The Art Of Elizabeth Corish - Fine Artist
I take my inspiration from both the Impressionists and Pre-Raphaelites.
The Impressionists tried to capture the light and a fleeting moment in time.
Notable members amongst the group included Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Frédéric Bazille, Edgar Degas , Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne
The Pre-Raphaelites painters drew inspiration from Poetry, Literature, Roman and Greek mythology. In a modern context I have updated and re-interpreted this by painting New Zealand heroes and brands that are inspirational to myself starting with the Arts. Amongst this movement my favourite painters are John Everett Millais and John William Waterhouse
I have studied with both Sadie Valeri Atelier, San Francisco, California and Vitruvian Studio, Chicago (David Jamieson)
Latest News
2023
August:
Will be completing a painting I started drawing mid 2021, a Casablanca themed one, Just have to work on the three main figures, looking to revealing this shortly :)
May:
Portrait of Kevin Dunbar, Senior Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic Carpentry Dept.
March:
Just finished a major painting a0 size, so how big is that, well it's 841mm x 1189mm. Unveiling is May 12th at Otago Polytechnic. Portrait is of Kevin Dunbar, Senior carpentry lecturer. Picture just about to be sent to framers, image coming soon....
2022
October:
My painting of Ryder is currently being exhibited at the Spring Exhibition at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts during October, 1st through to the 30th.
August:
Major painting under way, drawing has been enlarged and placed on board. Currently working on bottom layer. hope to have finished during October. As this portrait is a surprise, no sneek peaks till then :)
July:
Scene from Casablanca has been painted first two layers, but has been put on hold, to work on another major painting. Will come back to this in October.
February:
Start sketching portrait of Kevin Dunbar, senior lecturer Otago Polytechnic Carpentry Department.
Drawing on A3 to be blown up to A0 size.
Sneak peek shortly....
January:
Portrait of a young Maori boy, Ryder aka "Bossy" is being exhibited at the Summer Exhibition - Otago Art Society, Dunedin during Janury/February.
Portraits of Bill, an old soul and Asa Butterfield - UK Actor are being exhibited at the Summer Exhibition - NZ Academy of fine artists, Wellington during Janury/February.
Started drawing a portrait of David Hockney, initial sketch will be on A3 paper, which will be blown up to A0 size once finished.
Completed my portrait of Ryder also known as "Bossy"
2021
November:
Portrait of Bill, an old soul was exhibited at the Sping Exhibition, Otago Art Society, Dunedin
June:
Portrait of Asa Butterfield, was exhibited at the Otago Art Society - 145th Annual Exhibition - June 2021
May:
Portrait of Ryder, also known as "Bossy", underpainting in black and white, oil on canvas board. 16" x 12"
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Just finished my sketch of a scene from Casablanca ready for an A1 size painting.
Note the middle front mystery person is not from the film... more details in the coming weeks.
I have started painting this scene yesterday, initial bottom layer or underpainting in oils.
2021
April:
Just completed my portrait of Bill, an old soul ...
Bill is a local boy from the Palmerston district, Otago.
406mm x 305mm - To be framed shortly [ 16" x 12" ]
Oils on Canvas Board
Completed April, 2021
March:
Work in Progress - black and white oil underpainting completed.
Work in Progress - Initial sketch of Bill, a local lad from Palmerston, Otago.
Focusing on sketching major areas and making a note of shadows, Next Saturday I will load up underpainting in oils.
January:
You can now find me on GnosisGlobal.org [ NZ version of Twitter/Facebook ]
@ElizabethCorish
See you over there....
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Just finished my portrait of Asa Butterfield in oils on A2 size board, getting framed shortly and then will upload to my products section.
2020
August:
Latest Art news on my paintings...
It is with immense sadness that I announce the passing of Barbara Corish [21st August 1022pm], who I had the honour of sharing an immense part of my life with, partner and wife (prior to my gender reassignment) then best friend on planet Earth and Soulmate, who continued to support and encourage me in all my endeavours, you will be greatly missed, you truly were an Earth Angel, intelligent, funny, generous, passionate supporter of my art and a lover of all animals, there are no words in this universe to describe my loss, the best feeble attempt I can come up with is:
Bread - Everything I own. https://youtu.be/2i43aAn2rq8
Photo of Barbara and Mr Man [our favourite dog - also in Heaven]
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Image of my latest painting Doug Hart * as Black Adder Goes Forth - Black & White, completed just before Barbara had her operation.
Other characters drawn are Stephen Fry as General Melchett, Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Hugh Laurie as Lieutenant George and Tim McInnerny as Captain Kevin Darling.
