Settler's Arms Inn, St Albans

Nestled in a valley between large mountains sits an old Inn, a popular destination for day trips from Sydney. I was there last Sunday, and I painted "en plein air" from the beer garden.

Watercolour 32 x 40cm (approx)

Boat Studio

It's taken almost a lifetime, but we have finally bought a small boat. Which I am using as a floating easel. Here I am painting the Gladesville Bridge. I have used big brushes for the main areas. This little brush is just the finishing accents in white.

(above) Finished painting: I try not to touch it again, so that it retains the freshness of the "Plein Air"...

And of course, it is always an inaccurate rendering of the real thing! In hindsight, and with the benefit of photography, I can see that I have exaggerated the bridge. Ha, obviously it seemed more important to me! But I don't mind being 'wrong', as that shows a personal interpretation of the scene. 

Same beach, same scene

This alcove was just made for me! It is a viewing platform on the road beside Bondi Beach. I spread out a plastic sheet and start painting the surf.  Perfect!

But at the moment my dilemma is how to frame or mount the large paintings. They are on watercolour paper (185gsm) which is tough, but needs a heavy perspex frame.

I am going to try mounting the paper onto canvas using lots of wet bondcrete.

Fingers crossed!

Bondi Beach under the Sun

Bob and I visited Bondi yesterday for some fresh-air painting, but I only managed a sketch. It was hot, busy, and I did not have any swimmers with me!

So I did a sketch, painted it up last night with watercolour, and will go back later today on my own. One thing: the colours really were this bright. I took lots of photos with the 'good' Canon, just in case the weather turned and I was unable to return. It takes about 30 minutes to get through the traffic from home to the beach. 

On a related topic, I have to go to the skin-cancer-clinic for a check-up today.  Aussies are supposed to have very high skin-cancer victims. Our fair skin under 6 months of burning sun rays.

Watercolour on paper
38cm x 37cm 

Ebb Tide

Watercolour 42 x 59cm

Mangroves have inner beauty. Old and spindly, they cope with everything

the river throws up.. so to speak.

Turning Tide

This is a possible new direction for me: It is watercolour, but is also an unusual composition.

It was the pale light shining through the pale trunks that attracted me. I photographed it just after a king tide, where the water had flooded over the path. Please leave a comment if you like... :)

42 cm x 60 cm

Watercolor on paper

The Hidden Beach

I was exploring my favourite park for some painting inspiration, and I discovered a sandy beach section, with moss covered rocks, and sea shells! This is the Parramatta river, about 13 km in from the sea. I was taking lots of shots, and a big cloud appeared from the west.
I used one of these pics for a demonstration painting at The Castle Hill Art Society last night, and this is my result.
Acrylic on paper about 60 cm x 100 cm.

River Life

This is a view from Putney Park. (warming up for a demo on Wed. night.)
River Life. 
Acrylic on paper 58 x 78cm

Huge Fig Tree

This tree was very big, and very old. 

It lives in a park near my house in Putney.

I have not noticed it before, but I will make up for

 that oversight with a lot of attention in the future!

40cm x 60cm

Acrylic on paper

Summer Hues at the Point

My house is near a river, which is actually the western edge of Sydney Harbour. We have many parks along its edge, and lately I have joined with a few other artists to paint in these parks in the hot sunshine! Today was perfect weather, with a cool breeze. This work is on canvas, but not stretched. My Facebook page shows an "in situ" photograph. It will be shown in my next exhibition on May 1.

Sydney, Australia

Acrylic on canvas

80 x 97cm

Summer Rain

I painted "Summer Rain" for a demonstration at my local art society.

It is acrylic on paper, and executed like a watercolour.

I wanted to represent a different weather event 

from the normal sunny, bright days.

90 x 55cm (approx)

Sydney Daylight

Charcoal sketch and painting from the Observatory Hill in Sydney. 

Unlike last time (in the bandstand) I was positioned out on the grass, and at times I had whole bus loads of tourists behind me! 

It was quite a challenge to maintain concentration. There were little children up close, so engrossed and watching every stroke. (I use big house brushes.)

But I chatted with lots of people and it was fun: like when you are walking a dog, everyone is much friendlier.

"Sydney Daylight"

55 x 90cm

Acrylic on paper

Charcoal study

44 x 50cm

Available at my next Gallery V show opening May 1

Three Harbour Paintings

Sydney Harbour is so vast, there are lots of nooks and crannies. You could be anywhere! 

In the wild, on an island... or in the middle of a city!