1) The original photographs were in black and white, and 2) they were not in very good focus. This presented a dilemma of how to get the face to be recognizable, the hands were blurry, moving fast in the twilight and there was no detail visible in the socks, shoes, pole or crossbar. I obtained help from friends that knew which poles Joe used on the day (we couldn’t ask him) and their colours. One of my friends Steve Rippon, today national PV coach in Finland, even competed against Joe when he was in Australia around 1985 when the picture was taken. He provided me with old colour pictures of the original poles and crossbar Joe used and were not distinguishable in the newspaper picture. To do the hands I employed an old artist’s trick, which was to draw my own hands the way Joe waved them in the actual jump, but in focus and detail. I ought to say Shawna graciously offered to get the originals from the newspaper, which I didn’t pursue as it could have meant a long wait for little gain.
I reckon that from a possible 100% realism, I achieved an 85%. Not bad considering all of the above.
Having said that, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and they all loved the finished painting as I believed Joe deserved it, after 30 years of passing on his best at ORU for athletics and the future of pole vaulting as Head Coach.
In despite of the above this is my best painting in many ways. It’s about the sport that is my passion, painting is also my passion, and commissioned by Christians. Then Joe told me that the painting “looks just like the jump felt ( AWESOME )”… So, that was my goal and it looks like I achieved it.
I’m a happy Vegemite today.
These preliminary studies provided me with another idea. The writing on Joe’s singlet was more visible in the picture Shawna didn’t like so much, so I transported it from there to the singlet in the second pastel and from there to the main painting. Thus it was much more legible than in the original photo and still true to history.
30cm x 41cm (A3) Soft Pastels on rough Mi-Teintes board. Phil Carrero
From the gir’s medal winning performances at the Australian Junior Championships Perth 2013
My first attempt to learn pastels. I love the medium, the purity of color and the challenge to produce realistic work with it. Challenges were fixing, with which spray, how and how many layers. Which surface is best for my purpose, tried smooth illustration board, rough Mi-Teintes and primed board. This last one, the board, seems to be the one to develop further.
All three studies: 30cm x 41cm (A3) Soft Pastels on rough Mi-Teintes paper. Phil Carrero
I have not entered this three studies individually because they were quick practice sketches of two hours or less each. I only meant to become familiar with this wonderful medium and so aim to encounter as many problems as I can early in the pace. I have definitely learned from this three and will apply experience to following work.
Pastels take only marginally longer to do than pencil and charcoal, therefore perfect for preliminary studies to major works.
For instance I’ve already done compositions of person with objects in different poses are quickly done… in full and vibrant color! So far I had no choice but to do b/w for compositions and full oils/acrylics for color harmonies, so this is a better prelim and not a time consuming one. I have also seem amazingly realistic work done on soft pastels, so the medium can definitely achieve greatness on it’s own right, not just as an aid.
… more to follow. I’m presently doing a commission where I used the experiences gained above as composition and color preliminary studies before an oil painting. Also before the next work I should have a pastel pencil set which I’m saving for. So far I’ve been using a 12 Conte pastel pencil set. Nice pencils but I would like a bit softer pigment and a wider spectrum, have eyes set on a Stabilo Carbothello set, we’ll see.
Fixative darkening, a problem most face as I did. I think easy solved by painting lights directly onto paper or base, or onto close tonal values (light on light). If a light layer is applied on dark the fixative will dissolve light layer into the dark one, therefore darkening the lights. That’s applies equally to the Schminke and Micador Fixatives I tested, even though widely different in price.
I have been looking at the new Derwent pastel pencils and the Faber Castell Pitt. They should have a full set in a nice box, the tins bend and at least on my bench they always sit on top of something uneven. Other than that they’re not bad, matter of preference.
36 x 24 (91.5cm x 61.0cm) Oil on canvas board.
Right side of a triptic set on the Trevi Fountain at Rome.
Phil Carrero.
The design of the trevi fountain is based on three architectural elements: a façade made of travertine; statues of carrara marble.
