archive and gets used every-so-often which is great. Max was quite elderly and could only talk for short periods of time but he was passionate about his beliefs and sat beneath a painting done by his friend, Ivor Francis, wearing a beautiful brocade smoking gown. It was really a privledge to hear his version of events surrounding Sid Nolan's Glenrowan series of paintings and how they began, as well as many other facets of his life.

Anyway, I digress...cannot help once I start about this subject...The show is going to be great to see, still life is often overlooked and I hope this show will put the genre into perspective and thus its place in contemporary art as a subject matter.
Lots of dealers, artists and friends are going to be there, so will post some piccies of the opening when I return.

Work in Progress #4

2007-05-18T22:12:00.000+09:30

Here is the next stage of the painting...haven't quite finished fiddling with the smaller fish yet because had to stop working on it today and get on with other things. The next stage after finishing the fish will be to unify the background with a glaze and then put additonal glazes on top of that to signify that the fish and rocks are under water. So probably one more post and its done....Has to be finished next week so its all going to plan.

Work in Progress #3

2007-05-11T00:17:00.000+09:30

I've been having great fun throwing, splattering thick paint to build up the surface of the background of the painting to describe the sandy terrain. I have to let it dry and work over with some glazes, next step is to work the fish back as had to wipe them down from the paint splatter. This is because I didn't want them to be all bumpy from paint drips and not smooth and oily in appearance. Its always scary when you work through a painting, sometimes the stages look really ugly before you pull it together...but I know where I'm going and it all make sense in the end.

Stage #2 Work in Progress

2007-05-05T01:55:00.000+09:30

Its been a very busy week, I got some new paint, Vasari in from the States and have just been itching to get back to this painting and try them out. I really recommend them, great texture, good pigment saturation, they may well be replacing a few more of my Old Holland Paints than I thought.

Here is stage two of my Koi fish painting and now its the weekend I will be able to work on getting to stage three!

Work in Progress

2007-04-30T00:26:00.000+09:30

I started this new work over the weekend and am going to post up a series of photographs in chronological sequence as I work through the painting to its finish.

The camera does this strange thing of looking through the paint when its thin, so there are some not quite right things happening in the photo, like it looks more transparent than it is...anyway you get the idea...

I've been wanting to paint fish for awhile now as I've had some weird experiences of fish watching me at the beach, in shallow ponds in Hawaii and other places and in the last couple of years I've been keeping fish for the first time in my life. I've always been a bird and dog person but now its fish too. I just love the little guys.

Latest Astro

2007-04-24T16:01:00.000+09:30

I've had this painting in my studio not quite finished for a few months now and I don't like to leave things undone, so I stopped working on it last night and called it done...

I wanted the painting to be eerie and to create a small sense of unease, eventhough the image is of a cute little plastic Astro Girl.

Cape Byron Lighthouse

2007-04-18T00:25:00.000+09:30

I've been looking through some of the shots I took on the holiday, (its hard to share a camera between two snap happy artists but we sort of manage). I have a thing about taking pictures of lighthouses, the are always in such beautiful places, always a hike to get to and Cape Byron was certainly a hike well worth taking. So, here are three hand held pix in sequence as the light faded on the day...

Who's Who of Australian Women 2007

2007-04-16T00:31:00.000+09:30

Got a letter in the post informing me that I've been listed in the 2007 publication of Who's Who of Australian Women ...They say its among 6000 others, am glad to be included for my varied endeavours. The book will be released on 27th April if you are passing a Library or bookstore....

Cowwarr Art Space Show

2007-04-14T16:24:00.000+09:30

There I was thinking I was going to not have a solo show this year..I did say that didn't I?????

I've had a few casual conversations with a gallery that have ended in mutual must have a show one day and in fact the last conversation was regarding sometime in 2007...So a couple of days ago I got a call from the lovely director of Cowwarr, Carolyn Crossley, who said well, when are we doing the show? After a bit of to and frowing we've agreed to October/Novemeber this year. So, I'm going to be painting a few new large works and include a couple of paintings that I have in stock..

Am looking forward to it, the Gippsland is a great area, its one of the hearts of Australian Farming and has gone through a lot, 10 years+ drought, devastating bushfires this Summer, I don't know how they keep going.

Holidays

2007-04-07T17:23:00.000+09:30

I've just got back from Byron Bay after first visiting the new GOMA in Brisbane...what a great purpose built space for contemporary art. The Anish Kapoor works were great to experience...the gallery guard was very protective in letting people in to see it which I found pretty frustrating. The 5th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art meanwhile, took up most of the room in GOMA and some in Queensland Art Gallery, the room of Jackie Chan film excerpts on a loop were just a hoot, I loved it! BUT best of all was one of my favourite artists, a whole row of Ah Xian's ceramics...they are remarkable and inspiring works. After all of that, went off to check out the commerical galleries, Jan Murphy, Philip Bacon, that Libby person's gallery, and met the very nice Bruce Heiser. Bacon's gallery has changed a little since I was last there, more the American model of lots of gallery assistants, mostly stuck looking at their computer screens wondering when I would leave the room! The girls at reception were really nice and the show by Robert Brownhall had sold out, there was a couple of really nice works in the show, the colour and light glowing from the paintings were very inviting.

The next few days I spent on the NSW Australian coast... I just loved Byron Bay and Bangalow, it was so warm and everything is so big up there! Big Spiders...biggest huntsmen spider I've ever seen...there were lizards everywhere...BIG lizards..loved them and wanted to bring one home with me...Mount Warning and environs are just stunning...Went out to the Tweed River Art Gallery and just was so impressed by the place, we don't have anything like this in South Australia, much to my dismay. Why don't we have two regional galleries apart from Ridoch at Mt Gambier...say, one in the Barossa and one in the Fleurieu region? The Tweed gallery has a lot of works on paper and some really good paintings in its collection.

I was also there to meet visiting New York artist David Kassan, who was giving a life painting workshop to some local artists. Went in to watch him give three 20 minute demo's from the life model which was great to see both the technique he used and the confidence with which he painted for such a young artist.