Artist's Palette

Edited by Trevor Lang Peter Gasson is more than sentimental about life in the country. Even his studio – housed in historic stables south of Bendigo – is a relic from Australia’s pioneering days when powerful horses worked the land and moved passeng

By Trevor Lang Professional artist Ann Russell began her career as a high school art teacher, before switching to commercial art for ten years. Some time after the birth of her children she found herself disenchanted with her work. A decision was ma

Edited by Trevor Lang Jasmine Jan was born in Darwin in 1968. She is essentially a self-taught artist. From a very young age, an interest in wildlife and art was nurtured and encouraged by her family and extended family. After a brief stint in Melbo

By Ann Russell For me, pastel painting is about colour and light. I like to use dashes of bright and unexpected colour to create the luminosity that pastels are renowned for. I tend to build layers – as many as 15 – and use a lot of different satura

By Jasmine Jan Using reference photographs of birds in various poses, create a thumbnail sketch of composition. Roughly shade in darker areas to establish tones to work out areas of light and dark. Consider where the Chinese signature stamp will be a

Contributed by Helene Wild • Paper: 175gsm Skytone Text Pewter (finished size 26 x 17 cm). • Propelling Pencils: Staedtler 2H and HB, 0.5 leads. The hydrangea in this demonstration drawing by Helene Wild was slowly wilting while she worked. Because

Edited by Trevor Lang Sydney painter Liz Cuming describes herself as a ‘mid-career artist’ – she has been creating art and exhibiting her works for more than 30 years. Recently she took a bold career step by giving up teaching to focus on her painti

Edited by Trevor Lang Beryl Crofts proudly maintains she is proof of the theory that people can take up painting in their senior years and still succeed. She believes it is never too late too start, and the quality of her work reinforces this claim.

Edited by Trevor Lang Ray Ellis is definitely a self-made artist – although, in his early development, he sought out art tutors to enhance his technique (in Australia and also while serving overseas as a member of the defence forces). He developed a

Edited by Trevor Lang Barry Green was born in New Zealand in 1938. He has long since left the land of the long white cloud behind and settled here in Australia. He is a member of the Watercolour Society of Queensland, with an impressive list of arti

By Ray Ellis • Canvas. • Artists’ Oil Paints in traditional colours. • Various brushes. In this particular painting, I commenced by applying the sky and cloud formation in a mix of Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White, attempting to obtain a hazy, so

Edited by Trevor Lang During her primary school years, art was Helene Wild’s favourite subject. In those days, State schools had no designated ‘art rooms’, but thankfully one of her teachers took art seriously. Art classes were a highlight for Helen

By Helene Wild • Arches hot pressed ‘Satine’ 300gsm paper (finished size 28 x 19 cm). • Sable Brushes: Numbers 0, 1 and 2. • Pencils. • Winsor & Newton Watercolours: Cadmium Lemon; Cadmium Yellow; Yellow Ochre; Cadmium Red; Permanent Rose; Cerulean