Tag Archives: Garden

Artists’ Picnic

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ARTISTS’ PICNIC 15 April (click for details)

We are having an Artists’ Picnic in the gardens of our new Hamilton Property. After 15 months of relocating our house, studios and gallery to Hamilton we are finally ready to welcome artists into our new gardens and studios.

Artists picnic is an introduction to our new space and an opportunity to showcase the studios and picture framing workshops. We have a small gallery showing our work and offering quality art materials for sale. Picture Framing is up and running and all enquiries welcome.

Bring your own materials, picnic and rug to relax and enjoy the day of creating.

Bookings and RSVP to Jenni on 0417 585 102 or email – jenni@jennimitchell.com.au

PIERS BATEMAN (Piers maxwell Dudley-Bateman)

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The Gallery will be closed 12 SEPTEMBER and reopen 10 OCTOBER. 

Jenni & Mervyn are heading off to Tibooburra to paint.

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We are saddened to acknowledge the passing of our gallery artist, friend and colleague PIERS BATEMEN. Piers has been in both Mervyn and my life forever. The Bateman family lived nearby when I was growing up in Eltham and came regularly to our Pastry shop. Piers was always the artist and when I began painting he made my first picture frames. He attended our local Eltham High School and contributed significantly to the artistic ethos of our community. Piers had the opportunity to work with and be mentored by  some of our country’s greatest artists’ such as Arthur Boyd.  We were excited for him when he had his first successful exhibitions and how proud he stood with those first achievements.  He went on to have a highly successful career as an artist in Australia and overseas. He had a passion for the sea and travelling extensively making a home where ever he was and in particular Spain and more recently China. He began teaching painting as a Professor for the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art.

Piers was an adventurer and great inspiration for just heading out there and doing it!  We saw the Australian Desert through Piers’s paintings, our local Bush and later the works from China more recently. He made his mark as a strong and unique Australian Landscape artist and did not ever ‘sell out’ to the fashion of the day with his art.

Piers has been showing at Eltham South Fine Art: Studios and Gallery since we commence and will be greatly missed for those regular chats and coffee around the table.

Jenni Mitchell

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Painting – Summer Bush Piers Batemen

Piers Bateman wall plate from our Retro Eltham Show

Piers Bateman (1947 – 2015)

Born in Perth Piers moved to Eltham with his family in 1957 where he spent his formative years and attended the local Eltham high school. In 1966 Piers travelled to London where he studied art with Arthur Boyd and shared studios with Canadian and English painters. He held his first exhibition in Melbourne at the Munster Arms Gallery in 1968 age 20. From thereon he has travelled and exhibited regularly in Australia and overseas as well as setting up a studio in Alicante Spain in 1985. He has work held in many Private and Public collections nationally and internationally including Shanghai; where he currently holds a position at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts.

From the Sydney Morning Herald

Former Liberal Andrew Peacock, has paid tribute to his “dear friend” landscape artist Piers Bateman, who died in a boating accident on Friday.

Mr Bateman, 67, was accompanied by a friend from New South Wales, who also perished in the incident.

In an email to Fairfax Media from his home in Texas, US, Mr Peacock said he was “very sad” to learn of the death.

Artist Piers Bateman.Artist Piers Bateman.

“Piers was a dear friend and I greatly admire his work,” he said.

“Six of his works hung in the Australian Ambassador’s Residence in Washington,DC while I was there and I have five of them hanging in my Texas home today.”

Mr Peacock said so much of the Melbourne artist’s work evoked a distinctive Australian spirit.

“Piers was a fine artist and I will miss both him and his work,” he said.

Mr Bateman’s   work has been exhibited in art galleries in Australia and abroard, including the Red Hill Gallery in Brisbane, Eltham South Fine Art and the Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair.
His art also hangs on the walls of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne University and the conference room in the Australian Embassy in Washington.

In 2008, Mr Bateman told Brisbane Times art was a “seduction” to be enjoyed. Continue reading →

Gallery closed Sunday 19 April until Thursday 30 April 2015.

Aside

Eltham South Fine Art: Studios & Gallery will be closed Sunday19 April and re-open Thursday 30 April. 

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Autumn Colour

Autumn Colour

An Artists’ Field Trip Flyer

Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens Field Sketching Workshop

Come and join Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan on an all day field sketching workshoop in Melbourne’s beautiful Botanical Gardens.

Date:Monday 6th April (last Monday of School Holidays) Map inside Gardens

Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm

Meet: The Melbourne Botanical Gardens Terrace café.

Cost: $110

Lunch: BYO or have lunch at the Café.

Link to Bookings: Jenni Mitchell jenni@jennimitchell.com.au ph: (03) 9439 3458

Map Royal Botanical Gardens

Map Royal Botanical Gardens

This workshop is designed to help prepare the artist for a ‘day out’ sketching. You will take just enough materials for easy management and carrying in the field. No need to bring easels.

