This section of Skill-Based Art: A Learning Resource for Art Students & Artist-Teachers™ is focused on finding fragments of the western European academic tradition amongst art societies, galleries, museums, cultural institutions and fine art material manufacturers which are based in Australia. We are welcomed to these various contexts to document their contributions in keeping the great traditions of drawing, painting and sculpture alive in their unique way. These institutions see merit in the art, artists and craftsmanship of the past and are working assiduously to continue this legacy into the 21st century.
Skill-Based Art invites you to witness as we attempt to collect fragments of the tradition in effort to arrive at a richer understanding of the realist lineage and evaluate the current day status of figurative realism in Australia.
Skill-Based Art invites you to witness as we attempt to collect fragments of the tradition in effort to arrive at a richer understanding of the realist lineage and evaluate the current day status of figurative realism in Australia.
January 23, 2023
Guided Tour of the Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society with President, Jean Sturrock
Guided Tour of the Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society with President, Jean Sturrock
In this video, Emilio Longo visits the Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society (DTAS) to receive a guided tour by president, Jean Sturrock. The Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society was established in 1969 as a home for artists, students and art connoisseurs from Doncaster and surrounding suburbs to convene, build solidarity, and shared appreciation of traditional drawing, painting and sculpture. Over the years the society has provided a variety of demonstrations, weekly classes and workshops, as well as critiques, exhibitions and plein air painting trips to its members. These activities are still maintained by the society and offer opportunities for art students to receive formation in traditional art. The tour covers the ground and upper floor of the society which is supplemented with conversation that focuses on the society’s history, philosophy and core instructors, as well as the weekly timetable, patrons and future trajectory.
Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society’s website: www.doncastertemplestoweartistssociety.org.au
Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society’s website: www.doncastertemplestoweartistssociety.org.au
March 2, 2022
Andrew Bonneau's Solo Exhibition, Pattern and Form, Metro Gallery
Andrew Bonneau's Solo Exhibition, Pattern and Form, Metro Gallery
In this video, Emilio Longo documents Australian Realist painter, Andrew Bonneau’s solo exhibition titled, Pattern and Form, which was showing at Metro Gallery in Armadale, Melbourne, between 2 – 26 March, 2022. The paintings showcased in this exhibition are comprised predominantly of still lifes which unveil the artist’s interest in Christian, Greek, Indian and Balinese religion. This collection of objects tends to be juxtaposed against a draped background of exotic textiles which feature heavy pattern and repetition, all the while being painted with the utmost sensitivity to the nuances of light and form, which ultimately reveals a fidelity to the truth behind the beauty of each object. The documentation includes footage of each painting featured in the exhibition, as well as a conversation with the artist whereby he explains his inspiration behind the recent body of work.
Andrew's website: www.andrewbonneauart.com
Andrew’s email: andrewbonneau@hotmail.com
Andrew's website: www.andrewbonneauart.com
Andrew’s email: andrewbonneau@hotmail.com
April 16, 2021
Visit to Langridge Artist Colours with Founder and Master Paintmaker, David Coles
In this video, Emilio Longo visits Langridge Artist Colours in Yarraville, Victoria, to meet founder and master paintmaker, David Coles. Langridge Artist Colours is an Australian based artists’ oil colour manufacturer which was founded in 1992 and since has been serving artists with quality paints both nationally and internationally. The visit features a conversation with David Coles which provides background on David’s history and how he got started in the art materials business through his mother’s art store, in his birthplace of England. David explains the humble beginnings of Langridge Artist Colours and how he raised it to become one of the leading artists’ oil colour brands in Australia, with it steadily gaining global recognition. This is supplemented with a comprehensive demonstration whereby each stage of the paintmaking process is explained from initial mixing of pigments, milling of oil paint, to final paint tubing.
Langridge Artist Colour’s website: www.langridgecolours.com
Langridge Artist Colour’s website: www.langridgecolours.com
February 28, 2021
Conversation with Victorian Artists Society's Paintout Coordinator (John Hurle)
Conversation with Victorian Artists Society's Paintout Coordinator (John Hurle)
In this video, Emilio Longo has a conversation with Victorian Artists Society’s Paintout coordinator, John Hurle. Established in 1870, the Victorian Artists Society has maintained a devotion to outdoor painting which, in recent years, has become a monthly paintout whereby members have the opportunity to travel to a preselected location in Victoria, Australia and paint in the en plein air tradition, following in the footsteps of artists who were some of the first members of the society including, Frederick McCubbin, Hugh Ramsay and Arthur Streeton. The conversation covers the history of the paintouts and specific locations which are visited, as well as why maintaining the tradition of painting directly from nature is an integral part of the Victorian Artists Society’s vision.
Victorian Artists Society’s website: www.vasgallery.org.au
Victorian Artists Society Paintout Coordinator's email: paintouts@vasgallery.org.au (use this address rather than the one stated in the video)
Victorian Artists Society’s website: www.vasgallery.org.au
Victorian Artists Society Paintout Coordinator's email: paintouts@vasgallery.org.au (use this address rather than the one stated in the video)
January 25, 2021
Guided Tour of the Victorian Artists Society with former President, Eileen Mackley
Guided Tour of the Victorian Artists Society with former President, Eileen Mackley
In this video, Emilio Longo partakes in a guided tour of the Victorian Artists Society with former President, Eileen Mackley. The Victorian Artists Society has become a mainstay of Australian art history which originated in 1870 and is still running today to carry on the tradition of tonal realist painting that was propagated by proponents of the Heidelberg School. The tour covers all galleries within the society, members room and balcony, as well as the popular art school which is housed within it. This is complimented with conversation which covers the society’s principles and history including past presidents, treasurers and council members. Dialogue regarding some of the paintings which form part of the society’s permanent collection is also featured, as well as discussion on the recent renovations which took place and how the society is accommodating newer trends in art education while still maintaining its traditional roots.
Victorian Artists Society’s website: www.vasgallery.org.au
Victorian Artists Society’s website: www.vasgallery.org.au