Chris attends Kenilworth Painting Workshop

John Wilson painting class

 Im having a day off from my 4 day workshop with John Wilson, a very relaxed teacher.Take a look at this tidy palette
John likes to use Windsor and Newton Artists Oils, the colours he loves include Rose Madder Genuine and Cerulean Blue, you cannot replace them with anything else as there is nothing like it.Just those two small tubes sets you back around 110$AU, not a typing error. We use only pure gum turpentine as the thinning medium
The painting is from a photo around Hartley NSW in the Blue Mountains region.The image is of Johns easl and the first stage set up of the painting.  More in my next blog

Traditional Painting in Oils First Prize Winner, Noosa Beach by artist Chris Hobel

Noosa Main Beach Oil on canvas
I was thrilled to receive a phone call on Friday informing me that I had won First prize in the Traditional section of the Noosa Show.
As an artist it is a great feeling to receive recognition for your efforts. I love to paint in many styles but traditional  seems what Im best at .
The  John Wilson  Master workshop Im attending in a few weeks will give me more skills in oils so the win give me a real boost as I have been feeling a bit of the artist doldrums lately and have had difficulty focusing on the direction I want to take with my painting
This is the beach I swam at today and is very beautiful. I painted it from a photo I took  early in the morning

Daily Postcard sketches from Noosa by Chris Hobel

Noosa River looking North

A Quick Sketch Noosa River looking toward Mt Tinbeewah I did today

A great way to improve your observation and drawing skills is to carry a small 6x6 inch A5 sketch book  along with a a few pencils, felt pens,a small #3 sable brush and pocket water colour box, plastic water jar. I take this on hikes, camping and around town. Ive recently discovered a white charcoal pencil which is good for highlights , branches, and tree trunks. Working on a small scale forces you to pick out the most important bits and not get absorbed with detail. Give it a try

I start with the pencil, then work a bit with the felt pen to add darks, the touches of water colour are usually done toward the finish. When the paint is dry, I sometimes add more felt pen. It is also good to take a picture of the same spot. I took my camera but forgot to do it. The first photo was taken earlier in the year

My sketch kit

Noosa Country Show Paintings for sale

Paintings for Sale at Pomona Qld  12th and 13th September 09

Remains 480$  120x61 cm

Noosa Beach $800 oil 120x61cms

White Roses 500$   92x62cms Pink Magnolia 490$ 60x60cmsColour Block 7 480$   

Today I delivered my 6 paintings for exhibition at the Pomona

,a small country town in the hinterland of Noosa where each year on the 12 and 13 Sept,

 the show is held .The organisers today told me that 75% of exhibitors this year are new.

This does not surprise me as there are very few outlets for local artists to show their work at a reasonable price

.Many gift shops and galleries  have closed down during the past two years leaving many talented artsits with nowhere to show their work.

 Please support your local show or visit if you are in the area, a very beautiful part of the world.

61x77cmsNoosa Sunset 850$ 120x61cms