After three years of hard work, we had our Grad Show.
Second Life exhibition
In October 1024 I was part of a small group show for NAS third year artists of a certain age. I also designed the poster.
Private art lessons
In August 2024, I was asked to give lessons at a country estate in southern New south Wales. It was over three days and included drawing, colour theory and painting techniques.
Tromp L'oeil lemons
This is the first time I have attempted to paint the illusion of a frame as part of a painting. It is known as tromp l’oeil from the French “deceives the eye”. To add to the illusion, I extended a leaf beyond the frame.
I named it Paint Faster as a reference to a painting lecturer at NAS who, when asked to explain her instructions, she told me to paint faster.
Largest commission ever
Just delivered the largest painting that I have ever done and my largest commission. It only just fitted in my studio.
The archives at the National Art School
I’m enjoying setting up systems and digitising NAS’s impressive collection of artworks.
Wear it purple day at BT
At BT, we are celebrating #wearitpurpleday today to raise awareness on the issues affecting young LGBTQIA+ people. It’s also an opportunity for us to celebrate the diversity of our people at BT and the communities that we serve. #empowertogether
A couple of photos taken by Usama Alnassar.
Marble carving at the Tom Bass Sculpture School
This year I only booked for five days because I just wanted to finish the sculpture of Lucy I started last year. The form is closer to what I was aiming for, with more detail and depth in the eye area. The nose and mouth was reduced and remodelled. The neck and beard were modified a lot too.
Copperplate etching at the National Art School
Two years ago I attended this course, hopefully this time around I was able to improve on my previous efforts.
Elizabeth Bay from Darnley Hall 2017
My first attempt at etching a raven, I have done an oil painting of these amazing birds.
The copper plate.
This work by Chiharu Shinoda was just as good as her work at the Venice Biennale that I visited last year.
The 2016 Sydney Biennale
I meet Emma McNally, the artist of these sensational graphite on paper works.
This year I became a Friend of the Biennale. There are many events for the Friends, this was a guided tour of Cockatoo Island.
Some preparatory sketches for Lucy's sculpture.
A few more images from the course.
An unfinished bust of Lucy, I will complete at the next course in January 2018.
Marble from Carrara
A portrait of Tom Bass looking over my shoulder.
Tom Bass are using one of my sculptures to advertise their courses.
Ten days intensive marble workshop
This was at the Tom Bass Sculpture School with special guest teacher from Carrara, Alnassar. This was my first attempt at carving marble however I managed to complete two sculptures. It was hard and dirty work but I loved it.
This is the dove I carved.
After carving a torso in limestone it was logical to try one in marble.
Limestone carving
I have just completed a four week course (Monday evenings) at the Tom Bass Sculpture School. Limestone is easy to carve and I was reasonably happy with the end result for a first attempt. I'm hoping my next attempt at carving in marble will be more successful.
Sotheby's Institute of Art - New York
I was invited to give feedback about the course which resulted in an appearance on the SIA's testimonials page on their website. This was about the Curator's course I attended last summer in New York.
Learning to etch at the National Art School
This course taught me how to work with acid, hard ground, soft ground, drypoint, aquatints, chine collé and other techniques and I acquired the skills to transfer my printing plates onto paper using a printing press. I have always been curious about the range of results that are possible through the etching process.
Angus Fisher was a good teacher and under his guidance I produced a couple of aquatints, and an etching with sugar lift.
A bit of acting
I was asked by one of the Marketers at BT to participate in a video to promote a new online product. I must say acting is difficult and makes me very grateful for my day job.
New nude and an addition to an existing painting
I recently completed a painting which I titled 'Bronze Torso', I went to Platform 72 to see it in the window and it was sold already, the updated 'Leura' was in the window instead. You can see Juliet's latest addition to the gallery, a little puppy called Pax.
Sotheby's Institute of Art – New York
The SIA was offering a course about curating in New York, this is something that has always fascinated me. It was for four weeks so I sub-let an apartment on the Upper East Side.
This course provided me with an encounter with curatorial practice in today’s art world. We learnt the skills needed to navigate this field, from developing relationships with artists to writing exhibition proposals to installation planning and design.
I produced this book below which is just a small example of the things I experienced.
