Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Painting Diary: Tramway Substation

I went painting the other week. It was a fun few hours. I specifically chose an out of the way spot, on the side of a very infrequently used old tramline near my place. I was needing some alone time. It was a cool place, all this great old broken down machinery and stuff. I didn't even realise it was there, it was in the bushes just off the highway. 

how's the serenity?
 
busted up old tram



more tram junk
 So there I am, loving the solitude, and I look and these workmen are looking over my shoulder, commenting on the painting. They then brought a forklift, and were moving great big chunks of old tram tracks and dropping them beside me. They were like, "aw, don't worry mate, you'll be right, don't move". But I tell you, it's not super easy to concentrate with a forklift behind your back. They were good guys though, and I laughed at my thwarted efforts to be alone.

my muse

rough sketch to work out composition, with help of ants and flys

my set up

blocking in the darks
the forklift arrives


serenity now!

nearly done
Then a little later, a tram rolls slowly by, carrying a bunch of tourists and retirees into the National Park. It slowed to a stop near me, and an old lady calls out "what are you working on there?", and I held up the painting to show them. Funny.

my tram friends arrive

I was painting this little building that I liked the look of, but was wondering how I could find out what it was called. Thankfully, my forklift friend came over when the painting was done, and goes "you should call it 'Tramway Substation, Loftus'". So I did.

Have a look at the finished painting over at my painting blog.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of your best yet brother. In my opinion anyway.
Nice back story...

Ali said...

Hey that's cool! I love the look of that decaying old tram near the top. Nice painting too.