Hi all,

So much has happened in such a short time! It's been a month of more lockdowns and challenges. I do hope you and your families are staying safe in these difficult times. 

​This year my regular exhibition schedule has been put on hold and my workshop itinerary has altered considerably. The October workshop in Portugal has unfortunately been cancelled for this year, but I hope to be returning in 2021 once flights from Australia have resumed. So, not to be deterred... last month I released my first online art course! The reaction to "How To Loosen Up Your Painting" has been fantastic, with over 850 students enrolled already. What a joy it's been to be involved in growing the careers of some really fine artists from all around the world.

It's not too late to sign up, so if you are an artist who would like to loosen up and develop your own unique style, please click the link below for more information. It would be great to see you in the course!

Meanwhile, the restrictions on travel have prompted me to explore the wonders of my own backyard... in particular, the beautiful south coast. It's amazing how many nooks and crannies I have found that I never knew existed. Minnamurra is fast becoming a favourite and I have many paintings planned. I've been thinking that, as artists, a break from routine can be one of the best things to really push you out of your comfort zone. It's always about finding that next breakthrough!

​A recent weekend to the Blue Mountains produced one painting below "Railway Parade, Leura". along with a selection of other work from my studio.

Yours in paint
​Richard
www.richardclaremont.com/stockroom

Hi folks!

​So much has happened in the last little while. Staying safe is the new slogan everywhere. We have been told to stay at home and socially distance, which for most of us artists is business as usual. Nevertheless, my plans to travel have been put on hold for this year so I have been progressing other exciting projects.

At the beginning of the year I made the decision to produce an online course. This was in response to great demand for my workshops, a demand that was becoming impossible to meet in my usual face to face workshops. So, scripting and filming began in a big flurry before COVID19 invaded our lives and the world stopped to take a breath. 

Nevertheless, this was a great opportunity for concentrated effort, and that effort has been rewarded with my first online course now in the final stages of editing and scheduled for release very soon! Just a reminder that if you are not already on my "Workshops" list and would like to hear more about the online course, please subscribe below.  Anyone on the mailing list will receive a personal email with all the details, AND a special introductory offer!

A special edition of the newsletter as January is all but over. Already there has been enough drama for a whole year! Fires and more fires. Much destruction to our native wildlife. For those in Australia, I hope this now finds you safe and well. As a response to the great need, I decided to auction my painting “Summer Skies” and I am thrilled t say it raised just shy of $3000! That money has now gone to the NSW RFS. So many other amazing fundraisers… thanks to everyone who has pitched in to support our wildlife and fire service.

​It is all happening! On the back of a very successful Brisbane workshop it is now time to prepare for my 2 summer workshops in my home town of Shellharbour The tourist industry has taken a beating on the south coast so I am sure this will bring a little joy to our little town.  My online workshop preparation is also underway and my studio now looks like a film set as I work on another way of expanding art education into the world!

I have started my summer series of paintings. I feel these are a suitable response to the New Year and a new direction in my art practice. These smaller studies they are giving me a chance to explore techniques and a greater freedom of expression You, dear readers, will have a sneak peek of these before they head to my stockroom at full price. They are available for sale now. 25X30cm, $750 each and will come framed in these gorgeous white shadow frames. Check these out!

It seems to be a cliché but… "The year has flown by.” What a busy year! Shellharbour workshops on the coast kicked 2019 off in style with more that a few talented painters exceeding their expectations. Painting in Central Park New York (in May) with friends was fabulous.  The Melbourne exhibition and more workshops, and even though the weather was cold and dreary it was a warm and inspiring occasion. 

Portugal workshops in September/October, then the travelling and painting journey through the United Kingdom was spectacular.  The Sydney exhibition just before Christmas was a fitting finale to a very full year. 2019 was full of art, tuition, mentoring, consolidation and inspiration.  I am grateful to all those who follow, join in, ask the questions, challenge and support in so many ways! 

