Some Birds

As part of my experiments in the Asian style, I have been practicing painting birds. I have really enjoyed this, and think I will definitely be doing more.   Here are two paintings of cranes - very simple, but fun.

Three Cranes 1

Three Cranes 2

A Touch of Asian

Recently I obtained several books on using the Asian painting style.  I have found the simplicity of colour, and the delicate paintings of the Asian style quite intriguing, and have tried incorporating it into some small studies, which I have included here for interest.  I have been painting flowers, landscapes, grasses, fruits and birds, and have totally enjoyed doing it.  Here are some examples, done in acrylic on canvas. Apologies for the quality, because I took the photos through the glass frames, as I was heading to the market with them.  I have found that they are just the right size to paint for a reasonable price.

 

A Touch Of Paris



Le Consulat - a rainy night



Every now and then I want to paint something real, and in this case I had a lovely photo of Paris at night.  I am a little hesitant at reproducing what is best shown in a photo - I am not a camera.  So I have taken a little liberty with the photo and added my own touches, as well as removed a few.  The Le Consulat restaurant is located in Mont Martre, which is a popular tourist destination in Paris with lots of little back streets and restaurants and cafes.  I have included below a photo of it during the day - pretty dingy I would have to say.

The photo I used for this painting was a very bright and vibrant picture, but I wanted to show dark, wet and lonely.  So with a little manipulation, and use of a very french blue colour throughout, I think I have achieved that.  The dome of Sacre Coeur looms in the background like a ghost hovering in the foggy clouds.


A photo of Le Consulat by day - courtesy of the internet.



"Lost Souls"



Lost Souls 1 of 2



These two paintings are quite different to my normal work.  The title "Lost Souls" reflects my thoughts as I painted these.  In my mind, the blackened gum leaves floating over the red burned landscape, reflect on lost souls and life as a result of the huge bushfires that still loom large in our memories.  For our family, our memories go back to 2003 and the bushfires that severely burned around our home in the Mitta Valley, and destroyed parts of our local community.  The more recent bushfires of 2010 with their huge loss of life also loom large in my mind, and will never be forgotten.

The unspoiled flowers reflect the hope of a new life, the ability of the landscape to regenerate, and for people to adapt to their new circumstances.

Hope you too can understand the depth I felt when painting these two paintings.  It has been very difficult for me to finish them.



Lost Souls 2 of 2