Bring what you can easily carry – think visiting a foreign country, a train trip, a visit to the beach, city or landscape and plan to come home with some field sketches to work up in the studio, or not.

Suggested materials include – pencils, pen and ink, watercolour and pastels. You will need a sketchbook or drawing board with paper cut to size and fixative if using pastel.

Watercolour, gouache and ink artists will need a bag that will carry a palette, brushes, water container, rag or paper towel and water. This may include a bottle of drinking water that can be refilled from a tap in the park.

You may like to simply come with a pad and pencil. Suggested black led pencils include a variety of sizes from H to 6B, ie: hard and soft black lead pencils. Coloured pencils are also useful including watercolour pencils. You may like to use charcoal.

Wet ones are useful for cleaning hands in the field. You may like to bring a cushion, light blanket or something to sit on if planning to work on the ground. There will be seats throughout the gardens – but you may need to be quick to secure a spot.

It is a public holiday and if the sun is shining the gardens will have more visitors. This can add to the subject material – and the need to sketch quickly.

Bring enough paper and materials to last the day. There will be panoramic subjects to paint and exquisite close up work to do. The choice will be up to you.

Bring a hat.

I will give a demonstration of a variety of subjects in different mediums and then help each student as a one on one with your chosen subject.

Botanical Gardens Flyer

Map inside Gardens

January 2015

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News:

The Etching Press will be available this Saturday Afternoon 21 February 2pm – 5pm  for students and artists who attended the recent LinoPrint workshop. It will be available once a month for printing.

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Painting the Yarra River with Jenni Mitchell

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Two upcoming events for Eltham South Fine Art include A LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON  LITERARY  with SIGMUND JOSigBookRGENSEN. Sunday 15 February 3.00 – 5.00.Sigmund For further details and bookings click here… Late Sunday Afternoon with Sigmund Jorgensen.

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Two Orchard Painting Workshop for February will be held on Sunday 8th and Tuesday 17th. More information here… GardenWshopFeb

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The Eltham South Fine Art: Gallery & Studios will officially re-open for 2015 Thursday 29th January. (The gallery will be open on other days before the 29th if we are working in the studios.) The gallery will be open regularly Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Sundays – please check first. Eltham South Fine Art is an artist-run-space and to enable us to pursue our own artistic life will not be opening every Sunday in 2015. Eltham South Fine Art is a working studio, gallery and the family home of artists Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan. The gallery space permanently exhibits the family works of painting, print, sculpture, textile, jewellery and books by the Mitchell, Hannan and Skipper family; Jenni Mitchell, Grace Mitchell, Mervyn Hannan, Joe Hannan, Sonia Skipper. and Sigmund Jorgensen. The gallery also exhibits our contemporaries and has work from the early Eltham artists for a sense of Eltham history;   Alan Martin, Leslie Sinclair, Peter Glass, George Chalmers, Piers Bateman and more. As well as the studio and gallery visitors are welcome to wander through the orchard garden which was originally established by Arthur and Grace Mitchell in 1948. Textile and jewellery from Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Timor and Turkey. We also offer custom Picture Framing and have been framing as Studio Framing since 1988.

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Painting classes are held with Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan and will be commencing for 2015 from Thursday 29th January.

Thursday 10.00am – 12.30

Thursday 4.30am – 6.30

Friday 10.00am – 12.30

Saturday 10.00 –  12.00

Saturday 2.30 –  4.30

Private sessions by arrangement.

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Painting and Drawing Workshops are organised throughout the year and held at the Studio, The Orchard Garden, The Yarra River and other Landscape locations. These will be posted at they are organised. There are currently places available in the Orchard Garden Workshops for February.

The Lino Print workshop for January is full at this time.

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New Painting Workshops

A series of four new workshops have been planned to work with Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan both in the Artists Orchard Garden at the gallery and in both Wingrove Park Eltham and along the Yarra River in Warrandyte.

Click here for Workshop details…

Two Artist Garden Workshops

Wingrove Park Details & Bookings

Yarra-bookings-2014

All Workshop Dates Spring/Summer

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Students from the Studios

DV News Oct 1 2014

DV News Oct 1 2014

September News  

Students from the Studios Poster

Jenni Mitchell’s Painting Students Exhibition.

The first exhibition by 27 of Jenni Mitchell’s Eltham Studios painting students will open Sunday 28 September at Eltham South Fine Art: Gallery & Studios.

This is the first student show at the gallery since moving the teaching studio from Montsalvat to the studio and home of the late pastry cook and sculptor GRACE MITCELL. The last exhibition of Jenni’s students was held in the Long Gallery at Montsalvat several years ago.

