Talking with Painters

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

She will be showing her work in three solo shows and two group shows over the next 12 months.

Born in the Philippines, Spirovski came to Australia when she was nine and studied to become an art teacher, never imagining she could become a practising artist. However, she soon realised teaching was not for her, and during a period of despondency, took to painting.

She has not turned back.  Relentlessly researching renowned artists and their techniques she has embarked on an exciting path of exploration, constantly taking risks and producing impressive works along the way.

In this interview she talks about how she taught herself to paint, the struggles she faced and why the rejection of her painting ‘Vers la Flamme‘ for the Archibald prize in 2015 was to cause her to rethink her whole approach.

We also discuss how she met her partner, acclaimed concert pianist, Simon Tedeschi, who has become her muse and source of much of her subject matter and how their relationship and the music in their lives has impacted her work.

Click here to see a short video of Loribelle Spirovski on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvR3UxOCwrk

‘Etudes’, oil on canvas and linen, 40 x 30cm each, finalist, Mosman Art Prize 2016

‘Vers la Flamme’, oil on canvas, 120 x 90cm   We talk about this painting at 17:50 of the interview.

‘Memento Mori – Mens Rea’ oil on canvas, 61 x 76cm

‘Simon’, 2017, oil on linen, 51 x 51cm   Winner Cambridge Studio Gallery Portrait Prize 2017.

‘Hell-tempered clavier’, 2017, oil and acrylic on canvas, 120 x 120cm

‘Homme 8’, oil and acrylic on canvas paper, 29 x 42cm

‘Icarus’ oil on panel, 41 x 41cm

‘Femme’ triptych, 2017,  oil and acrylic on canvas paper, finalist Wyndham art prize

‘Mother and Child’ 2017, oil and acrylic on canvas 120 x 90cm

Works on paper, all pen, 21 x 29cm, clockwise from top left:  Mohawk, Sketch after Bacon, Hunger 1, When two become one, Scream, Pieta

‘Black widow’, Copic marker and pen on paper, 21 x 29cm

‘Time Traveller’ 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 60cm This was the painting accepted as a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. It’s discussed in the interview at 12:15

She will be showing her work in three solo shows and two group shows over the next 12 months.

Born in the Philippines, Spirovski came to Australia when she was nine and studied to become an art teacher, never imagining she could become a practising artist. However, she soon realised teaching was not for her, and during a period of despondency, took to painting.

She has not turned back.  Relentlessly researching renowned artists and their techniques she has embarked on an exciting path of exploration, constantly taking risks and producing impressive works along the way.

In this interview she talks about how she taught herself to paint, the struggles she faced and why the rejection of her painting ‘Vers la Flamme‘ for the Archibald prize in 2015 was to cause her to rethink her whole approach.

We also discuss how she met her partner, acclaimed concert pianist, Simon Tedeschi, who has become her muse and source of much of her subject matter and how their relationship and the music in their lives has impacted her work.

Click here to see a short video of Loribelle Spirovski on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvR3UxOCwrk

‘Etudes’, oil on canvas and linen, 40 x 30cm each, finalist, Mosman Art Prize 2016

‘Vers la Flamme’, oil on canvas, 120 x 90cm   We talk about this painting at 17:50 of the interview.

‘Memento Mori – Mens Rea’ oil on canvas, 61 x 76cm

‘Simon’, 2017, oil on linen, 51 x 51cm   Winner Cambridge Studio Gallery Portrait Prize 2017.

‘Hell-tempered clavier’, 2017, oil and acrylic on canvas, 120 x 120cm

‘Homme 8’, oil and acrylic on canvas paper, 29 x 42cm

‘Icarus’ oil on panel, 41 x 41cm

‘Femme’ triptych, 2017,  oil and acrylic on canvas paper, finalist Wyndham art prize

‘Mother and Child’ 2017, oil and acrylic on canvas 120 x 90cm

Works on paper, all pen, 21 x 29cm, clockwise from top left:  Mohawk, Sketch after Bacon, Hunger 1, When two become one, Scream, Pieta

‘Black widow’, Copic marker and pen on paper, 21 x 29cm

‘Time Traveller’ 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 60cm This was the painting accepted as a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. It’s discussed in the interview at 12:15

After studying at the Franklin School of Art in New York she returned to Australia where she worked as a freelance illustrator and writer, mainly in fashion and travel, for various magazines including Vogue.

