Talking with Painters

With 22 solo shows and over 130 group shows under his belt, Jones has received many awards, including the Kilgour Prize, Mosman Art prize, Paddington Art Prize and Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship and has been finalist in many others.  His portraits have been hung in Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize three times including last year with his portrait of Pat Corrigan.

His work took a personal twist when he was living in Windsor near the Hawkesbury river in Sydney.  An amazing coincidence, which we talk about in this episode, set him on the path of exploring his ancestry and bringing his art closer to home.

In this episode of the podcast, Jones also talks about his experiences of painting Pat Corrigan and Adam Goodes for the Archibald and gives insights into his process and techniques.

You can see a short video clip of Jones in his studio taken on the day below

Feature image: Alan Jones in his studio with painting, collage and soft sculpture.

Yellow House, Butt Naked Salon II, Sydney 29 November – 1 December 2017

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

Painting 172 (Moonee Beach), 2016, acrylic on board, 112.5cm x 70cm

Robert Forrester #2, 2013, oil and acrylic on polyester, 194cm x 179cm

Painting 131 (North Coogee), 2015, acrylic on linen, 112.5cm x 117.5cm

Pat, 2016, acrylic on board, 153cm x 140cm

Adam, 2014, oil and acrylic on linen, 171cm x 156cm

Painting 207 (The Domain), 2016, acrylic on board, 86cm x 90cm

‘This is Our Land Now #1’, 2010-11, plywood and clocks, 263cm x 55cm x 55cm

Wyalkatchem Hotel, 2011, plywood and hoop pine, (h)81cm x (w)308cm x (d)148cm

He is also one of the leaders of a group of artists which created designs for the Mambo surf clothing label in the 80s and 90s.  A recent documentary aired on the ABC in Australia looked at those artists and their influential and anti authoritatrian approach.

But of course Mombassa is renowned not only as an artist but also a musician. In 1976 he founded the iconic Australian band Mental as Anything with fellow art student Martin Plaza and in 1990 he formed his band Dog Trumpet with his brother Peter O’Doherty. The music in the introduction to this episode is from the song ‘Made in the World’ from their album Medicated Spirits.

Mombassa has also had a creative input into major public events such as the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony and Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations and has won awards for his poster and album cover works.

His paintings are held in ­major Australian art institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and the Art Gallery of NSW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkkvZnDPU-A

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

‘Australian Jesus helps Noah with his Ark’ (2009) charcoal and colour pencil on paper, 36cm x 56cm

Poster, ‘Mambo Faith/ Australian Jesus at the football’ (1996)

‘Organism/Field shrine, east Auckland’ (1991), house paint and oil on board, 28cm 25cm

‘Looking north from the lodge at Waiheke heights’ (2014), charcoal and coloured pencil on paper, 25cm x 36cm

‘Self portrait with high pants’, oil on canvas, 90cm x 70cm (2007)

‘Self Portrait with Spots and Veins’ (2003), synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 76cm x 56cm National Portrait Gallery

‘Self portrait with a lumpy coat’ (1986) oil on copperplate, Art Gallery of NSW

‘Two young persons in a modern interior’ (1974) Synthetic polymer paint on hardboard 71cm x 55.5cm Art Gallery of NSW

‘Rough barked apple tree, Gumboil'(2004) coloured pencil and charcoal on paper

‘Gums and patchy bark, Willow Springs’ (2008) charcoal and coloured pencil on paper 35cm x 50cm

‘Iron bark with bole and bush Cassilis’ (2011) charcoal and colour pencil on paper, 38cm x 46cm

So here are a few clips from those interviews which didn’t make it into the original episodes – a mixture of ideas on painting, life experiences and childhood memories. The artists are:

Francis Giacco

I’ve had an enjoyable 6 months getting the last 12 episodes to you and look forward to bringing you more in 2017 after a bit of a break –  I’ll be back in late January with some more conversations with great Australian painters.

So, until then, keep safe and thanks for listening!

Maria Stoljar

Works we refer to in this episode:

‘You see monsters’ Abdul Abdullah Type C print 2014

‘Good Room Spring’ 2010

So here are a few clips from those interviews which didn’t make it into the original episodes – a mixture of ideas on painting, life experiences and childhood memories. The artists are:

Francis Giacco

I’ve had an enjoyable 6 months getting the last 12 episodes to you and look forward to bringing you more in 2017 after a bit of a break –  I’ll be back in late January with some more conversations with great Australian painters.

So, until then, keep safe and thanks for listening!

Maria Stoljar

Works we refer to in this episode:

‘You see monsters’ Abdul Abdullah Type C print 2014

‘Good Room Spring’ 2010

She has had 13 solo shows, four since 2006 with Australian Galleries, Sydney. She has been included in many more group shows and has received numerous art prizes. She’s also been finalist in many other competitions including eight times in the Portia Geach portrait prize.

In our conversation, we discuss her approach to painting, including the importance of taking risks in creating art. She also talks about her techniques and views on teaching. She’s one of the most sought after teachers in Sydney – her classes often have waiting lists and her workshops at the Art Gallery of NSW sell out quickly.