The Sydney exhibition is over. The van is unpacked and paintings dispatched. Some great conversations were had. The general consensus was that it was a show that had something for everyone. I felt is was a fitting finale for my year’s work. It was encouraging to hear the comments and observations. Thank you so much to all who viewed online or in person. For those who couldn’t make it there are still some great paintings available in my Online Catalogue.

2020 is looming. The New Year. In many ways it will be a year that brings new things for me too. I have a brand new exciting project planned for 2020… online workshops! If you would like to keep up with notifications please Register Here.
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All we here at the Claremont House of Art wish you well for the Christmas celebrations and may all your best efforts be rewarded in the New Year! Thank you for joining me in this journey. Thank you for your support.  Stay safe and Happy Christmas to you all!!

Just a quick announcement that my online catalogue is now available at ​Sydney Catalogue. For purchase enquiries please reply directly to this email..

For those in and around the Sydney area I would love to see you at Aro Gallery for Aqua Pura. Show starts this week and I will be at the gallery most days. Come in and say hi... see what I've been up to this year... 33 paintings from all around NSW including the Sydney's northern beaches, my beloved south coast and also some paintings from my UK trip. There will also be a good selection of my florals on show. All details below!

We had them all and often in one day. Travelling to Portugal to teach for two weeks at Art in the Algarve was exciting and inspirational. Olhão is south of Lisbon on the coast of Portugal. A fishing town and tourist destination, it has so many paintable places. The art groups sketched and painted street scenes, churches and the harbour. We sailed to Armona (a nearby island), explored the coast and secluded beaches, and painted magnificent skies and coastal scenes. The natural reserve was fascinating... with Roman ruins, birds and animals (flamingoes and eagles)...  with gentle exploration through the acres of trees and bushes. We were fed extremely well, had unlimited access to wine (some claimed it helped their painting) and had fabulous accommodation. The class produced two or three works of art a day and even though they commented on how “shattered” they were, they were always excited to pick up the brushes for more painting the following day. For anyone interested, there are still some spots available for my workshop in October next year… please contact camilla@artinthealgarve.com.
 
After Portugal, the UK was my next painting destination. Painting on the road from Manchester to Wales, from the Dorset coast to New Forest and a few other places in between, before finally finishing in London. There was inspiration and visual excitement at every turn! The highlight for me was stumbling upon a meadow of wild horses drinking from a stream in the New Forest. The amazing weather, magnificent skies and plenty of autumn colours tested the palette and my skills. The plan is (as with Portugal) to return next year to repeat the process (but even better locations and paintings)!  
 
Aqua Pura is the title of my upcoming Sydney exhibition at Aro Gallery in Darlinghurst. November 27-December 8. Water is a central theme, featured in coastal scenes, big skies, lakes and streams and the grand Pacific. I have explored many parts of eastern Australia and Sydney’s northern beaches seeking quiet “out of the way” places and also some very popular and recognisable places to paint. The online catalogue will be released two days before the exhibition starts. I hope you can make it to see the collection. I am looking forward to seeing many of you in person!

Below are 4 paintings still available from my travels... they are 15X20cm and priced at $650 Australian each + postage. 
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"St James's Park, London"
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"Dorset Coast"
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"New Forest"
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"The Lake House, Ullswater"
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Art in the Algarve
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It has been a busy couple of months following the Melbourne exhibition. A time for reflection too. I have put much thought and effort into my artistic practice. The wintry weather has ushered in some broody, moody skies here on the south coast.  I have been excited to experiment with colour and markmaking and have branched into new compositions. The florals continue and you may see a few installations and interiors appear amongst the landscapes and seascapes. My fascination with light and water has resulted with some innovative renditions, just to keep things interesting.
 
My daily walks along the beach have prompted me to begin some studies of the sunrise. Smaller works, more immediate responses and rehearsals for en plain air paintings to come. Intensive painting for the upcoming Sydney exhibition has taken much effort and planning. Thinking forwards, working backwards. I have been painting my way around Pittwater, Manly and the eastern suburbs. When we arrive home from Europe there will be less than two weeks before the Sydney show begins on November 27th at Aro Gallery. So painting has to be all but completed in the next week!

