Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Garie Beach

Garie Beach , Royal National Park
Watercolour & Pen 7 x 5 Inches (18 x 12.5 cm)

Off to Europe next year & have been been trying different mediums with a view to having an easily transportable kit to sketch with. My preferred medium is oil paints but they are difficult and bulky to carry, & one has to transport turps around. Acrylics are good and resolve the "turps" problem but they are quite bulky too and dry too quick for my liking. Been trying watercolours and quite like the transparency and light that comes from them and they can pack into a very small kit.

This is Garie beach in the Royal National Park, Sutherland in Sydney. Had a great day earlier with a body board and then retrieved my breath with a couple of watercolours. I like how figures are starting to appear in my paintings. I like the shapes that the groups of figures make, particularly that line that goes out into the surf.

I wrote an earlier post about the Art trail in the Royal National Park at Bundeena here


This painting is now sold click here to contact





Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Leonard Cohen in Sydney - Oil version


Leonard Cohen in Sydney
Oil on canvas - 10 x 8 inches
Oil painting based on the watercolour sketch done at the concert. Click here to see that post

This painting is available from my website , click to see a larger image. at my website www.marshstudio.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sketching a Spring Frost by Elioth Gruner - Art Gallery of NSW

Sketching a Spring Frost

Oil on Paper -by Barbara Gray
5.25 x 5 Inches (13.5 x 12.5cm)


The painting is the second work in a triptych which comprises 3 paintings of people reacting with the paintings in the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney. An artist sketches the painting entitled "Spring Frost" by Elliot Gruner.

The triptych features 2 paintings by Fred Marsh and this one by Barbara Gray, & will be available from marshstudio.com soon

The first painting "Couple in Blue" featured Fred Williams painting "My Garden" & is at this previous post


click here to contact me

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Couple in Blue at Art Gallery of NSW

Couple in Blue
Oil on Paper
6.5 x 5 Inches (16.5 x 12.5cm)

This painting is part of a triptych which comprises 3 paintings of people reacting with the paintings in the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney. This painting features one of my favourites by Fred Williams entitled "My Garden".
The triptych will feature 2 paintings by me and one by Barbara Gray, & will be available from my website in the coming weeks click here to contact me .

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Bundeena Art Trail

Over the last decade the beautiful beachside village of Bundeena has gathered a sizeable artist colony, and on the first sunday of each month it holds an art trail. Studios are opened and the public can wander in and chat to the artists whilst viewing their work.

Earlier this month took a trip through the Royal National Park to Bundeena and spent the day following the art trail. I enjoyed the diverse range of artists & styles. In addition to representational & abstract painters there are sculptors, printmakers, etc. One is made to feel very welcome and the artists were very free with their time to answer visitors questions.
I particularly enjoyed the work of & chat with Doris Kaminski and Robert Wilson and then off to the studio of the noted portrait & figure painter Jia Wei Shen who was away in China. The scale of some of the works in progress are amazing and the study of the portrait he is doing of ex PM John Howard was on the easel. He would be a very interesting chap to talk to, but that will have to wait until next time.

As the sun was going down it turned on a bit of a light show, my friend Barbara & I couldn't resist spending some time on the beach capturing the dusky scene. As the sun went down the wind came up and it suddenly became very cold, so it was time to adjourn to the RSL club for a warming scotch before a moonlit walk to the beach at Jibbon.

Bundeena from Gunyah Beach at Dusk
Acrylic on Paper 7 x 5 inches (18 x 12cm)

This small painting is for sale click here to contact me

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Engrossed at the QVB


Ink on Watercolour paper
8 by 5 inches.


This guy was engrossed in his book, and didn't budge from it all the time I was watching at the QVB (Queen Victoria Building, Sydney). However, I suppose that is common when reading a good book, one tends to meld into a meditative like state and time has no relevance.

Also have a look at my paintings at my website http://www.marshstudio.com/or click here to contact me .

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Leonard Cohen In Sydney (Part 2 Javier Mas)



Watercolour and watercolour pencil
8 x 5 inches on paper
A watercolour / drawing of Javier Mas added to the previous post on Leonad Cohen. Javier is the brilliant player of the 12 string guitar, bandurria and other string instruments during Leonard Cohens marvellous concert series.






Friday, February 13, 2009

Leonard Cohen in Sydney

Watercolour and watercolour pencil
8 x 5 inches on paper
NEW - An Oil painting from this watercolour sketch appears at this post

Leonard Cohen visited Sydney after a 40 year absence. His songs & wonderful lyrics helped me get through a traumatic period a few years ago & it was like going to see an old friend.

The Sydney and Centennial Vineyards Bowral shows were both absolute sensations lasting for over 3 hours of non stop classics. Leonard's voice at age 74 has developed into pure deep chocolate. His 6 piece band and 3 singers were so tight and accomplished with all able to play multi instruments, receiving ovation after ovation from delighted audiences.

Watercolour and watercolour pencil
8 x 5 inches on paper

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men but for me you would make an exception..
And clenching your fist for the ones like us who are oppressed by the figures of beauty, you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind, we are ugly but we have the music."

-Excerpt from Chelsea Hotel No. 2

Watch "Gypsy Wife" from the Sydney Concert