She lives and works on Scotland Island, which is an island in Pittwater, in northern Sydney. Her home is literally among the gum trees which she’s transformed almost singlehandedly into an eclectic space which reflects her creative life. You can see short videos of my visit on the day of our interview on the Talking with Painters Facebook and Instagram pages.

A short video of Holmes à Court at her Scotland island home and studio is on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel.

Juliet is currently working towards a 2017 exhibition which will be held at the Palm House of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.  A short video about the collaboration behind that exhibition can be seen here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd5OAq5_MNU

‘All around and beneath it’ (2016) Oil and wax on canvas 80cm x 80cm

‘Cool wind to the Ocean’ (2010) 120cm x 65cm Oil and wax on canvas

‘Blue Breaks over Green’ (2008) 80cm sq Oil and wax on canvas

Quiet Settles in the Evening (2015) 76cm x 138cm oil and wax on canvas

‘Rain chiselling the Earth’ (2012) 140cmsq oil and wax on canvas

‘Scotland Island Pathway’ Mosman Art prize finalist 2016, oil on canvas

‘Take your tired eyes to the blue blue’ (2012) 160cmsq oil and wax on canvas

Silvery morning crossing (2008) 150cmsq oil an wax on canvas

He has won many art awards including the Archibald, Wynne, Sulman, Blake, Tattersall’s and Gallipoli art prizes.  He has had over 100 solo shows and been involved in over 200 group shows across Australia and internationally. His works are held in almost every major public collection in Australia and of course many private collections.

Macleod’s work has taken him all over the world, including remote places like Central Australia and Antarctica, and he has just returned from a trip to Yellow Mountain in China. We talk about his approach to landscape and figure painting and his views on interpretation of his work. He also shares information about his process and technique and talks about the unsettling experience of winning the Archibald in 1999.

Scroll down to see a short video of Macleod in his studio.

Feature photograph by Andrew Merry

https://youtu.be/SZf4XehR4BA

‘Impasse’ 2011 Oil on polyester 150 x 180cm

‘Self Portrait (Blue Centre)’  2007  Oil on canvas 137 x 180cm

‘Figure Sitting On Boat In Desert’  2007  Oil on canvas 150 x 180cm

‘Climbing’ 2011 Oil on polyester 137 x 180cm

‘Self-portrait: head like a hole’ 1999 oil on canvas 180 x 137cm

Works in progress from China trip – plein air paintings, studies and works on canvas

He has won many art awards including the Archibald, Wynne, Sulman, Blake, Tattersall’s and Gallipoli art prizes.  He has had over 100 solo shows and been involved in over 200 group shows across Australia and internationally. His works are held in almost every major public collection in Australia and of course many private collections.

Macleod’s work has taken him all over the world, including remote places like Central Australia and Antarctica, and he has just returned from a trip to Yellow Mountain in China. We talk about his approach to landscape and figure painting and his views on interpretation of his work. He also shares information about his process and technique and talks about the unsettling experience of winning the Archibald in 1999.

Scroll down to see a short video of Macleod in his studio.

Feature photograph by Andrew Merry

https://youtu.be/SZf4XehR4BA

‘Impasse’ 2011 Oil on polyester 150 x 180cm

‘Self Portrait (Blue Centre)’  2007  Oil on canvas 137 x 180cm

‘Figure Sitting On Boat In Desert’  2007  Oil on canvas 150 x 180cm

‘Climbing’ 2011 Oil on polyester 137 x 180cm

‘Self-portrait: head like a hole’ 1999 oil on canvas 180 x 137cm

Works in progress from China trip – plein air paintings, studies and works on canvas

See my TWP YouTube video of Susan in her studio here (filmed in 2022)

She has exhibited in over 25 solo shows across Australia and New Zealand and has been involved in many more group exhibitions.

Her current work deals with the issues she’s been focussing on in the last few years, particularly the treatment of women in our society and the violence which exists not only in our communities but also in the home. She addresses these themes in her upcoming Sydney show ‘Pinned to the Wall’. Her work is also touring the country in another show, ‘Moving House’, which is a collaboration with her partner, artist Peter O’Doherty, and looks at life when the family is frequently on the move.

She also painted over 450 portraits for her 2008 show ‘900 Eyes – Domestic Lives’ and we talk about how she went about preparing for that exhibition.

Susan also gives great insights into the nature of creativity and what it means to make art.

All works we mention in the show are on this page.

Scroll down for a TWP YouTube video of Susan O’Doherty in her studio filmed in 2022.

Feature photo:  Susan O’Doherty in front of her painting ‘A Relationship’

https://youtu.be/sLwo9mXq0hE?si=pLsCV8hLUs-MbXxH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ywJ2ovR38

‘Out of Step’ 2015 acrylic on canvas 167 x 152cm

‘Walking on Eggshells’ 110cm x 120cm x 10cm mixed media assemblage

‘Wallflowers’ 130cm x 109cm x 8cm  mixed media assemblage

‘Pinned to the Wall’ 110 x 120 x 30cm

Part of the exhibition ‘900 Eyes – Domestic lives’, 2008, Manly Art Gallery and Museum

Susan O’Doherty in front of her mixed media assemblage ‘A Beautiful home’ (2015)