Minnie Waters, Coincidence and Nicholas Harding

Click on Image for a larger version

Oil on Canvas 12 x 10 inches (500x 600mm)

Before a recent painting session with my friend Steve we were discussing coincidences and instances of chance that had happened recently. As a topic for the days painting Steve picked a photo of Minnie Waters that I had taken on a recent trip to the north coast.

The next day we went to the Nicholas Harding exhibition entitled "Drawn to Paint" at the National Trusts SH Ervin Gallery, and coincidentally Minnie Waters makes more appearances in this exhibition.

I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition which covers the last 25 years of Nicholas practice. We see a wide range of subjects encompassing still lifes, beachscapes, portraits and urban scenes executed in his trademark thick oils and wonderful drawings in ink , charcoal etc. His composition skills are exceptional, & the drawings which don't play second fiddle to the paintings are exceptional. In them we see how he breaks through the surface to add new dimensions to the tonal qualities of the surface.

Magnolias - Nicholas Harding

It was interesting to see the evolution of his work from a murkier colour seemingly painted straight from the tube in "strings", to the current energetic light flooded works with large planes of thick luscious colour applied with a large palette knife. Well worth while visiting to see the large painting of the concourse at Central Station alone. More Nicholas Harding paintings at his website here

My painting of Minnie Waters is for sale click here to contact me , or click below to buy it unframed for Aust$295 (approx US $265) plus shipping and insurance (A$20 in Australia or A$40 (approx US35) overseas).

Inc shipping & insurance -Aust $

Within Australia or NZ $315.00 All other countries $335.00

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

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

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

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 .

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

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 .