the new term just startded - this time I went to Royal Art Socielty School, in Lavender Bay - for the classical drawing class. I feel lately that the lack of drawing skills is seriously holding me back, so taking the evening class to refresh it was a really good idea. Besides that, I really like the environment and athmosphere there, the real studio setting, this is something I always miss. So...will see  where it takes me, at the moment I'm quite happy I picked that class.

Painted away this weekend. Went on the location on Saturday, one of my favourite spots in Sydney, Woolwich Wharf in Hunter Hill - just reconfirm that winter is not the best time for painting outside despite the lovely sunshine. The wind is strong and  chilling, hands are freezing in no time (and occasional pile of dog poo I"ve stepped into was just another drop in the bucket of reasons why I should go home. Did not evet open the easel, just sat on the parkbench (as a subject of a couple of quite curious Great Danes that tried to taste the pigment from my pallet - wondered if one them was an author of the abovementioned pile....). Overall, a miserable experience! Produced couple of sketches and escaped home, where did another tallship painting. I had a reference photo of one of the pictures on the wall of Lord Nelson pub in The Rocks, the photo there is in sepia, so I've used two colors only - Ultra and Burne Sienna, as I did not want to invent anything...was watching the Carribean Pirates with the corner of my eye, so the mood probably came from there:)

Wanted to do a quick evening paint tonight, but instead opened the book by Joseph Zbukvic and guess what...Cannot stop reading. Was so convinced in process to color sketching that almost ordered another sketchbook from Amazon (shame on them not sending some items to Oz from the US), so just kept reading. Fascinating! Have to finish all my art readings by January, so I'll get to Bathurst'19 with all shiny new knowledge and experience!
So yes, no new pics tonight.
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I sometimes use a mix chart for my colours. when I don't know what dark or grey I would need, charts come handy - I scribbled which paint is where - but that's such a mix of Russian and English, most likely noone will get it:) But practicing mixing colors helps A LOT, I should trust more the books that say it...
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Left one is mixing Ultramarine, Cadmium and Carmine reds, Ceruleum and Sienna and Emerald Green - for different darks.

End of Financial Year Sale...Hard time!:) Epic battle of Greed and Hoarding (The Toad and The Hamster from Russian idioms). Hamster won this time, as there was a sale on Arches, Shcmincke and Daler Rowney watercolor which I never tried, and I don't need pastel, but I just cannot pass by - as well I don't need paper, but that was an offer one just does not refuse.
Now I need to stop procrastinating and just paint. 
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What fascinates me among other things in the modern masters' watercolor is the sense of composition. How they take the regular streetscape or landscape or literally everything, and turn it into an artwork.
Design and composition is the key, well thought ones are always the strongest. Well thought foreground and middle ground, 2 main shapes, few smaller ones, carefully selected and framed piece of landscape - and as a result, the successful work (after all the hardwork:). 


​Josef Zbukvic

Tony Belobrajdic

Just updated and uploaded the website - very strange feeling of being exposed to the world, as generally my artworks are just sitting comfortably in the carton folders in my room. And BAM! - it's all on the Net! 
Ok, I'm planning to write and share my art journey here, hope it may be interesting for someone - or my future self.