50.5 cm x 40 cm, oil paints on cotton canvas.
Date produced: 1986 - 1987

This was painted on-site, directly from the real scene, in late afternoon full sunshine. This painting remains unfinished. It was produced using 2 or 3 painting sessions carried out at the same time of the day.

A recent photograph of the same section of cliffs is shown below, though it was taken much earlier in the day than the target time of late afternoon used for the painting. The photograph is also recording a view of the headland that is 35 years older than when the painting was done.

This photograph was taken as a RAW image using a digital camera, and processed using Capture One Pro software.

65 cm x 45 cm, oil paints on cotton canvas.
Date produced: 1986 - 1987

Painted entirely on-site, from next to the path that winds along under the Witton Bluff cliffs. This was painted during the afternoon in full sunlight. This painting is unfinished, and is the result after two painting sessions (at the same time of the day on two separate days). I am happy with the sense of glow of sunlight off the cliffs.

65.5 cm (w) x 50.5 cm (h), oil paints on stretched paper.
Date produced: 1986 - 1987

Painted entirely on-site, at Witton Bluff, Christies Beach, S.A. I spent many afternoons working on this painting, out on-site. I found this particular section of cliffs to be very striking and interesting. The glow of the cliffs made the sky look very rich and quite deep in colour. I remember struggling to decide on the right colours to use for the expression of the stunning glow of the cliffs in the sunlight in front of me. This is because paint can’t match the intensity of light and colour being reflected off the cliffs in full sunlight. There was a conflict between matching the observed colours in the scene, with having the painting express the intensity of light and colour coming off the sunlit cliffs. To express the rich intensity of the light and colour coming from the sunlit cliffs, I found that I needed to use bright yellows in my paint mixtures and constantly check the way they felt.

I took a photograph of the cliffs at around the same time (in 1986 - shown below) from a similar spot to where I was sitting to do this painting, but at a slightly earlier time in the afternoon. I know that I was surprised by the result - that film seemed to “see” or be sensitive to the relationships of the tones in the cliff a little differently to the receptors in my eyes. I shouldn’t have been too surprised really.

This photograph was taken using film, and printed using photographic paper.

This photograph was taken as a RAW image using a digital camera, and processed using Capture One Pro software.

It is interesting to see how these cliffs have weathered since that earlier photograph was taken and the painting was produced, about 35 years ago.

27.5 cm x 19 cm, pastels on acid-free coloured-ground ‘Canson’ paper.
Date produced: 1986 - 1987

This was the view across the front lawn of my flat, when I lived on The Esplanade at Christies Beach. I produced this pastel on-site, directly from the scene in one session. The windows that were a little open and reflecting the colours of the sky belonged to another flat in the block where I lived. My flat's windows would have been directly to my right. The white shapes next to the sea water were small craft being set up and launched from a boat ramp, just out from the sailing club (shown as a shed-like building, behind the open window at the back). The dark red brown block was a small brick structure where our letterboxes were.

29.5 cm x 21 cm, blue biro on grey bond paper.
Date produced: 1986 - 1987

This was drawn quickly, directly from the scene while at O'Sullivans Beach. O'Sullivans Beach is about a 20 minute walk north from Christies Beach. This view looks south back towards Christies Beach, and includes the characteristic form of Witton Bluff. In the foreground were 'lines' of rocks as well as some larger rocks of interesting shapes. I am very pleased with this quick drawing. It probably took me about 10 minutes to produce. The squiggles give a sense of the overall space in the scene, as well as the movements of waves coming in, and the energy I felt from experiencing the scene. I produced a number of similar drawings during this trip to O'Sullivans beach.

End of this month's presentation.