It wasn’t until the early 80s, when she went on a trip to the remote Kimberley ranges in Western Australia, that her career in fine art really began.  It was there that she fell in love with the people and landscape of the Australian outback and she began her career as a full time painter.

It was the beginning of annual trips to remote communities of the Northern Terrirtory and Western Australia where she became friends with aboriginal artists including those amongst Australia’s most famous – Emily Kngwarreye and Gloria Petyarre.

Sages not only paints the Australian landscape but is also an acclaimed portraitist and creates intricate abstract works.

Apart from winning the Wynne prize for landscape painting she was awarded the Portia Geach prize for portraiture twice and the Archibald People’s Choice award.  She was also selected as a finalist in the Wynne, Archibald and other prizes many times (a staggering 20 times for the Archibald) and she’s been the subject of several documentaries.  The National Portrait Gallery also held a touring exhibition of her portraits in 2011.

Press play above to hear our conversation which is on the Talking with Painters podcast.

To see Sages talk about her current work in progress and to see inside her studio have a look at the short video posted on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efGF9mDP0rI

‘My Jack’, 2011, encaustic oil and pigment on board, 120 x 170cm

‘After Jack’, 2012, encaustic and pigment on board, 120 x 190cm

‘It’s all in the doing of it’ 2016, encaustic, pigment and oil on board, 30 x 20cm

‘Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily’, 1993, oil on canvas, 213.5 x 182.5cm Collection: National Portrait Gallery

Untitled (Study for ‘Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily’) 1993, charcoal on paper, 30.4 x 22.8cm Collection: National Portrait Gallery

‘Gloria Tamer Petyarre’, 2005, encaustic, oil and pigment on board, 80 x 244cm

‘The blue one’ 2016, encaustic pigment and oil on board, 30 x 25cm

‘Each morning when I wake up I put on my mother’s face’ 2000, 150 x 100cm

After studying at the Franklin School of Art in New York she returned to Australia where she worked as a freelance illustrator and writer, mainly in fashion and travel, for various magazines including Vogue.

It wasn’t until the early 80s, when she went on a trip to the remote Kimberley ranges in Western Australia, that her career in fine art really began.  It was there that she fell in love with the people and landscape of the Australian outback and she began her career as a full time painter.

It was the beginning of annual trips to remote communities of the Northern Terrirtory and Western Australia where she became friends with aboriginal artists including those amongst Australia’s most famous – Emily Kngwarreye and Gloria Petyarre.

Sages not only paints the Australian landscape but is also an acclaimed portraitist and creates intricate abstract works.

Apart from winning the Wynne prize for landscape painting she was awarded the Portia Geach prize for portraiture twice and the Archibald People’s Choice award.  She was also selected as a finalist in the Wynne, Archibald and other prizes many times (a staggering 20 times for the Archibald) and she’s been the subject of several documentaries.  The National Portrait Gallery also held a touring exhibition of her portraits in 2011.

Press play above to hear our conversation which is on the Talking with Painters podcast.

To see Sages talk about her current work in progress and to see inside her studio have a look at the short video posted on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efGF9mDP0rI

‘My Jack’, 2011, encaustic oil and pigment on board, 120 x 170cm

‘After Jack’, 2012, encaustic and pigment on board, 120 x 190cm

‘It’s all in the doing of it’ 2016, encaustic, pigment and oil on board, 30 x 20cm

‘Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily’, 1993, oil on canvas, 213.5 x 182.5cm Collection: National Portrait Gallery

Untitled (Study for ‘Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily’) 1993, charcoal on paper, 30.4 x 22.8cm Collection: National Portrait Gallery

‘Gloria Tamer Petyarre’, 2005, encaustic, oil and pigment on board, 80 x 244cm

‘The blue one’ 2016, encaustic pigment and oil on board, 30 x 25cm

‘Each morning when I wake up I put on my mother’s face’ 2000, 150 x 100cm

Her works inspire an emotional response from many of her viewers achieved through her masterful use of colour, shape and brushstroke. Her shows sell out quickly, often within the first hour of the works becoming available, and she receives many commissions.

