Brrrr it's cold outside

Winter in Adelaide.....
It may be cold outside but when you look at what the conditions could be like (Northern Hemisphere winters for instance) we really can't complain.
I'm one quarter of a joint exhibition "New Beginnings" opening this Friday evening at Pepper St Art Centre on Magill Rd. May I extend a warm invitation for everyone to attend. I will have oils, watercolours and sculptures on show. (The watercolours below are either for competition, exhibition or class work demos. These paintings are new and will not be among those on display.)

Before the resurrection, Christchurch February 2011 - Watercolour on Fabriano 300gsm
Approx 35cm x 45cm

 Cat Study - Watercolour on Fabriano 300gsm approx 30cm x 30cm

Pygmy Possum - watercolour on Arches 300 rough
Approx 15cm x 20cm

Lois - portrait sketch - watercolour on Arches 300
approx 15cm x 22cm

Last Class of 2010

After a gruelling 7 weeks members of the last class of 2010 can still manage a smile.
You all made tremendous progress and I trust everyone enjoyed the process despite
my constant interference.
L to R : Yours truly, Grantley, Tahira, Alan, Sandra, Don, Deirdre, Calandra.

Young Boy in Shadow

Young Boy in Shadow - oil on canvas - 40cm x 30cm

Another version of an earlier post. This time it was started in the new course today and finished at home. I've left the image larger than usual to give you more detail. The conditions under which I took the pic were not ideal but I felt it was more important to post it than to fuss with it. I prefer to start class participants with a profile painting as I believe it eases everyone into the painting process more gently.
Also, the background is totally neutral and the focus is on the child.

Class of 2010

These are some of the members of the last class in front of the romantic little studio chalet where we shared the premises with some less than welcome wildlife in the last two weeks.
From left to right we have John B, Ken, Colleen, Dierdre, Val(our long suffering model), Irene, Colin, John D. and you know who. Absent from the pic are Chris and Bernadette.
I must say that I really enjoyed having everyone there and that I learn a lot when taking these classes. It's all I can do to keep up with everyone. Thanks guys.





Young Lady 1 - oil on board - 20.5cm x 28cm

Painting young people is always a challenge - their smooth skin and lack of wrinkles is really annoying.
and then there's the problem of jewellery - but what fun as well.
Just for a change I decided to put some thick gesso on a masonite board - quite roughly applied using a small trowel - and painted directly on that without primer. I'll varnish it when it dries just to return some lustre to it.

.... no more teacher's dirty looks.....

Pictured (clockwise from bottom right); yours truly, Carmel, Marillyn, Chris P., Harvey, Richard, John, Maureen, Don, (AWOL Chris B.)(Just kidding about the AWOL)

This group helped me pass my Fridays at warp speed over the last seven weeks - it's been a pleasure - thankyou one and all.

(For anyone interested, the next course is a Sunday course starting Jan17 at 10am to 1pm and going on for the following six weeks after that. IT'S FULL.)

Despite what I said about taking a break I look like doing another Friday course starting around 23 April 2010 so if you're interested drop me a line. Just click here.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy new year.

John Burns

John Burns - oil on canvas - 40cm x 30cm

John was a member of my last portrait class at Port Adelaide and I thank him for agreeing to sit for the current class.
This little work was started during the first lesson as a demo and completed today after another hour of work.

The current class is well under way and a further class is planned for seven weeks from mid January to end of February 2010. (Places are limited and I have six names already.)
This will be a Sunday morning class for those who find difficulty in attending during the week. After this class I will be taking some time to attend to other matters, so if you wish to do a course next year it may be wise to get in early. You can contact me through the link on my website at right.

End of days

The last day of the course –

standing left to right -Marilou, Marillyn, Mignon, Heather, Colleen, Jan, John B, Glenda

seated – yours truly, Meg, Harry and John D.

with just a sample of their works –

Well done guys, it was a real pleasure. Please stay in touch.

Class photos

These photos are from today's session - it looks so bright and airy you wouldn't believe the gale that was blowing outside. Everyone is busy working or showing off their efforts with our model enjoying himself in good company.

Portrit Course at Port Adelaide

Members of my portrait course currently on at Port Adelaide busily engaged upon achieving a likeness of Harry.
This is the second of six sessions and some of the class members are well advanced on achieving a likeness.
Today's lesson also involved painting from the live model - a real challenge to get familiar with a broad brush, a limited palette and an even more restictive timeframe. Everyone rose to the challenge and I hope had some fun along the way. (More pics next week)