We will be heading down to Victoria for a week in the spring gardens. Then off to Portugal to teach two workshops at Art in the Algarve. More painting and travel in the UK will follow, then back home via Korea. Watch out for the daily paintings from Portugal, the UK and maybe a few random places along the way. The bags will be bulging with art supplies and promise! Watch my travels unfold on my daily posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Finally, Shellharbour workshops for 2020 are now available for booking on my website at Summer Workshops. These sold out fairly quickly last year so be sure to book early if you want to attend the 3 day Shellharbour summer workshops. Thanks as always for your support and I will be in touch with you all again in November! 
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Melbourne people, you were wonderful. Windy, cold days could not hold back those who braved the wilds to come and enjoy the exhibition at Brightspace Gallery. There were also those who attended the workshops. This year we had two weeks in the gallery. It was great to catch up with old friends and make new ones. There were paintings sold right up to the last hour of the show. Thank you everyone for coming along and for your encouraging words. Thank you to those who travelled far and wide to get there! Perth was the winner for distance but the stalwart award goes to Sue who came in after a delayed flight from Dubai… no sleep and torrid journey to catch the last hurrah. Well done!

​For those who were unable to attend the show there are still a few great paintings available now in my stockroom at www.richardclaremont.com/stockroom  

The workshops were full and many beautiful paintings composed and completed over the week. Lots of learning, lots of laughs and a few personal triumphs. Some battled through grievous personal circumstances to fulfil their goals. All left inspired in some way to take their art to the next level.   

My studio time is now filled with preparations for the Sydney show at Aro Gallery in November/December. Sydney scenes are in there with a few hidden gems joining the more recognisable places we all know and love. Like my students in Melbourne, I am challenging myself to take risks, try new techniques and refine my skills. Paintings are piling up around the studio already. I have my schedule and am rigorous about keeping disciplined and focussed. 

Two lots of travel are planned before the Sydney show. The first is a road trip to Victoria where I will be sketching and painting small works of scenes between the south coast of NSW and Olinda.  The second is to Portugal in October where I will be teaching two workshops hosted by Art in the Algarve. There were many who missed out this year, so make sure you get in early for  next year! Good fun ahead I am sure. Make the most of each day people. Live well and cherish special moments. Happy painting all.
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Just a quick announcement that my online catalogue is now available at ​Melbourne Catalogue. Please contact me if you have any enquiries.

For those in and around the Melbourne area I would love to see you at Brightspace Gallery. Show starts this week and I will be at the gallery most days. Come in and say hi... see what I've been up to this year... 33 paintings from all around Victoria including the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Gippsland. There will also be a good selection of my florals on show. All details below!

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The past month was planned to be consolidation for my Melbourne exhibition. Instead, and to my surprise it has been a month of opportunity, discovery and experimentation. A change of course and innovative techniques has led to some new paintings and fresh approaches to colour and execution. The planned and careful preparation has been overtaken by vibrant new colours and additional subject matter for what will be a very interesting collection for a wintery southern capital city.

Terra Flora is the title for the Melbourne exhibition. Reflecting the themes for the show, there will be Victorian landscapes and some of the floral arrangements that I have been embracing this year. Earth forms and seasonal flowers. The florals have entranced me, surprised me and taken me somewhere left of my comfort zone. So much so, that returning to landscapes felt a little like foreign soil at one stage. The other change for Melbourne is that the show will cover two weeks. Workshops are slotted in around extended viewing opportunities. I hope that everyone will have the chance to come. I am looking forward to meeting you all!

Show begins on July 10 at Brightspace Gallery. For those unable to attend, I will be sending out a link to the online catalogue just prior to the commencement of the show.

Melbourne has not even happened and already I am planning and preparing for Portugal and Sydney. The life of an artist is always a fine balance between spontaneity and forward thinking. Paint must dry, frames be made, bookings arranged and promises honoured. I am planning lessons and seeking to inspire both through teaching in workshops and also in my @mystudiodoor posts on Instagram. As always I value your support and welcome questions and feedback. Keep warm those of you in southern climes, and enjoy the summer those of you lucky enough to be in the northern hemisphere!