A week before day 1 of 20, I was so anxious about the project that my jaw felt like it was in a vice. if it weren’t for the M Collection ladies and their kind words I’m sure something would have broke!
The brief was this – Complete 20 postcard sized paintings in 20 consecutive days in Melbourne – rain, hail or shine – of Melbourne’s laneways and urbanscapes – with not a single day off. The paintings will be begun and executed in public allowing people to view the process and evolution of the works and encourage people to step into my outdoor ‘studio’.
I would walk around the city carrying all the gear I needed- sometimes for 2-3 hours looking for a spot where the light would be just right and then setup and get to it. Keeping in mind the light would forever be changing!
As you can see above I had more cameras than a film crew. Each day I would make a time lapse of the painting and the passersby – this was for those people who couldn’t make it to see the painting in progress.
Below is the epitomy of the whole project. Press play and listen to the sound. Children – the worlds best critics. Originally I had me speaking but the kids were better…
And the sound in this one too. Right at the end 🙂
As you heard the crowds reactions to my outdoor painting performance were what made continuing through 20 winter days possible. Strangely I learnt that I could hold a conversation – or two – and paint at the same time without breaking stride.
You can see the full series of these here on my instagram.
Even more impressive was peoples willingness to give to me, I had people get me chai lattes, pastries, coffees, all manner of food – and offered more than I took! Not to mention the lovely ladies who offered their balconies to paint from, the fine scarf from Sydney and the $50 which I passed along and bought warm drinks for the artists who were willing to brave the cold with me! Magic community!!! Everyone really got behind me on this one, and it made the project more rewarding than any exhibition I’ve ever done before.
I’m really looking forward to doing the next installment of the project with the latest piece of technology which is going to make things even more entertaining! But maybe when it get’s warmer… 🙂