I spent at least 7 hours on this yesterday still working at 10 in the evening when it was cool. This is a very long way from where I want it to be and before it reaches that distant place I can see a few more long and heavies coming up. As the saying goes,…
I’ve started a new painting called Hotham Park Dreaming. I thought it would be interesting to try seeing artistically from another culture’s way of viewing things. I am an admirer of Aboriginal art the idea came to me to paint Hotham in Aboriginal style. I have borrowed some of their symbols and will attempt to…
Yesterday I spent most of the day in the park; sketching class in the morning and walk about and photos in the afternoon. We sketched in this lovely cool green place away from the heat.
My second post today and I promise not to rant! After my long painstaking session on the snow scene this morning I felt I needed to launch out into something freer. This is the first stage the summer version of my trio of Elderberry tree paintings.
There comes a time with a painting that one really wishes it was finished but there stretches ahead a tundra of sheer plod which goes on until the end is finally reached. I think that is why I have restrain myself from hitting the well-meaning person who says, “It’s so relaxing, it must be nice…
Earlier in the year I posted a photo of a huge black poplar tree, very tall and with a great mop of fine branches at the top which made it vulnerable during gales. Its sister tree was felled in last autumn’s storms and when I went to the park last week I saw the tree had…
Spent 4-5 hours working on the second stage of this today. Alkyd paints dry overnight making it possible to continue the following day. I use them in the summer when I can open the windows in my studio. In warm weather acrylics dry too quickly leaving no working time. There is still a lot to…
Today I began work on this snow scene. True its midsummer but as there was no snow in winter I decided to use a bit of that artists licence and make some up. I had drawn this tree earlier in the year and whilst taking a look at photos of the park in winter I…
Today I held the second on my series of sketching classes in Hotham Park with two ladies in attendance. Its a lovely way to spend a couple of hours when with the weather like it has been today. Arun parks have done a poster for me so maybe I will get a few more next time.
After two weeks away I’m back to work in earnest as my September exhibition is approaching at alarming speed. First day back was a mountain of washing, gardening, wouldn’t it be great if we could turn the plants off like the fridge and get them to start again when we get back, as well as…
ritasspot, a blog about Hotham Park by it's Artist in Residence 