Painting the South

[Richard Robinson]

Sunset on 'The Remarkables'. (not a painting)

Back from painter's paradise in Queenstown, lower south island of New Zealand. Still one of my favorite places in the world - awe-inspiring, magnificent, grandiose, and WOW! are a few words that spring to mind. I can see why so many painter's move down here to live - there's a painting around every corner. Talking with Helen about moving there for a few months next year - anyone interested in a house swap or know someone who is?

Had a couple of days snowboarding on Coronet Peak - one of those was night skiing which was a new experience for me - freaky but fun. On my first day down there I drove up through Glenorchy to find Paradise Valley so I could paint it from life before I taught it in the workshops. Had to drive through several streams and forests to get there which was a good adventure in itself, and then painting in the middle of a stream battling the near gale force winds, the constant rain and black swarms of sandflies tested my resolve to the limit, but I did manage to come away with a painting.

The workshops went really well in both Alexandra and Wanaka - 4 days in all - a real friendly bunch down there - my only regret is that we didn't have more time. Would have been good to do 3 or 4 day workshops - there's only so much information you can squeeze into a day.

Workshop Demo Painting

The Original Photo (Thanks Natalie!)

I took the time to meet a couple of artist's whose work I've admired for a long time - Nigel Wilson and Ben Ho. I hope to return and paint with them when the time is right. As a full time artist it's SO important to meet up with other artists - it's all too easy to spend your whole life in your studio.

I'm planning to run some workshops in Beijing next year, all going well, and I am open to running workshops in other countries at any time as a few people have asked. All I need is about 10 students and a place to stay, so if you're interested in that just send me an email. (Don't have 10 artists? Just contact your local painting club.)

Bye for now.

[Montalvo]

Hi Richard,

The above photo is beautiful. Rolling hills, water, and mountains. Would be a good pic to paint in the workshop.Have you ever been to Red Rock Country here in Arizona?  I know you will be going to Las Vegas to do a workshop. If time permits travel to Sedona, Arizona. Sedona is 4 hrs away from Las Vegas. You won't regret it.

[Roger H. Passie]

Richard, I love the loose brush technique man. Quan Ho would be impressed with your work.

[Richard Robinson]

:-) Nice to hear from you Simon. No I didn't go to John's place - did get told to go there, but time ran away in the end. Were you painting outdoors? How did you go?