Opening Sun 18July 2021

Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa  S.A.

Where have I gone? What's been going on?

 Covid 19 has thrown a spanner into the works.

If you wish to keep up with what I've been doing please see my Facebook posts

https://www.facebook.com/gerhard.ritter.94

There you'll find my somewhat regular postings of my work.  

I just don't seem to find enough time to routinely maintain my blog.

But here are some of my recent watercolour paintings.

                                    

Today at ANEAS...

Two more watercolours.(from this mornings's session at the local society)

"The Thinker" WC on paper approx 20cm x 20cm

"Some Gum" - WC on paper approx 30cm x 30cm

My next two scheduled events are :-

Gawler Art Group - Tues 21st April - WC Portrait workshop

Campbelltown Rotary Art Exhibition - Sat 2nd May 12.30pm - 2.30pm Demo -

PS Yesterday's demo went well - thanks to all those in attendance.

FIRST TIME EVER

Come along and watch me paint 
Wednesday 11 March 2020

2019 - a year of promise

Falling in love again..... with watercolour that is.
All you need is a good subject and minimal supplies and some time.
This is what can happen when the stars align... so to speak.
Same subject, three views, three substrates.
All done today, all about A4 in size.
1. watercolour on Arches 300 rough
2. watercolour on medium 300 unknown paper
3. watercolour and charcoal on primed canvas sheet

South Australian Watercolour Society starts again this Saturday.
See SAWS.org.au for details. All welcome.

a short update

A few more watercolours from the sketch book and small scrap pieces of Arches 300lb rough.
BTW the South Australian Watercolour Society has a workshop tomorrow conducted by Haley O'Shea (past President). Check it out on fb ...https://www.facebook.com/SAWSInc?fref=ts 
Everyone is welcome.

Murray Steamer - watercolour on old Arches 300 rough approx 30cm x 28cm

Three letter word for "Domestic companion?" - watercolour in sketch book - approx 15cm x 15cm
(Just working on an idea for a larger piece)

Full head of steam - watercolour on Arches 300 rough
approx 24cm x 19cm

New Class - a Spring in the step

Starting a new class is both energizing, challenging and a little draining... but I love it. Too bad next Monday is a holiday to interrupt the flow of lessons. Still all the members of the Burnside Painters can, I feel confident, handle such a minor disruption with aplomb.
This batch of watercolours are mostly under A4 and some are or will be part of the current course.

(For more details visit facebook)

SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION THIS SATURDAY ONLY

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

Regrette rien

I started painting when I was 53. I taught myself when materials were more expensive and scarcer and internet access to shopping and reference photos were almost non existent.
Many people who come to my classes or who see my work comment on how they used to draw or paint when young but haven't kept up with it, much to their regret. The time to start painting is always NOW. Have no regrets.

Sue - watercolour on 300gsm  about A4

Sue's duck - watercolour on Arches 300gsm rough about 15cm x 8 cm

Flinders Ranges red gum - oil on canvas sheet about A4

Temptation

I can resist anything except temptation... 
that's when it comes to sweets or watercolour materials.
so I've been testing some different paper with a new brush.
I won't go into details but the brush is better than the paper - and so it should be at the price.
The course at Pepper St starts in a fortnight and I can still accept some more participants.

 Hands - study in charcoal and watercolour 

cheap paper A4

Study in charcoal and watercolour - cheap paper A2

Duck - watercolour trial 1/8th sheet (paper new to me)

The BIG EVENT 19th May 2018

The BIG EVENT this Saturday 19th May won't be in London....
It will be right here in Adelaide when the Four Amigos, Mike Barr, Alan Ramachandran, Bill Truslove and I will be performing something never before attempted without a safety net.
At the Campbelltown Rotary Art Show from 12.30pm on we will be painting simultaneously, in our chosen medium, from the same mystery reference subject. Each work will be the same size and all four works will be offered for sale matted and backed ready for framing. The sale price is $200 each and, sorry, we can only accept cash.
We will all be equipped with microphones and will take questions as we go. This novel, not to be missed event is always popular.

Oil Sketch 20cm x 25cm on canvas on board

Tonal watercolour sketch - 20cm x 25cm on unknown paper

Big Red - watercolour on 200gsm sketch book paper - 15cm x 15cm

 "Nation Building - before O H & S" Watercolour on Arches 300 rough - 56cm 76cm

Recent Successes

Silvio Apponyi
My New Facebook Cover Photo - the Port Community Art Centre's last Members' exhibition was "Big is better". My painting of Silvio is among the biggest I've completed - 1600mm x 1200mm or there abouts - oil on canvas. It received top honours from the judge and also attracted the most People's choice votes. I'm honoured. 

BTW at yesterday's opening of the current exhibition at the PCAC my watercolour "Nation Building - before O H & S" 

(image coming soon) received the top prize and my terra cotta sculpture "The Laugh" was awarded a special prize.

A week is a long time in arts....

A week is a long time in arts....
Imagine my surprise when I attended the Watershed Art Prize opening at the John Harvey Gallery in the Salisbury City Council buildings tonight (Friday 27 April) and heard my name announced as the winner of the 1st prize.
My little acrylic "The Night Watch" references the environment and water conservation in the Barker Inlet. 
My sincere thanks to City of Salisbury and the organisers as well as ICE WaRM the major sponsor.

"The Night Watch" acrylic on stretched canvas.

My submission supporting statement:-

The Night Watch – uses humour to highlight the issue of environmental protection. Under the protective umbrella of the Salisbury Council’s Watershed project the Barker Inlet pelicans are able to squabble nightly over the best nesting spots. Their future is being carefully watched over and sensitively managed.

May 2018 Issue 407 Australian Artist Magazine

May 2018 Issue 407 Australian Artist Magazine

I am delighted to report that the current issue of The Australian Artist magazine contains my eight page article detailing how I paint watercolours on brown packing paper.

I hope it will prove enjoyable to readers.

BTW - I'm really looking forward to this weekend's two day workshop at Adelaide Art Society where I intend to pass on some of my acquired techniques and hints. 

Cheers.

Following my success at Tea Tree Gully Lions Art Show .... Fame in my own lunch time

This came in an email this week.... extracted from the Tea Tree Gully version of the weekly Messenger paper.
PS my two elephants taking a bath also won the People's Choice Award. Tops off a wonderful exhibition for me. Thanks Jack Rogers and the Tea Tree Gully Lions.

Back in the swing....

This morning (Fri 23rd Feb) I'm sitting in at the Port Adelaide Community Art Centre from 11 am and doing my watercolour thing. You're most welcome to come along, entry is free and the exhibition "Synthesis" will amaze you. Its work by PCAC members and well worth a visit. Also this weekend the Tea Tree Gully Lions Club exhibition starts at the Tea Tree Gully Library and once again there are many wonderful works on display. This is one of the few competitions that shows hand built ceramics and I have one of my pieces on display as well as an oil portrait and a full sheet watercolour portrait.
To get you in the mood here is a selection from this week's small watercolours - as usual all under A4 size - some on white, one on brown and some from my sketch book. Please enjoy.