Industrial Cathedral

Industrial Cathedral
"Industrial Cathedral" charcoal on paper 131 x 131 cm Jane Bennett. Finalist in 1998 Dobell Drawing Prize Art Gallery of NSW Finalist 1998 Blake Prize Winner 1998 Hunter's Hill Open Art Prize

About Me

My photo
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I'm an Industrial Heritage Artist who paints "en plein air".If it's damaged, derelict, doomed and about to disappear, I'll be there to paint it.

Saturday 20 July 2013

Painting Thompson Square, Windsor

Thompson Square, the oldest public town square in Australia,  is a charming and unique relic of the colonial Georgian era Sydney. It is the only town square remaining from the original five ‘Macquarie towns’ planned and designed by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Starting a plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries 
This Precinct is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the National Trust and also on the NSW State Heritage Register as being of State heritage significance.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Starting a plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
Most of the buildings in Thompson Square are regarded as of crucial historical and architectural merit. 
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
The charm of Thompson Square is that it still retains the village square character originally intended by Macquarie.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
Windsor Bridge is the oldest existing bridge crossing the Hawkesbury River. The caisson deck supports are original and over 130 years old.
It was designed by the Public Works Department and constructed, between 1872-1874, by contractors Andrew Turnbull and William K. Dixon.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
A plaque that was placed on the bridge to celebrate Australia's Bicentenary quoting the then Minister for Public Works John Sutherland, who opened the bridge in 1874, states:
"I hope this bridge will last longer than the life of the youngest child who passes over it today.'
Australia's heritage.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
There are so many lovely viewpoints of the bridge, park, river and Georgian architecture that I found it difficult to choose!
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
I decided to paint a panoramic canvas from the "Doctor's House" on the far left to the "School of Arts" building over the road on the right, with the lovely park in the centre.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
Half-way through my plein air oil painting of
Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
The historic Windsor bridge, just to the right of the "Doctor's House" is linking the middle distance to the background, and the Hawkesbury river can just be glimpsed between the trees.
Plein air oil painting of Thompson Square, Windsor by artist Jane Bennett
The artist painting Thompson Square, Windsor
oil on canvas 25 x 152cm

Enquiries
Painting 'en plein air' in the oldest town square in Australia. I'm following the footsteps of Arthur Streeton, who painted "the Purple Noon's Transparent might" in the Hawkesbury district.

Related posts

Thursday 20 June 2013

Painters and dockers - Artist in Residence on the tall ship 'James Craig' Part 2


Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Starting my plein air painting of
"Painters with 'James Craig ' in Garden Island dry dock"
I had originally stored my paints, brushes, canvases, table, chair and easel in the deckhouse of the James Craig, but I realised that the ritual of unlocking and sorting through all my stuff wasted too much time. Now I keep the half-finished canvases on the 'tween deck of the James Craig, and leave the table and easel in a corner on the floor of the dry dock.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
unfinished plein air painting of
"Painters with 'James Craig ' in Garden Island dry dock"

It's quite a hike down from the ship to the floor of the dry dock.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
unfinished plein air painting of "Painters with 'James Craig '
in Garden Island dry dock"

I choose a position where the ship looms toward me between the walls of the dry dock.
Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Unfinished plein air painting of "Painters with 'James Craig '
in Garden Island dry dock"

I try to make sure that I have enough room for the mast, rigging and the dockyard crane overhead.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm

I knew that it would be overcast and so prepared a few canvases with a black imprimatura (underpainting). I find that this gives the clouds a more 3 dimensional quality.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Artist Jane Bennett with her unfinished plein air painting
of 'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available

Portrait of the artist in full PPE (personal protective equipment) regalia.


Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Artist Jane Bennett with her unfinished plein air painting
of 'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available

Hard hat, hi res jacket, tinted safety glasses, earmuffs and metal capped boots.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available

There is another tall ship, the HMB Endeavour, in the dry dock, but I can't get too close to her as she is being sandblasted back to her original wood and can barely be seen in the dust haze.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available

The dark bulk of the 'James Craig' stands out dramatically in front of the threatening clouds.


Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available

I was worried that it was going to rain. It's risky starting such a large canvas as it takes so many trips back up to the top. The dockyard steps are narrow and a wet canvas has to be carried on its own without other luggage.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett.
Unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available
Suddenly I realized that I wasn't the only painter on the dock floor, as 2 white clad men started to haphazardly spray patches of red on the prow of James Craig.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
Unfinished plein air painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available  

They cheekily "offer" to pose for me. They don't actually mean it, but I paint them in anyway.
Their figures provide a useful gauge to judge scale. This painterly device is known as "staffage" - the size of the figures can be compared and contrasted with the size of the ship
Tim Drinkwater, the dockyard manager of the Sydney Heritage Fleet, told me that the painters would only be there for 8 minutes, but that was long enough for me to block in the basic shapes.
The painters came up later to take photos of my painting of them.
They will be back to finish their painting on Tuesday.
I like the patchy 'work in progress' look of the hull, so I'll try to finish my painting before theirs.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available 
This canvas is in a 'portrait' format - vertical rather than the more usual horizontal one, which is unusual for a painting of a ship.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available 

I wanted the ship to dominate the canvas and used the extreme perspective to make it feel as though it is towering over the onlooker, and the prow almost poke you in the eye.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available 

I am quite short, so I have to fold the legs of the easel up and set it on the ground as I'm not tall enough to paint the masts and rigging with it in the ordinary position.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
Available 

At least this way it won't fall over in the wind.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of 'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm
Available 
They keep moving the dockyard crane. Any further to the left and it will be out of the picture. I can only just manage to squeeze it in without it looking too cramped.


Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
"Painters with 'James Craig ' in Garden Island dry dock" 2013
oil on canvas 75 x 100cm
Available 

I like the final position of the crane, though, as it won't be obscured by the masts and rigging. It gives the composition a little more drama, as it looks as though it could topple into the dock with a gust of wind.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My half - finished painting of
"Painters with 'James Craig ' in Garden Island dry dock"
2013 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm
Available 

The end of my first full day painting on the floor of the dry dock - time to lug my easel, paint, chair, paints, brushes and large wet canvases all the way up the stairs of the dock and across the gangplank to my studio on the 'tweendeck of the James Craig. It's a long way up and takes several trips so I won't need to join a gym anytime soon.

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My studio on the 'tween deck of the 'James Craig'
World's coolest studio!
 
Available

Plein air oil painting of tall ship James Craig in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
'James Craig in drydock being painted'
2013 oil on canvas 100 x 75cm

Available






Plein air oil painting of tall ships James Craig and HMB Endeavour in Garden Island Drydock painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
'James Craig and HMB Endeavour in drydock 2'
2013 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm
Available


 
































Related posts

Australia Day 2011 at Darling Harbour Part 1: Endeavour

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Artist in Residence on the tall ship James Craig Part 1- Sailing to Garden Island

I packed before dawn so that I could hitch a ride with Sydney Heritage Fleet's Tall Ship James Craig on its way from its usual berth at Wharf 7, Pyrmont to the dry dock at Garden Island.
Plein air small gouache study of the Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug 'Bronzewing' alongside the 'James Craig'  painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My small gouache study of the
Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug
'Bronzewing' alongside the 'James Craig'
Available

I painted a few small, quick gouache studies of the tall ship and tug on board, just to warm my hands up.

Plein air small gouache study of the Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug 'Bronzewing' alongside the 'James Craig'  painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My small gouache study of the
Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug
'Bronzewing' alongside the 'James Craig'
Available

I will be 'Artist in Residence' at the Garden Island dry dock painting two tall ships, the 'HMB Endeavour' replica and the 'James Craig'.
They will be getting their undersides ship shape in preparation for the International Fleet Review in October.

Plein air small gouache study of the Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug 'Bronzewing' alongside the 'James Craig'  painted by industrial heritage artist Jane Bennett
My small gouache study of the
Sydney Heritage Fleet's tug 'Bronzewing'
alongside the 'James Craig'
Available

I have stashed my easel, paints, brushes and lots of spare canvases in the deckhouse of the 'James Craig' which will be my studio until its departure from Garden Island on or about 15th June.


