Talking with Painters

As well as winning and being shortlisted in many other art awards, his works are held in numerous public and private art collections in Australia and internationally. He has had 30 solo shows and his work has been included in over 90 group shows.

Painting from life, he has masterfully captured the likeness of notable sitters including High Court justices, a Nobel laureate, the first man to climb Mount Everest, as well as many artists and friends. In addition to his portraits and nudes, he paints exquisite still lifes which glow from the canvas.

He was appointed by the Australian War Memorial as a war artist in the Iraq conflict in 2003 and another commission saw him travel the globe to draw and paint over 60 portraits of scientists and technicians involved in the Human Genome Project.

In this episode of the podcast, Miller talks about his Archibald win, why he doesn’t seek to flatter his sitters, what appeals to him about painting oysters, fish and pomegranates, as well as providing many insights into his materials and methods.

To hear the conversation press ‘play’ above and scroll down to see the works we talk about on the show and a short video taken on the day of the interview. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQR0VHC6pJo

‘Small Self Portrait’, 2011, oil on copper, 17 x 12cm

‘Portrait of Allan Mitelman no 3’, 1998, oil and charcoal on canvas, 213.4 x 183cm

‘Self portrait in 20 panels’, 2015, oil on Belgian linen, 205 x 155cm

‘A self portrait in 54 panels’, 2015, oil on Belgian linen 216 x 65cm

‘Portrait of Bernie Teague’, 2016, oil on Belgian linen, 138 x 108cm

Portrait of Susan Crennan AC QC is in the feature image above

‘Two Sardines’, 2014, oil on Belgian linen, 13 x 36cm

‘Blue swimmer crab’ 2014, oil on Belgian linen, 30 x 51cm

‘Pomegranate, lemon and oyster shell’ 2017 oil on Belgian linen, 28 x 41cm

‘Still life with oyster shells II’, 2015, oil on Belgian linen, 25.5 x 56.5cm

‘Still life with prawns’, 2016, oil on Belgian linen, 50.5 x 100cm

‘Arrangement with Spoons II’, 2013, oil on Belgian linen, 35.5 x 76cm

‘Nude in Yellow Chair’, 2013, oil on Belgian linen, 102 x 132cm

In the last 12 months alone he has won three art prizes; the Cambridge Studio Gallery portrait prize, the Cliftons Sydney Art prize and the Cliftons People’s choice award.  He was finalist in seven others including the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture and the Percival Tucker Portrait Prize, has exhibited in two solo exhibitions and has been in a number of group shows.

But his path forward has not always been as clear as it is today and he talks openly about the uncertainty he experienced after leaving university when he struggled to find direction.  An unexpected 21st birthday present and advice he received from a life drawing teacher led him to enrol at Julian Ashton Art School where he became ‘addicted’ to drawing and painting and was awarded a scholarship.

In our conversation he also talks about his portraits of Paul Capsis and Thomas Keneally and describes his process and approach to colour and light which feature strongly in his breathtaking portraits and landscapes.

To listen to the podcast episode press ‘play’ above or listen on your podcast app.  The works, as well as links to things and people we talk about in the episode, are below.

Current and upcoming events

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk-Vw7QzmdA

‘Transcendence’ 2016, oil on polyester, 82 x 50cm

Paul Capsis II, 2017, oi on polyester, 44 x 58cm

Paul Capsis, 2017, Charcoal on paper, 80 x 50cm

Progress shots of development of ‘Paul Capsis’

‘Thomas Keneally’ 2016, oil on polyester, 103 x 82cm

‘Love Stick’, 2017, oil on polyester, 92 x 102cm

‘Temporal’, 2017, oil on polyester, 46 x 61cm

‘Reverie’, 2017, oil on polyester, 51 x 40cm

‘Genevieve Lemon’ 2016, Charcoal on paper, 50 x 50cm

‘Santa Fe Sunset’ 2017, oil on wooden panel, 23 x 30cm

‘Glimmer’ 2016, oil on wooden panel, 21 x 29cm

‘Sea Cliff Bridge 1’ 2017, oil on wooden panel, 20 x 25.5cm

Born in Surrey, England, Archer has lived in Australia nearly all her adult life. For the past 30 years she has lived in the bushland suburb of Wedderburn, on the outskirts of Sydney, in a thriving artist’s community.

She made her mark in the art world relatively quickly after arriving in Australia in the 60s and has gone on to win many art prizes including the Wynne prize for landscape painting, the Dobell prize for drawing and the Kedumba drawing prize.

