First Light MacDonnell Ranges - Finalist St George Art Award

Continuing on from my previous post about my trip to Central Australia a few of us rose early one morning to catch the sunrise at a hill behind our camp at Ross River.

The light was something very special and as the sun peeped over the Macdonnell Ranges it sent out its first rays illuminating the river into a sparkling sliver of light.  So when I arrived back home, it was one of the memories that had to be painted.

24 x 24 inches (61 x 61cm)
Oil on Canvas

The 2012 St George Art Award is a national prize which has the theme of "New Beginnings". My painting capturing the start of a unique new day fitted well with this criteria. Fortunately it has been chosen as a finalist for the prize.

The prize will be announced on Friday 19 October 2012, and the exhibition will commence on Saturday 20 October - Sunday 16 December 2012 at:-
Hurstville Museum and Gallery
14 MacMahon Street
Hurstville  (Tues - Sat  10am to 4pm, Sunday 2-5 pm)


I have just released some new paintings, inckuding these shown below.

 

 These paintings and the other new ones can now be seen at my website http://www.marshstudio.com./newpaintings.html

click here to contact me 

Central Australia - East MacDonnell Ranges

Just back from a trip to the Red Centre of Australia. The first week was spent with a group of painters, photographers, etc. about 80kms east of Alice Springs around Ross River. We stayed in cabins in sub zero nights. It was the first time that I have experienced frozen pipes since I was a boy in Scotland. 

We had our meals from a mobile camp kitchen around a very welcome campfire, with a trip by 4WD bus to a different area each day.  It was a great experience being in the midst of the the unique palette of the outback. 



The Road to Ross River, East MacDonnell Ranges,

Acrylic and Watercolour

16 x 6 inches (40 x 15 cms) on 300gsm watercolour paper

 

Acrylic & watercolour paint were more convenient to use on this trip, & the paintings were painted plein air (on site).

 

One of the highlights was the brightness & density of the stars, particularly the Southern Cross and the Milky Way. Everyone tells you how amazing the skies are at night in the outback, but you can't appreciate the extent until you see it. Whilst the Southern Cross is visible in Sydney, the milky way can't be seen by eye.

The Great Walls of China, East MacDonnell Ranges,

Acrylic and Watercolour

16 x 6 inches (40 x 15 cms) on 300gsm watercolour paper

 

More to come in part 2.

If you are interested in a painting click here to contact me 

Sketches from Clarke Point, Woolwich, Sydney

Back rummaging  around Sydney. Whilst it is the midst of summer it has been very wet and cool here (wettest and coolest since the 1950s).One of the joys of sketching is that it makes you get out, and I am discovering all these places that I have never been to before. I have become a tourist in my own city. Today went to Clarke Point at Woolwich which has expansive views of the harbour, and a killer one of the bridge in the distance. 

The area also has a great pub nearby for lunch, ( Woolwich Pier Hotel) which has great views from the upper balcony.

Sydney Harbour Bridge from Clarke Point
Watercolour, Gouache, Ink on watercolour Paper
12 x 23 cm  ( 9 x 4.5 inches)

I think that the view above will make a good subject for a large oil.

Cockatoo Island from Woolwich
Watercolour, Gouache, Ink on watercolour Paper
13 x 20 cm ( 8 x 5 inches)

A few years ago sketched of Cockatoo Island from Elkington Park on the southern side of the harbour - click to see it here

There are a couple of new small oil paintings on my other blog "Painting Light"

Lavender Bay on New Years Day

Mount Ventoux, Provence France

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If you are interested in a painting click here to contact me

Painting Light - A New Blog featuring my Small Oils

Hope you all had a great Christmas and wishing you a very happy & prosperous New Year.

I have started a new blog "Painting Light" which will feature my new small oil paintings, released as they are completed.  Two paintings that will appear on this new blog over the next week appear below. Both are oil paintings and priced at $99.

Three Cherries on a Shelf

Vines near Mount Ventoux, Provence, France

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This blog "A painted Journey" will continue to feature drawings and travel sketches.

