Charcoal on cartridge paper, 15 x 22, from TAFE oil class.

The lamp at left had a very solid base, which only has an outline in the sketch.

The teacher was a skilled commercial artist.

A major point he made was that oils do not need to be applied thick and opaque.  Very good effects and fine detail can require thin oil mixtures.  James Whistler is a good example.

Acrylic on cartridge paper, 11 x 14″

A study from very early acrylic days, I was seeking metallic effects of the kettle.

Pencil on cartridge paper

Pencil on cartridge paper

People sitting on the lawn areas along North Terrace at lunch time.

Pencil on cartridge paper

A collection of sketches from various books.

1 – My daughter with her guitar;

2, 3 – People on seats in city streets;

4 – A guy giving the lecture at bible study.

Pencil on paper 11 x 8″

During those years before retirement when I wasn’t painting, I still had time for an occasional sketch like this.

Acrylic on cartridge paper 9 x 12

I’ve often been told it is very good practice to do a quick sketch, in pencil or colour, of your painting before you begin on canvas, and I often did that for my early paintings.

I find these quick sketches often have a liveliness and sparkle that is lost in the carefully larger canvas.

Pencil on cartridge paper

It was helpful to do this sketch in pencil before beginning the painting, as I changed the position of shapes in pencil several times.

Acrylic on paper, 9 x 12

I tried making a Pochade box suitable for acrylics, and I did this painting to test the box, but I found it was too difficult to use.

While in the Bird Hide, a family with children came in, and I was quite moved by their concern to not disturb me, and their quiet admiration, as the children were in awe of what I was doing.

It struck me that it is very important how we react to people while we are painting.  Even if we are frustrated with interruptions and other difficulties, when people see our attempts to record the beauty of this world as a great endeavour, we need to respond with gratitude and grace to that insight.

And regardless of the fraud, ugliness, and immorality of much of the modern art world, I think this is still a great endeavour.

Acrylic on paper

This was the best of four sketches I did while camping in Brachina Gorge.  The difficulties of acrylic painting outdoors in Australian weather proved too much, and at the end of that week I decided to swap to oils.

But I still enjoyed that week.  The painting does not capture the refreshing serenity of that area.