There were two surveys of Archer’s work over 2016/2017 which displayed its impressive depth. She has had 40 solo shows and been involved in over 150 group shows over her career.

In this podcast interview, Archer talks about how her first solo show in Sydney resulted in a media response involving not only newspaper reviews but appearances on television, how the Sydney University veterinary laboratory played a role in her work and she reveals many details of her creative process.

Press play (or subscribe) above to hear the podcast episode and scroll to see the paintings we talk about and a short video taken on the day of the interview.

Upcoming events

Over the next two years Archer will be exhibiting in solo exhibitions with Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Victoria, and at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Maitland Regional Art Gallery, both in NSW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg2nq_XPiqc

‘Derangement’ 2010, winner of Dobell prize for drawing

Waratahs – Wedderburn, 1994, winner of Wynne prize

‘Velocipede’ 2016, oil on canvas, 240 x 240cm

‘China Joy’ 2016, oil on canvas, 240 x 330cm

‘Referencial – Reverential’, 2011, ink, charcoal & pastel on paper, 77 x 113cms

‘Vivarium’, Artist’s Book, 2013, timber,leather,metal fittings,paper,acrylic paint, closed 22cm x 31cm_open 22cm x 311cm

‘Blindfold’, 2011, bisque-fired clay with acrylic paint, 20 x 22 x 11cm

‘Witness’, 2012, bisque fired clay, acrylic paint, embroidery thread, 18.5 x 18 x 11.5cm

‘Dodo and Rider’ 2009, mixed media, 67 x 87 x 45cm

‘Win a trip’, 1969, paper collage with cardboard surround, 30 x 30cm

Archer in her studio, 1969, photograph taken at the time of her first solo show at Clune Galleries, Sydney

Since then he has had 30 solo exhibitions with his most recent, ‘Marsupials’, about to open in New York at Olsen Gruin Gallery. He is a five time Archibald Prize finalist and has been included in the Archibald as a sitter four times.

His compelling paintings invite us to enter another world where his characters’ lives and motives are limited only by our imaginations.

In this podcast interview, Edwards talks about how that first solo show came about, why he was later kicked out of art school and why he doesn’t usually take portrait commissions.

He also reveals interesting background details about his Archibald finalist portraits of Tim Storrier and Cate Blanchett.

To hear the podcast interview press ‘play’ above and see below for the paintings we talk about and a short video taken on the day of the interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrV0KMyQK4s

‘Marsupials #2’, 2017, oil on linen, 61″ x 66.5″

‘Tim Storrier’, 2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 168cm

‘Cate Blanchett and Family’, 2006, oil on canvas, 159cm x 150cm

‘Hourglass’ 2017, oil on linen, 54″ x 78″

‘Train Stop’ 2013, oil on canvas 168 x 152cm

‘Art Student #18’ 2016, oil on canvas, 107 x 97cm

‘Nabokov’s Mistress #1’ 2012, oil on canvas, 183 x 213cm

‘The Cavalry’ 2014, oil on canvas, 124 x 102cm

‘Ghost Drop’ 2013, oil on canvas, 122 x 183cm

Drawings posted by Edwards on Instagram – ink, coloured pen, texta

Watch Alesandro Ljubicic in his studio here

Ljubicic has had seven solo shows, has been involved in many more group shows and has been a finalist in various art competitions including the Doug Moran National Portrait prize, the Mosman art prize and Paddington art prize.

His paintings range from the representational to the pure abstract and he keeps pushing the limits of what he can do with oil paint. His recent work ranges from very large semi abstract paintings up to four and a half metres wide to smaller abstract works which can be up to 8cm deep in paint and essentially lie somewhere between painting and sculpture.

Ljubicic also has a mind for business.  He founded the Sydney Art store when still at art school. In the podcast interview he tells the story of how that started and why it’s still important to him to keep that business as his day job despite his success as an artist.

To hear the interview, click play under the feature photo (above) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or with your podcast app!

To see a short video of Alesandro Ljubicic talking with Maria Stoljar in his studio, go to the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here

Feature photo by Mark Jezercic

https://youtu.be/308nV1az1M4?si=oaq3M_xthuj2l_49

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-0iuK1RwiE

‘Linen Ash Rose” #1, 60cm round, oil on linen

‘Linen Magnolia’ 4.5 x 1.8m, triptych, oil on linen

Midnight Ash Rose #2 – 65x65cm Oil on Linen Over DiaBond

Oil on birch panel, 25 x 30cm

Oil and resin on linen mounted to panel, 25 x 30cm

Oil and resin on linen mounted to panel, 25 x 30cm

Oil & resin on linen mounted to panel, 25 x 30cm