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THE ARTIST 3
Another series I did was for a Perth business in 1988: five paintings called Bondi Beach 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. I was living at Bondi Beach (Sydney) then, like many other New Zealanders. I painted this large blue Sydney bus then too, which a kind friend sent back to me in New Zealand after I'd left, it's now in my lounge. I also began attending life drawing at City Art Institute and began sketching female nudes. I had met Brett Whiteley who painted female nudes, because his studio was across the road from where I lived (in Surrey Hills) when I first arrived aged 20. Not really knowing who he was as he was not known in New Zealand, I befriended him, appreciating his comments and encouragement about my work. Once he drew some hands on one of my nude sketches saying "always draw the hands, otherwise your work will look like a student's." He also
gave me a 6'x4' peice of board and showed how to prepare canvases - it's how I do it today, I haven't learned any other way. I painted the blue bus above on the 6x4. Read more...