I am excited at the breadth of the work in this show. Most of the students are from the Eltham and Nillumbik area and range in ages from 11 – 76. Some of my students have been working in my studios for eight years and others just a few months. The diversity of the work also ranges in styles and materials from works on canvas, paper, oil paint, pastel, pencil and water based paints.

The Exhibition subjects include simple black and white studio studies to complex and intricate still life paintings, the orchard garden at the studio and paintings from recent plein air workshops in Wingrove Park and the Yarra River.

The quality of the work in show is excellent due partly to the disciplined basis of the tonal painting technique encouraged in the studio.

My philosophy is to encourage them to spend the time in developing good painting skills through a formal understanding of tone using first black and white to understanding how to ‘see’ the subject objectively. By using these classical early techniques the artist students are able to develop their own methods in which they may ‘express themselves’ through any medium and will have knowledge of how make their art with conviction rather than by using the hit and miss approach.

Many students will be hanging their work in a gallery for the first time while others have been exhibiting regularly. The idea of the show came from the students who wanted to experience the complete process learning and making art through to the exhibition.

Also on exhibition are works by Mervyn Hannan’s pastel students. Mervyn has been taking classes also this year. Students are able to take classes with both Jenni and Mervyn.

This is an opportunity to show support for the thriving artistic community in our area as well an opportunity to make a purchase from new and emerging artists who may become our Finest Artists of the Future. Some works are for sale and are reasonably priced.

The Exhibition will be opened by Councillor Helen Coleman 2.oopm Sunday 28 September and run until 12 October – Wednesday’s to Sunday 10.00am – 5.30pm.

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Further Background –

Eltham South Fine Art: Studios & Gallery grew out of the Mitchell family property in Mt. Pleasant Road. My parents, Grace and Arthur Mitchell purchased the property in 1948 – an old rambling weatherboard cottage stood at the top of the block. When my father became ill Grace built a small tearoom and pastry shop, as a way of earning an income to support Arthur and her young child (Jenni) then. Together they built the large orchard garden that survives today. (Mervyn and I maintain the garden as well as run the gallery and teaching studio to help preserve this little piece of Eltham history).

After Grace retired from the shop, age 67 she got a driving license and completed a fine art degree at RMIT. The ‘tearooms’ then became her home and sculpture studios. The old cottage is now a mudbrick house and Jenni’s painting studio. When Grace passed in 2011 at nearly 95yrs Mervyn and I decided to turn her home and studio into what is now ELTHAM SOUTH FINE ART: Gallery & Studios.

 Prior to this I rented the Studio at Montsalvat by the pool as my teaching studio. Seemed wasteful to continue to pay rent to Montsalvat when I was also paying rates for Grace’s house; and we didn’t want to sell to a developer; which was suggested. 

Grace would be delighted to see her home being used as a gallery and studio today. She loved to teach too and used to teach pottery and bee keeping at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre.

We have had several shows at the gallery in the last couple of years including an important RETRO ELTHAM SHOW in which we exhibition 61 artists who were working in the Shire during our youth (1960s – 1980s). Mervyn and I both want to continue to show the art and history of local region. Both Eltham born and with strong ties to Montsalvat from an early age we have a sound knowledge of the arts history in region, and how quickly it can disappear.

Jenni Mitchell

Late Sunday Afternoon Performance with Daniel Kahans

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We are very pleased to invite you to a special event in our LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON Series. A Performance with  DANIEL KAHANS. SUNDAY 15 JUNE @ 3.30. Booking Advised

.Cost $9.50 includes High Tea and refreshments.

For More details of our forthcoming Late Sunday Afternoon click here.

 

 

TWO MONGOLIAN JOURNEYS

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Our next exciting exhibition is about:  TWO MONGOLIAN JOURNEYS

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This exhibition will showcase the PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, TEXTILES & ARTEFACTS produced and collected from our two journeys to Mongolia in 2010 and 2012.

In 2010 we travelled with our Australian friends Marion and Peter to Mongolia to be with our Mongolian artist friend Tugsoo Sodnom. Tugsoo had come to Australia a few years earlier and travelled with us to paint in the Flinders Ranges. This resulted in the first exhibition DESERT SHARING held at Montsalvat Barn Gallery in 2005. We have continued the journey with travelling to the Central Mongolia landscape at Khorhorin, the North East to the Siberian Forest and later in 2012 South to the Gobi Desert with Tugsoo and her son Unench.

We camped in GERS along the way and made many small paintings and much photography and film which will be part of this exhibition. We will also be exhibiting some of the work Tugsoo made in the Australian Flinders Ranges.