Related posts

Artist in Residence at the Sydney Heritage Fleet Part 6 - 'Hail, hail, the gang's all here!'
Painting the Spirit of Tasmania in Garden Island Drydock
Painters and dockers - Artist in Residence on the tall ship 'James Craig' Part 2

Sunday 2 June 2013

Not the Writers Festival- Exhibition of Pyrmont Paintings by Jane Bennett at 2013 Pyrmont Festival

I exhibited these historic paintings of Pyrmont at the 2013 Pyrmont festival in conjunction with the Frances Keevil Gallery
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival





















The weather couldn't have been better for the 2013 Pyrmont Festival. A couple of the calmest, sunniest autumn days I've ever experienced in Sydney.
This festival is held on the former Water-Police site, where I used to have several studios during the late 1980s - mid 1990s.
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival





















This time the festival in Pirrama Park was for the whole weekend, which gave many more people a chance to see my exhibition.
 I had brought 55 paintings on canvas and board for the exhibition. The largest was the 61 x 183cm canvas of a panorama of "Union Square" and the smallest was a tiny canvas of a strange little sign on top of the former F.L. Barker/Waite and Bull woolstore on the corner of Pyrmont Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road.
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival
contact me



















This year I had written 2 small booklets about my paintings and drawings of Pyrmont. The text was partly based on some of the posts in this blog.
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival
I printed some prototype copies as an experiment, intending to display them at the festival. I partly wanted people to be able to read the text as, even with the help given to me by  my gallerist Frances Keevil I can't always manage to talk to everyone who wants to know something about a particular painting. My other goal was to get some feedback. 
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival

One of these booklets, "Pyrmont - Shadows of the Past" was about my charcoal, ink and gouache drawings of Pyrmont  in a simple, classic black and white format. 
The other booklet "Pyrmont Paintings" displayed the paintings to great advantage on a dark blue background. but unfortunately this choice made the black text almost invisible. The printer service had offered a very limited choice of templates, fonts and colours. I had used them because I had been flat out painting and exhibiting since the beginning of this year and had very little time or energy left to prepare for the Pyrmont Festival. The booklets were an afterthought. I wrote and designed them both in a single day to meet the deadline for a discount printing deal.
In a way, this was good. I have a tendency to perfectionism, and faced with limitless choice and no deadline I can become paralyzed with fear. I thought that I needed to write something, anything at all, however lame, and then improve it.
I wasn't actually intending to sell them at all. I gave copies to the people who bought paintings, or were seriously interested in purchasing. I also gave a couple to the gallery so that we could . I was stunned at the number of people who flatly insisted on paying $10, $12, $15 or even $20 for a booklet! I tried to insist that they were free, as they were just experiments. Apart from a misplaced comma and a couple of oddly proportioned margins the black and white booklet looked very elegant, but the beautiful blue background of the painting book had unfortunately made the writing completely illegible and there were a couple of font discrepancies. Trying to finish the 2nd booklet by the midnight deadline had nearly sent me cross-eyed.
I pointed out the errors, but it didn't seem to faze anyone; they still insisted on paying for them! 
We sold over 50 booklets, and we weren't actually even trying to sell them at all!
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival
contact me



















I only have one of each left now, and I'd better hang on to them as I'd like to have them in front of me when I finally sit down with the gallery's designer and plan a better publication.
So, it's not yet the Writer's Festival, and I'm not an author.
However the reaction has given me a great deal of confidence. People have been nagging me for years to write about my paintings, but now I know that they are serious.
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival in Pirrama Park
"Decisions, decisions... which one should I buy?"
Exhibition of paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett
at the 2013 Pyrmont Festival






















As well as my unexpected excursion into literature, it was a very interesting and successful event on a number of different levels.
I reconnected with lots of people who once lived or worked in Pyrmont as well as many of the new residents of Jacksons Landing and the apartments on top of Pyrmont Point.
There were several sales and I am now preparing to paint an extremely large and prestigious commission resulting from a contact made on these 2 days.
Paintings of Pyrmont by Jane Bennett in Pirrama Park