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Sydney to Great Ocean Road - Part 3 from Apollo Bay

Cape Otway - looking east from the lighthouse.

Koalas - Cape Otway

I have lived in Australia for over 40 years and whilst I am mainly a city boy I have  never seen a Koala in the wild - until now. Every tree driving back from the Cape Otway Lighthouse had a Koala in it, and some with a joey (baby)  like this one. Quite amazing.

Gibsons Steps
Oil on Canvas 6.5 x 5 inches ( 12 x 7 cm)

For Sale $110 plus $18 shipping / insurance

A kilometre or so before the 12 Apostles rock formation, where one is not allowed on the beach. Climbed down some very steep steps to get to the beach. It was so very peaceful painting on the beach with only the sond of the surf. 
UNTIL!!!! 
   a flotilla of buses disgorged a hundred or so tourists and they all clambered down and made so much noise. After about 10 minutes they all disappeared back up and it was peaceful again I guess they had their 10 mintes and were off for 10 minutes somewhere along the road.

12 Apostles, Port Campbell, Great Ocean Road
Watercolour, Goauche, pen and pencil on paper

For Sale $95 plus $15 shipping / insurance

Loch Ard Gorge

Named after the ship that floundered here in 1878 after a 3 month voyage from England to Melbourne/ Only two of the 53 passengers survived, having been washed ashore here.

London Arch , Great Ocean Road, Victoria

The inner arch collaped in 1990 and two tourists were stranded on the outer part of what was then known as "London Bridge"  Fortunately there were no injuries and the tourists were rescued by helicopter.

If you are interested in a painting click here to contact me 

Sydney to Great Ocean Road - Part 2 On the Road

Brunswick Street, Fitroy, Melbourne
Goauche on Black Paper

Leaving Melbourne we stayed overnight at Torquay and next morning headed out through Barwon Heads.

Barwon Heads, Victoria
Watercolour, Ink and Goauche (7.75 x 5 inches or  20 x 13 cm)

This painting is available for sale  $95 plus $15 postage.




Barwon Heads is well known in Australia as it was the main filming site for the popular TV series Sea Change, and more recently where Cadel Evans (the 2011 Tour de France winner) has a home.

A Lorne morning from the balcony of the Grand Pacific Hotel

Spent the second night at the Grand Pacific Hotel. 140 years old & it is a gem from the past with great atmosphere, super upper viewing balconies and big rooms with high ceilings. It just oozes character from a bygone age.

Apollo Bay
Watercolour, Goauche, pen Pencil on watercolour paper
5.83 × 8.27 inches or 14.8  x 21 cm

As we were leaving Apollo Bay I saw this house on the edge of the bay. It reminded me of the style of the american painter Edward Hopper. Couldn't resist the cypress tree. Dont see many in Sydney but seem common around Melbourne, and in the paintings of Rick Amor.

This painting is available for sale  $95 plus $15 postage

Apollo Bay from the hinterland

Next  - Otway and 12 Apostles

If you are interested in purchasing paintings from this blog click here to contact me          

Sydney to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road - Part 1 Melbourne

The Plan
Travelling from Sydney to Melbourne, along the Great Ocean Road then up to Adelaide, to the Grampians then back to Sydney. About 5000 kms

 A rare platypus sighted from the bridge over the river right in the middle of Benala.

View from the lane near our apartment of the  Exhibiton Building Melbourne
Watercolour and coloured pencil sketch

As we were coming home from dinner we heard this loud music. as the night was still young we followed our ears and found an outdoor skating rink outside the exhibition building. Interesting find in September in Australia. We purchased some crepes from a couple from Brittany and watched the fun. Thought about hiring some skates, but it was way too early in the trip, for  broken ankle, so I chickened out.

We stayed just off Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. it is very quirky area with lots of interesting speciality shops uniquly decorated. Check the one below with a giant flower attracting bees.

One of the reasons we stopped in Melbourne was to see the Klimt and Schiele paintings at the National Gallery of Victoria.


Next The Great Ocean Road