Had lunch today with my 86 year old father who was reminiscing about his landscape artist father and friends heading out to paint together, learning and experimenting as they chatted and worked.
There were many such groups in the area where they lived; some were created via their living in the area, others lived together in community groups, others shared common artistic influences while others found each other via groups such as the Victorian Artists Society.
i.e.
http://victorianartistssociety.com.au/
http://www.montsalvat.com.au/
http://www.heide.com.au/
Dad was reminiscing about watching them all trading ideas and encouraging each other. As a boy, he was able to listen in to the chat as the men worked on their artworks. They were friends spending time together, nothing formal or competitive. Among my grandfather's painter friends were artists such as Alf Coleman, Hod Kurban, Bert Fiven, Ernest Buckmaster and Max Middleton.
What inspired my father's memories was the sad passing of Max Middleton, one of my grandfather's early students who went on to far greater things!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-26/landscape-artist-max-middelton-farewelled-at-funeral/4846584
It's a sad thing but these days every artists group seems to struggle with competitiveness and we seem to have lost the camaraderie or friendship needed to encourage mutual development.
One of the times when the best has been lost over time! 0:(
Ellen 0:)
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