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…
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…
Wingrove Park Details & Bookings
All Workshop Dates Spring/Summer
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Students from the Studios
DV News Oct 1 2014
September News
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
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.
Come 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
Story from Diamond Valley Leader, 22 May 13
List of Artists in The Retro Eltham Show
Selected Works from The Retro Eltham Show
MEDIA RELEASE
THE RETRO ELTHAM SHOW
2PM, SUNDAY, 14 APRIL, 2013
ELTHAM SOUTH FINE ART GALLERY
6 MOUNT PLEASANT RD ELTHAM
Eltham today is recognised and celebrated as one of Melbourne’s artistic epicentres yet how many people are aware of the artists, innovators and trailblazers of the 60s, 70s and 80s who helped forge the way?
A new exhibition – The Eltham Retrospective Show – will showcase the works of early celebrated Eltham-based artists, sculptors and jewellers such as Clifton Pugh, Matcham Skipper, Neil Douglas and Lesley Sinclair and their work over one of the most fertile periods in Eltham’s history.
The exhibition will be held at Eltham South Fine Art Gallery, run by Eltham artists Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan.
Ms Mitchell said the artistic achievements of Eltham’s pioneering artists and their impact and influence on Australia’s artistic landscape were at risk of being lost.
“History can be fragile,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It’s important to recognise and celebrate Eltham’s early artistic community, as these artists are the strength and soul behind today’s vibrant and emerging new arts community.
“Many of the artists represented in this exhibition have become national names, while others have fallen into obscurity due to a change of fashion. It’s time to remember their energetic contribution,” she said.
Ms Mitchell said the exhibition would also serve as a personal reflection of the artists who inspired the artistic development of both she and Mr Hannan.
“We were both lucky enough to grow up surrounded by these wonderful creative, courageous and sometimes eccentric people as our colleagues, friends or teachers when growing up in Eltham from the 1950s,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We are proud to show this collection of artists and invite everyone to enjoy, learn, reminisce, and be inspired by the works, many of which have been borrowed from private collections.”
Ms Mitchell said other artists to be represented in the exhibition included:
Rick Amor, Piers Bateman, John Borrack, Myra Skipper, Helen Skipper, Sonia Skipper, Damien Skipper, Joe Hannan, Rita Esslinger, Tony Muratore, Janet Boddy, Will Francis, Mark Page, Maurice Hurry, Ian Hassall, Ming MacKay, Simon Dattner, Neil Douglas, Shane Pugh, Alan Martin, David Lawrance, Grace Mitchell, Jenni Mitchell, Tom Sanders, Chris Sanders, Geoffrey Davidson, Leon Saper, David Armfield, Margo Knox, Gabrielle Knox, Peter Glass, John Farmer, Hilary Jackman, George Chalmers, and Bernard Rust.
Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan established the Eltham South Fine Art Studios and Gallery to allow visitors to experience a little of “the old Eltham “ through artwork and the orchard garden.
“The Gallery is my mother’s legacy and an opportunity to curate new exciting and significant exhibitions while maintaining the history of the area,” Ms Mitchell said.
For more information or to arrange interviews, photographs for the Retro Eltham Show, contact Jenni Mitchell on 9439 3458 or 0417 585 102.
Photo Matcham Skipper jeweller with Tim Bensen (standing) Photographer Unknown
The first all day orchard garden painting workshop will be held at Eltham South Fine Art on Sunday September 16.
Set in the large ELTHAM orchard garden amongst the fruit and citrus trees, hen house, flower and vegetable garden Jenni Mitchell will demonstrate how to capture the subject and interpret it onto the canvas. She will guide students through the process of looking at nature and transposing the image onto paper or canvas in the chosen medium.
After the demonstration students are guided on a one to one basis. The workshop is suitable for advanced students and beginners.
Bring your favorite painting oil and water based materials or pastels.
Basic materials may be purchased from the studio.
Class size is limited – early bookings recommended.
For further details please contact email: jenni@ElthamSouthFineArt.com.au
Ph 9439 3458 or mobile 0417 585 102.
Fee includes a light lunch and refreshment.
Workshop commences 10.00 am – 3.30pm
From May to end of July the Eltham South Fine Art: Studio & Gallery will open ‘Gentle Hours’ – 11.00am – 4.00pm Thursday to Sunday.
While Jenni & Mervyn are exhibiting in Mongolia all phone enquiries are to Trish 9439 8806 AH or between 11.00am – 4.00pm the usual 9439 3458.
The studio is open to current paid up students May – July.
Regular Classes and Private tuition groups will recommence from July 12, 2012.
You can follow the Mongolian journey at http://www.jennimitchellblog.com
A short Mongolian journey from 2010 is available from here.
The next Nillumbik Open Studio will take place in the Shire on the weekend of May 5 & 6.
Eltham South Fine Art Gallery will be opening the gallery, teaching studio and the private studio’s of Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan.
Official times for the Open Studio event are 11.00am – 5.00pm.
The Gallery is open from 10.00am – 5.30pm.
Visitors will be able to view our studios and gallery and pic up a map and brochure for the other many wonderful studios open this weekend in the Shire.
Work on Show at Six Mount Pleasant Road includes painting, sculpture, prints, photography and textile work. Most work is available for sale.
Visitors are encouraged to wander through the orchard garden created back in the late 1940s and 1950s by Grace and Arthur Mitchell.
The gallery is showing an exhibition of works by the resident artists and the late Grace Mitchell. These include sculpture, paintings and works on paper from Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan’s trips that include Lake Eyre, The Antarctic, Greenland, Norway, Australia and Mongolia.
The photography racks include a selection on International landscapes
The Orchard Garden is slowly loosing it’s summer coat, leaves are falling from the fruit tress and the autumn colours have begun.
The Nillumbik Open Studio weekend is May 5 & 6. The Gallery will be open along with the various teaching and painting studios on the property.
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
Petschel House: Gallery | studios |Gardens 