Neptune his carried on his tryumphal charriot by two horses jockeid by two Tritons. One horse is restless, one is calm. One triton is strong and young, one is older and holds a twisted shell that is using to announce their passage.
Ocean is also standing in the median portion of a tryumphal arch.
In the left part of the arch there is the statue of Abundance holding the horn of plenty. At her feet a toppled vase lies by a source of water. Above her there is a relief showing Agrippa commanding his generals to build the acqueduct.
61cm x 76.2cm (24″ x 30″) Oil on canvas board.
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Greg won the 2010 Australian Open 110m hurdles with a season best 13:82 (w: 2.1), having clocked 13:94 in the heats (w: 1.5) 2006-07 Australian Open saw him do 13:72 (+1.5)
Greg Eyears farewells the track
After a tremendous track career, Greg Eyears has decided to hang up his spikes. His final hurdles race is expected to be at the Oceania Championships representing Australia in Cairns on 27-29 June.
A talented athlete, Eyears successfully combined athletics, study and a career as a chartered accountant, although one wonders how much better he could have been with more time to train.
“The best thing about juggling sport, academics and a nine to five job, you get better at time management and accomplish a lot each day. Athletics has always provided an enjoyable break from my accounting career and vice versa,” he said.
The recent national championships in Melbourne was his last elite race. It didn’t turn out to be the perfect exit as a young training partner, Mitch Tysoe beat him for the national title.
“It was great that Mitch and I took out the Team Final quinella at the nationals,’’ he said. “Ideally I would have loved to finish with three consecutive Australian titles but I am ecstatic with the season’s best and adding another medal to the trophy cabinet. I’m so happy for Mitch especially considering he was DQ’d for false starting at last year’s nationals.’’ Eyears placed second in 14.18s, after making the final in the last qualifying position.
“Looking back over my 25 years in the sport I have thoroughly enjoyed my time competing at the highest level over the high hurdles,’’ he said.
“No doubt competing at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games for Australia at the MCG in front of a patriotic crowd with family and friends cheering me on was a major highlight. Running just weeks after an appendix operation made the achievement all the more special.”
It started for Eyears in 1987 as a five-year-old at Bankstown Little Athletics. A Junior Life Member of Bankstown Sports Little Athletics Club, Eyears started out as a discus and road walks state medallist before he switched to hurdling at the age of 12 on the advice of his discus coach Steve Clima and also Edith Robinson, the first Australian woman to compete at the Olympics in 1928.
Eyears started his hurdling career with coach Robert Macey in 1993 training on the grass at Jensen Oval in Sefton. Over their 15 year partnership Macey took Eyears from a novice 12-year-old hurdler to a multiple state and national champion, representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games. In 2008, Eyears joined Fira Dvoskina’s hurdles squad where he has trained for the last four years.
Eyears was educated at Milperra Public School and Picnic Point High School (graduating with a UAI of 98.30) before going on to complete an accounting degree with a distinction average at University of NSW. While at UNSW, Eyears won multlple gold at the Australian University Games and received a Ben Lexcen Sports Scholarship and Blues Award in athletics.
He always trained after work, each weekday where he would often finish as late as 9pm.
He won his first national gold at the Australian All School Championships in Canberra in 1998. He went on to two silver medals in the 110m hurdles at the 1999 and 2000 Australian junior championships and in 2003 won his first senior medal with a bronze at the nationals.
“I will always remember that bronze as I was on the medal dias with my childhood hero Kyle Vander Kyup. Who would of thought three years later we would be both in the Australian team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games”
Two years later in 2005 it was gold at the nationals for Eyears.
“I almost didn’t make the start line for the final. It was an extremely hot day and both of my calves were cramping up. Fortunately NSWIS physio Brent Kirkbride was on hand to massage the cramps out minutes before the final”
In 2007, although placing only second, he clocked the stunning time of 13.72, a time which moved him to fifth fastest in Australian history. He won national titles in 2010 and 2011.
“One of my proudest milestones would be winning the Australian title in 2010 in Perth. Coming back from a serious hamstring injury, I won in a close, high quality field, in the second fastest time of my career, 13.82 seconds,” he said.
