Some Works In Charcoal On Paper

Two statues in Adelaide Art Gallery

Charcoal Works on Paper

I've been using a bit of the various types of charcoal of late. Pencil, compressed stick and the basic sticks (not sure of actual name for these!)Working onto paper and often doing quick sketches of people I spend time with. On one occasion I attended a lecture during Adelaide Festival of Ideas and sketched the speaker and facillitator. All good practice in speed work.

This is my wife Karen, reading in my studio. Messed up the nose a bit but it is only a preliminary work to a possible oil painting.

Australia's glorious PM (Julia) and the Leader of the Opposition (Tony)

Two views of the same guy but the first a much quicker work.

Art Course - Week 5/ Week 5.5

Worked at the college and then a bit at home before this pic was taken. At home mainly worked on the eyes as I wasnt happy with the way the lecturer had adjusted them...made the model look like Marty Feldman! Added a terre vert glaze to background to emphasise portrait. Last week coming up.

Art Course - Week 4.5

Did some work on my own at home to shorten nose, move the ear, change mouth and alter scarf and top. Much happier with it now.

Art Course - week 4

Continuing problems with back pain so I took so painkillers prior to the class. Made me a bit er, unfocused. Didn't really enjoy this class today as I felt left way behind by others skill. Perhaps I'd have been better waiting for my new glasses as I had my eyes tested and they have deteriorated slightly. So old!!

Art Course - week 3

Just to get my excuses in early... I've had probs with my lower back of late as the discs are all worn out. So standing for three hours doing this course has been a killer. After two and half hours I had trouble focusing so the lips that I were attempting look a bit, er, guppy-like! Still, the background is nice.

More next week

Art Course - week 2

Working on the skin tones, more facial detail and adding basic scarf details.

Art Course

Somewhat belatedly (considering I've been selling stuff for a couple of years) I have decided to take an art course. This is a short course as I cannot afford to study full time. However, the college is well respected and offers degrees in Visual Art and it is the same tutors who take the short courses. It's the Adelaide Central School of Art , Norwood. I'm taking a basic portrait course and this is the progress after the first session.

The canvas has been primed with grey, a few thumbnail sketches done from the model, the best chosen and sketched onto the canvas and a basic underpainting done to show a few areas and levels of shade.

What I have learnt already is that I try to put too much detail in at once i.e. putting in eyes and lips in detail right from the get go whereas only a few shadows are needed.

600mm x 400mm, Oil on canvas

Latest Works

Once again I've been slack in putting work on this site. Bill, a "friend of the site" reminded me of this and so here are two pieces.

One is as complete as its likely to be. This is of Garry McDonald in the persona of his creation Norman Gunston. For those of you unfamiliar with 70's and 80's Australian humour Gunston was a kind of forerunner to Ali G. That is a character developed by an actor to enable both extremely dim and/or wonderfully naive and insightful questions to be asked of various celebs or politicians. The outrageous "combover", the blobs of toilet paper covering shaving nicks, the pallid skin, the cheesy grin and the frantic panicked look in his eye all became trademarks.

My favourite line comes as a response to an American celeb - already "corpsing" hysterically at his nervous demeanour - who suggests that he use an electric razor from now on. Straight faced and quick as a flash he replies, "I do". End of any chance of a serious interview as she dissolves into uncontrollable laughter.

McDonald has been open about his struggles with his mental health and so this portrait joins others in a short series of favourites of mine who achieved great things whilst living with a mental health issue.

Oil on canvas, 1000mm x 750mm.

The Joker "Finished"

I say finished but I find I have to make a real effort to leave a work alone and finalise it. I keep going back for "tweaks"! However, I am pleased with this one...and must move on.

Work In Progress

Just because its showing tonight (again) on Channel 9. Many of the lightest parts are actually black/very dark blue but the paint is still wet so it's all shiney here. Hands and eyes aren't finished neither.

Finished Portrait of Spike Milligan

Completed hat, background and shirt yesterday. This was one of the quickest I've ever done and I'm pleased with it. I stole the background style from Rob Hannaford, the pic from a biography of Spike and doubtless much else from others.

Spike

Work in progress

Something Old , Something New

Here's a new painting of an old favourite subject. I havent been painting for six months but feel more motivated again. I've gone about as far as I can with this one but I've learnt a lot by doing this. Not perfect by any means but fun to do. How do you make Ringo look "not wierd"?

Oil On MDF Board, 900 x 600 x 3mm.