Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo

HMAS Perth, HMAS Parramatta, HMS Daring & USS Chosin were berthed at Barangaroo for a few days during the recent International Fleet Review celebrations. I was given access to paint there on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th. The ships finally left on Friday 11th October. I painted their departure from the vantage point of my studio at the Sydney Ports Corporation Headquarters at Moore's Wharf.

These will have been the last ships to ever officially berth at Barangaroo.

This 22 hectare site, previously known as the 'Hungry Mile' was a wharf for over 200 years.

It's the end of an era and I'm the only one who seems to have noticed.

 Starting to paint my canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo' 
2013 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I was allowed to drive my car onto the Barangaroo wharf, probably the last time I would ever be able to do so.
I started this painting at about 9am on Wednesday morning.

Starting to paint the sea on my canvas 
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm 
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Painting the sea on my canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

A truck drove up to the gangway and a conga line of sailors passed boxes of provisions onto the ship.
I wondered why the USS Chosin didn't use its ship's cranes instead, but I was grateful to be able to put so many of the crew in the background. It's a bit difficult to see them in the photo below - you'll need a magnifying glass as each figure is only a few millimetres high!

The completed canvas
'USS Chosin at Barangaroo'
 2013 oil on canvas  25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

I finished my painting by 11am, and moved further down the wharf to start painting the other ships.

 Starting my painting of
HMS Daring on Barangaroo wharf
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

My painting of 'HMS Daring
on Barangaroo wharf' 2013
oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

HMS Daring has a very odd motif on its crest - an outstretched hand suspended over a red-hot cauldron. Not so much "daring" as "foolhardy" or at least "bi-polar". It apparently derives from a legendary hero of Ancient Rome who had a major difference of opinion with his emperor and wanted to make a point in a rather drastic fashion.

One of the officers gave me a sticker of the crest, which I have put on the trolley luggage I use to carry my easel in.

It's an appropriate motto.

Starting my painting of HMAS Parramatta
and HMAS Perth on Barangaroo wharf

Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

My painting of 'HMAS Parramatta and
 HMAS Perth on Barangaroo wharf'
2013 oil on canvas 25 x 51cm
Enquiries : janecooperbennett@gmail.com

Unfortunately this post is a few weeks later than intended.

I haven't been able to post anything on my blog or Facebook for a while as I had a car accident and damaged my shoulder not long after painting these. It's been quite frustrating as I still find it a bit painful to paint or even type, but it's slowly getting better.

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Painting the International Fleet Review at Barangaroo Part 2