Work In Progress

I have decided that I quite like doing meaningful abstract type works, so I have started one titled "Slum child".  The inspiration came from a photo of a slum in Mumbai, and I have worked at developing the colour, as the original was extremely cluttered and dark.  Am still working on this one, but think it is developing quite well.



Slum child



Every Aussie has to try painting a Gum Tree

It seemed to me that every Aussie should be able to paint a gum tree.  So after practicing on one, I sat down and did this humungous picture to see if I could.  I have now decided that I don't enjoy painting gum trees - very boring!!  Didn't particularly enjoy doing the landscape either.

The picture is called Snappy Gum, and I took it from a National Geographic picture, edited by me.



Snappy Gum



Something different

Today I needed to do something simple, and I thought I needed to learn how to draw spectacles.  So I did this simple little painting.

My kind of Peace

The Inevitable Flowers in a Vase

Flowers in a Vase

So, I thought it was time to learn how to use a palette knife, and with the assistance of friend Em, was able to manipulate the knife enough to have a go at some flowers.  So here is the inevitable flowers in a vase.  I don't think the camera has actually done justice to the colours unfortunately.  This is a mixed media painting, with collage.

















For Prue



Then I decided I needed to do a pastel version also in mixed media, so here it is.  This one is titled "For Prue" as it includes as collage a small exerpt from a newspaper article written by my friend Prue about gardening.  Prue is the local "Gardening Guru" so I thought it was appropriate to include her article in my painting.  I have included the detail as a small inset photo below.



Inset Detail



My first canvasses



Ghost gums - bushfire - city



So then I tried working on canvasses.  They had a sale at the local thrift shop, and so I bought a few to try out.  Both are my own, with some inspiration from other sources!!

The caption on this painting is fairly self explanatory.  It is a mixed media, in acrylic and collage.












I have been asked to explain the second painting below of the Tanzanian fish market a little.  This painting in acrylics  originates from an article in National Geographic, which explored the exploitation of Africa's resources.  Only the carcasses of Nile Perch are affordable sources of protein for some Tanzanians living around Lake Victoria.  Perch fillets are stripped and shipped to mainly Europe.  I have painted the auction of a fish carcass, concentrating on the woman in the foreground who appears totally focussed on buying the fish. 



Fish Market - Tanzania



Some of my first paintings

Study in Green

So here are some of my very first paintings, thanks to some videos on the net, and plenty of advice from friends. I am using acrylics, because that is what my daughter Carly left in the drawer when she left home.

These are pretty simple ones, but had to work out perspective.  Have never drawn before.

Penguins - South Georgia

Ready, set, go!

Well, this is my very first ever effort at painting, and I thought it would be good to share it with you.  Hopefully my work will get better with time, and I can look back and see the improvement!!!  Will keep you posted.