Henry predominantly paints landscapes but she was also a finalist in the Archibald prize for portraiture in 2016.  She has been selected as a finalist in many other art competitions including four times in the prestigious Wynne prize for landscape painting.

Our conversation took place in Henry’s studio in a secluded valley on the central coast of NSW so the sounds you hear in the background are the birds of the Australian bush.

We not only hear about how she achieved success in the art world but also of advice she received from significant people in her life which helped her get there.  She also talks about how to juggle commissions within an art practice, balancing painting and motherhood, she generously shares information about her process and gives motivational advice to those starting out.

Click here to see Henry in her studio on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel.

Upcoming events:

Links to things we talk about on the show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGBB75h2NCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul11Ew6il4w

‘Bushland 3’, gouache and pastel on Arches 640 gsm paper, 57 x 38cmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul11Ew6il4w

‘Islands five’, 2016, acrylic and pastel on polyester canvas, 218 x 171.5cm

‘Mountain Study 5’, gouache and watercolour on Arches 640 gsm paper, 38 x 29cm

‘Louise Olsen, a beautiful summary’, 2016, acrylic and pastel on polyester canvas, 157 x 116cm

‘Garden Study 3’, gouache, acrylic and pastel on 640gsm Arches paper, 78 x 58cm

‘Overcast day’, oil and pastel on canvas, 66cm x 66cm

‘Ocean Study 1’, gouache and watercolour on Arches paper, 38 x 28cm

‘Valley Views’, gouache, watercolour, acrylic and pastel on Arches 640 gsm paper, 78 x 58cm

Work in progress in Henry’s studio. We discuss the work leaning against the wall at 17:30 and 19:10 of the interview

He started oil painting at the age of eight so it was no surprise that he ended up at the Wimbledon art school.  But he studied there in the late sixties and early seventies when painting landscapes, which he was exploring at the time, was not in fashion and certainly not encouraged.

Harley’s interests then moved to film and television and in our conversation he talks about how his career as an editor and producer brought him ultimately to Australia.

Along the way he has always found time for painting and in the last few years his art has taken centre stage. Since 2014 he has had two solo shows of his impressive work at Stanley Street Gallery in Sydney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T72wOfeZrk8

‘Red Carpet’, 2014, oil on linen

‘Queen Victoria’, 2014, oil on linen

‘They Married’, 2016, oil on linen

“She was a dancer’, 2016, oil on linen

‘Somebody’s boyfriend’, 2016, oil on linen

‘They had red shoes’, 2016, oil on linen

‘I think he died’, 2016, oil on linen

‘Everybody Smoked’, 2016, oil on linen

Work in progress – studying reflections

Portrait by Oliver’s great great great grandfather Samuel Massey, of Massey’s wife and child, c.1838

He started oil painting at the age of eight so it was no surprise that he ended up at the Wimbledon art school.  But he studied there in the late sixties and early seventies when painting landscapes, which he was exploring at the time, was not in fashion and certainly not encouraged.

Harley’s interests then moved to film and television and in our conversation he talks about how his career as an editor and producer brought him ultimately to Australia.

Along the way he has always found time for painting and in the last few years his art has taken centre stage. Since 2014 he has had two solo shows of his impressive work at Stanley Street Gallery in Sydney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T72wOfeZrk8

‘Red Carpet’, 2014, oil on linen

‘Queen Victoria’, 2014, oil on linen

‘They Married’, 2016, oil on linen

“She was a dancer’, 2016, oil on linen

‘Somebody’s boyfriend’, 2016, oil on linen

‘They had red shoes’, 2016, oil on linen

‘I think he died’, 2016, oil on linen

‘Everybody Smoked’, 2016, oil on linen

Work in progress – studying reflections

Portrait by Oliver’s great great great grandfather Samuel Massey, of Massey’s wife and child, c.1838