Hotel View

 

Hotel View, 2026, oil on canvas

This painting was inspired by a view from my apartment. Of course Edward Hopper is a name that first enters one's imagination when looking at it but I would have painted this picture even if I had never heard of Hopper because my main inspirations are from the world around me. 

I wanted this to be more than just a view but a mood painting as well. The closing of most of the curtains, the two figures by the window and in particular the brooding sky were images that presented themselves to my mind when I was looking at the hotel from my window. 

What does it mean? I don't really know and you could transpose meanings after the picture is finished, but when an image comes to mind the only thing to do is to realise it on canvas or with whatever medium you choose.

Self Portrait With Plants

Self Portrait with Plants, 2026, oil on canvas, 61.25 x 41 cm

Ballarat has its annual Heritage Festival in late May. Megan Finlayson and Bryan Putt get a group of us together to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday in Victorian fancy dress and during the festival we promenade around the streets of Ballarat. Our promenading group is always a big hit and we get a lot of photographers honing in. We are not an official part of the Heritage program and we are not even royalists but it is a fun occasion. I've only participated twice and the first time was with great reluctance but it led to me liking my cap so much that I wear it all the time. I do many self portraits and my liking for my cap was a good opportunity to do another one with the cap being a feature.

Debora Klein and I as Victorian-era citizens

In the Ballarat train station cafe after our promenading. 

From left - Megan Finlayson as Queen Victoria, Deborah Klein, Gary Hickson,

 Christine Hickson, Myself and Bryan Putt as a Victorian Railways employer.