You are invited

 I’ve given myself a little challenge for my paint out next Tuesday. Everyone is welcome to come along and especially those who want to do a bit of plein-air painting. It’s scheduled to take place from 10am to 3pm on the 21^st of May in Parliament Gardens, in the city. It’s that little triangular piece of gardens opposite the Northern End of Parliament Station at the intersection of Albert Rd and Nicholson St. It is primarily aimed at creating interest for the “Luminous: A Festival of Watercolour” Exhibition at the Victorian ArtistSociety just up the road in Albert Street. Anyone who wants to paint is welcome, more than welcome.

I’ve been experimenting with my own dot charts set up on DVDs as very simple portable palettes for plein air painting. For those familiar with painting outdoors 10am to 3pm or 5 hours is a very long time. The light will change dramatically over that time frame, especially this time of year. Therefore I plan to do say 3 or 4 paintings/sketches and I also thought it would be a good idea if I made them using different artists colour palettes. 

So I’ve made up two new dot chart colour wheels on DVDs. The first is based on Andy Evansen’s palette which is a fairly conventional traditional English style watercolour setup although he’s American. He recomends starting with a painted value study and I’ll try to follow this recommendation. He also looks to join as many shapes as possible with his first midtone wash another idea I really like.

My second palette also on  a DVD is based on Vincent Van Gogh’s later palettes, which were of course for oils, not watercolours. I had previously researched the colours through his letters to his brother Theo. He had recognised he was having trouble with fugitive colours like emerald green and his red carmine and lake colours,  also he worried about using alizarin crimson. These days there are more permanent versions of these colours available. I did research into Vincent’s colours for a project last December where I was asked by Royal Talons to be their Instagram artist of the month and they kindly supplied some art materials. It was fun. 

Depending on the lighting I’d like to tackle something that Turner might do. I’m certain he  would be looking for a dramatic sky or foreboding shadows. If nothing else there’s the waterfall, sure to produce some interesting fluid shapes. A few years ago I made up palette a turner inspired palette following the recommendations of Tony Smibert, a real expert on JWM Turner. I plan to focus on warm versus cool colours and look for a moody emotional connection.

Finally I’ve got my current palette based on six families of hues, red, yellow, green, cyan blue, and magenta. I trust it will afford me the best opportunity to mix stronger intense colours, higher chroma in artist jargon of colour pigments.

Even though the garden’s pretty small there’s plenty to see and paint. Alternatively just come along to see me paint and also visit the exhibition.

Mastering the Rainbow - What is Colour?

Welcome to "Mastering the Rainbow" - a captivating exploration of the enigmatic world of colour. This serialized journey, spanning blog posts here and on my website, YouTube videos, and occasional social media posts, is a progress report of my decade-long quest to unravel the mysteries of colour and its elusive nature.

As a geologist and retired part-time lecturer, I've long been fascinated by the scientific method and its ability to shed light on the intricate workings of our world. However, as I delved deeper into the question "What is colour?", I found myself venturing down a rabbit hole that grew increasingly complex and paradoxical. Contrary to our everyday experience, I've come to realize that colour, as we know it, is not a tangible entity but a highly personal illusion. Colour is not a real thing.

In this series, we'll embark on a historical odyssey, revisiting the groundbreaking discoveries of those who came before us, many of which I unwittingly rediscovered myself – a testament to the cyclical nature of scientific inquiry.

We'll dive into the various representations and models of colour, navigating through the controversies and debates that have shaped our understanding. Brace yourselves, for nothing is more contentious than the application of colour wheels. Fear not, for I shall embrace these geometric shapes as tools to unify disparate ideas and shed light on the counterintuitive aspects of what we call colour theory.

Through practical examples and hands-on fun, you'll have the opportunity to convince yourself of the profound insights that await. Whether you're an artist, a photographer, or simply a curious soul, this series promises to broaden your perspective on the kaleidoscopic world that surrounds us.

The vibrant realm of colour is a wondrous canvas upon which we create and experience art. Join me on this journey, and together, we'll unlock the secrets of the rainbow,