Durning our 2010 visit we were invited to return and exhibit in the History Museum in Ullaanbaatar; being the first Australians to exhibit in the Museum. This was part of our reason for returning in 2012; and to travel to the Gobi to fulfil our DESERT SHARING with Tugsoo.

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO MONGOLIAN JOURNAL

The exhibition opens Sunday 10 November @ 2.00pm and continues through until the end of the year.

The exhibition will be open Thursday – Saturday 10.00 – 5.30, Sunday 10.00 – 5.00

all enquiries to: Jenni Mitchell: (03) 9439 3458, M. 0417 585 102  jenni@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au

Camel Herd

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The Spring Show Opens this Sunday, 29 September at 2.00pm.

Screen Shot 2013-09-03 at 10.49.36 AM THE SPRING SHOW DETAILS

Link

The Late Winter ShowCome and join us in the gallery for the opening and share a drink and nibbles.

The Late Winter Show includes several large landscape paintings and a series of small recent still life works using fruits from the orchard garden. Works from a Coastal Norway Snow Shower, the Fiery Sky of a Western Victorian Sunset and a Heavy Mt. Buller Cloudstudy.  There are pastel works from Mervyn Hannan depicting the Flinders Ranges and the Digby Cottage. Still Life from Hilary Jackman and Bush Studies from Piers Bateman. Also included are several recent paintings by Ron Reynolds; Landscapes of Warrandyte and Still Life.

Works by Retro Eltham artists include Grace Mitchell, Alan Martin, Sonia Skipper, Leslie Sinclair and others.

From our recent visit to Dili, Timor Leste we have brought back some traditional textile including  Tias weavings. We are hoping to help support the community we stayed with through some gallery sales.

PAINTING CLASSES have recommenced for the term with regular classes being held Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

If you would like to subscribe to our ESFA NEWSLETTER please send an email to: info@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au and in the heading enter NEWSLETTER

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Artist’s Garden Painting Workshop nov 2012

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The next ARTIST’S GARDEN painting workshop will be held in the Orchard Garden SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER (That’s Remembrance Day in Australia – and we will respect the minute silence at 11.00am).

Date:  Sunday 11 November, 2012

Place: Enter from Six Mount Pleasant Road, Eltham

Time: 10.00am – 3.30

Cost: $145  – morning tea and lunch provided         (NOTE WORKSHOP FULL)

Artist: Jenni Mitchell

The day will commence with a painting demonstration in the Orchard Garden by Jenni Mitchell followed by one to one tuition. Jenni will be focusing on how to capture quickly and simply the essence of the chosen subject. How to bring to the viewer a painterly interpretation.

All participants are welcome from beginners or experienced artists wanting to work in a colourful and old garden.

A home cook lunch will be provided along with morning and afternoon tea.

For bookings and further information  please contact Jenni Mitchell

Phone: (03) 9439 3458   Mobile  0417 585 102

Email: jenni@jennimitchell.com.au

 

Eltham South Fine Art: Studios & Gallery

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Eltham South Fine Art: Studios and Gallery is an Artist Run Initiative growing from the legacy of the late Grace Mitchell. The Mitchell family moved to Eltham in 1948 and bought a property that runs between Mt. Pleasant Road and Fordhams Road, South Eltham. Initially Grace and Arthur Mitchell lived in the old minors cottage at the top of the hill (Fordhams Road) and began constructing the orchard garden.

Grace Mitchell, a tailor and pastry cook began building a new residence and shop at the bottom of the hill at Mt. Pleasant Road and commenced her pastry business which she continued to run until the 1970s. On retirement Grace (then 67) swapped pastry and fabric for paint and sculpture and began her Fine Arts Degree at RMIT. Grace passed away April 2011.

Jenni Mitchell (Grace’s daughter) and husband Mervyn Hannan have re-opened the residence/shop as a Fine Art Gallery and teaching studio.

Jenni Mitchell commenced formal painting classes with Lesley Sinclair at Montsalvat in Eltham at the age of 10 and has since completed a Master of Visual Arts at Monash University.

Jenni travels regularly to wild and exotic locations around the world to find rare material for her painting and photography. Landscapes include the Australian desert, The Antarctic, The Arctic, Greenland, Norway and more recently, Mongolia.

Mervyn Hannan has also travelled widely in the search of inspiration to use with his painting, sculpture and music. Locations include Africa, Europe, Arctic Greenland, Canada and Mongolia.

Together Jenni and Mervyn run the Gallery and teaching studio. Visitors are invited to view  current  work of the resident artists and stroll through the orchard garden. Classes are run regularly and private tuition is available.

The Gallery is open Thursday – Saturday 10.00 – 5.30 and Most Sundays 11.00 – 5.00

For further information please contact Jenni Mitchell (03) 9439 3458 or Mobile 0417 585 102.

email: jenni@jennimitchell.com.au  or info@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au