While not selected in the 2010 Commonwealth Games team, Eyears represented Australia in the Great North City Games in England (13.88 seconds) and the Oceania Championships (meet record of 14.20 seconds) in September 2010.
During his nationals career he won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
He was just as prolific at State level, winning eight gold, four silver and one bronze medals.
“I’ve competed at 13 NSW Open State titles since 2000 and considering I am retiring from the elite level of athletics at the end of this season I’m ecstatic with winning an eighth title,’’ he said.
“Apart from this year’s win, the most memorable would be the 2006 title in a 12 man final clocking 14.00. The final also included Kyle Vander Kuyp, Stuart Anderson and Justin Merlino (Sydney Uni). To see hurdles in 12 lanes was certainly some spectacle.
“I am so grateful to my hurdle coaches Robert Macey and Fira Dvoskina. I cannot thank them enough for their time and sacrifice over the years. They played a major role in my successes and my longevity in the sport which included competing in 13 seasons in the Australian Grand Prix Athletics circuit. My massage therapist (Wes Le Breux) has also been instrumental in keeping me on the track over the past five years.
“I also would like to thank Bankstown Sports Little Athletics and Senior Athletics Clubs for their ongoing support and selecting me as a Junior Life Member and Club Captain respectively.”
Eyears broke the masters 30-34 years 110m hurdles Australian and NSW records this season. His future plans include hurdles coaching and competing at the odd interclub and masters competition for Bankstown.
Report courtesy of David Tarbotton and Ron Bendall for Athletics NSW
30″ x 24″ (76.3cm x 61.0cm) Oil on Canvas board. Phil Carrero.
Still life painted for Phillip’s daughter Sarah Louise when she was 2.
Legendary A.J, her runners and socks, bottle with juice and trailer world wheel plus a tennis ball for reflection.
This painting developed into a spatula work for the background and yet the doggy’s fur was brush. Not familiar with animal paintings this one worked out to be very easy. Probably because it was special, probably owed to Sarah’s amazing good disposition. I should paint more often for my girls.
Oil on canvas board. Phillip Carrero 2009
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Justin commenced Little Athletics in under-9s and got into hurdling by mistake after his father entered him in a hurdles event instead of the flat. He took it in his stride, literally, and won zone, regional and State titles that year.
Justin has just completed a degree in physiotherapy at Sydney University.
A win at the Australian University Games in September of 2007 rounded out a landmark year for Justin.
In 2008, Justin claimed his second national title in the 110m hurdles. Justin then went on to compete in a number of international meets and was selected in the Target 2012 Squad.
Oil on canvas board. Phillip Carrero 2009
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Youcef began his athletics career over 800m and at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Sydney, representing his native Algeria.
Since then he has made Australia his home and progressed over distances, stepping up to 1500m and the 3000m steeplechase. He enjoyed some successes over 1500m, winning a Commonwealth bronze medal in 2002 and Australian title in 2004. Since moving up to the 3000m steeple, he has become Australia’s second fastest man, won the 2006 national title and made his Olympic debut in Beijing 2008, where he finished sixth in the final.
Active Activities Most Popular 2017 Award Art Classes, days and times:
I teach from my studio at Currans Hill, NSW 2567.All year classes from January to December
Saturday classes from April to October:
You have the choice of 1) drawing, 2) oil painting or 3) soft pastels. I suggest to do drawing first, since it forms the base for all other forms. Nevertheless I teach the fundamentals of light, form and tonal values in all classes. So, you can do them in any order to your own convenience.
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Last Saturday of every second month, if numbers allow. Please check.
Half day: $30.00 per workshop
Full day: $60.00 per workshop
-Please inquire as to times and locations each month-
Cost includes primed board, picture, cleaning rag, brush holder, table or floor easel and tuition.
Workshops consist of painting and drawing explained demonstrations with subjects such as portraits, landscapes, seascapes and still life.
Limited to 7 students owed to building capacity… (unless conducted outdoors by popular request).