* Doug Hart - Otago Art Society President.
1200mm x 390mm [ 47" x 15" ]
Oils on Panel
Completed August, 2020
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The Pear and the Egg - A Still Life Journey
Three paintings presented as a whole to reflect the journey of capturing the subject.
Starting with a Black and White study [bottom left] and then a colour study [bottom right]
Followed by the completed painting [top middle], the whole journey was created between Nov 2019 and Jan 2020, working with a limited palette.
Oil on Panels x 3 behind glass
850mm x 720mm [includes frame]
Completed January 2020
July:
My pear and egg painting - A Still Life Journey (B/W study, Colour Study and Final Painting) is currently being framed and hope to be able to share with you within the next 14 days.
Also in the next two weeks, I will have completed my study of Geoff Hart as Black Adder goes forth, at which time will upload.
June:
Starting to work on my new painting this Queens Birthday weekend.
"Doug Hart * as Captain Bladder" I have blown my drawing up to 1.2m x 311mm and primed a wooden board using shellac (rather than a canvas, the benefit being is I don't have to transfer my drawing), I can glue it on, then use Acrylic medium - gloss to protect the drawing.
Other characters drawn are Stephen Fry as General Melchett, Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Hugh Laurie as Lieutenant George and Tim McInnerny as Captain Kevin Darling.
* Doug Hart - Otago Art Society President.
Feb:
Although I haven't posted in a while I have still been busy...
Attached The Pear and The Egg Painting - A Still Life Journey. [ Oil 2019 ]
Photo includes B&W study, Colour study and Final painting, which will be framed shortly as one cohesive work.
Smaller paintings are 8 x 8 " and final one 12 x 12"
September:
Completed more Bargue plates focusing on the arms:
a) Childs arm exterior
b) Womens arm bent
c) Mans arm bent
The plates are based upon antique Roman/Greek sculptures
August:
Working on more Bargue plates during early August, pencils on paper, focusing on capturing the form and shading.
July/June:Some drawing and shading practice exercises in pencil on paper a) Women's hand holding a piece of stone.b) Shaded sphere.
April:
Portrait study of a young Vincent Van Gogh (pencils on A4 paper) in preparation for a large painting.
Copy of the Agrippa plate (Bargue book) to practise blocking in techniques, capturing likeness and form.
March:
Just finishing up a new painting Morning has broken (WIP)
Still has final layer to go... focusing on limited palette.
February:
Shaded drawing Nicole completed.
Nice study which I can use for an upcoming painting.
Initial drawing of Nicole - [ Work in Progress ]
Pencil on A4 paper to work out structure and facial features. Next up I will be adding tonal values.
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January, just finished a value study in black and white to establish dark and light values in my new painting The Pear and the egg.
Colours used Ivory Black and Titanium White.
6" x 6"
2018
July:
Self portrait outside The Forrester Gallery. I have been wanting to do this painting for a long time outside this magnificent building.
Oamaru is an amazing Victorian historic town in New Zealand. Made from Oamaru stone which is a soft white limestone similar to Caen stone from France, the level of carving detail is superb.
The biggest initial challenge was the three weeks creating a detailed pencil sketch on canvas to ensure the perspective was correct and capturing all the essential details.
The underpainting was created using acrylic and the top two layers are in Oil.
The Forrester Gallery is housed in a spectacular neo-classical building originally constructed in 1884 for the Bank of New South Wales.
The Forrester Gallery presents varied and exciting exhibitions drawn from across its own collections and those of the North Otago Museum and Archive, as well as hosting regular events.
Acrylic/Oil on Canvas
841mm x 634mm x 40mm [ 33" x 24.5" x 1.5" ]
Completed July 2018
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May:
I am currently studying at Sadie Valeri Atelier.
April:
Just finished the second layer of current painting an Oamaru streetscape. Awaiting on new paints to arrive for third and final layer.
Plus completed another two Bargue plates - 12 part A & B
March/Feb:
Currently working on my latest painting, an Oamaru streetscape.
December:
Busy month! my latest painting just completed is Still Life - Whittakers The Full Eighty
Whittakers is by far and away my favourite chocolate, the fact that it is made right here in New Zealand is a bonus!
This painting focuses on The Full Eighty Chocolate bar (Limited Edition) - All Blacks pre-match inspired chocolate bar.
The Full Eighty features Whittakers classic Creamy Milk chocolate, peanuts, cranberries, banana and protein puffs.
Apart from the chocolate bars, as part of the still life I featured Bananas, Peanuts, Cranberries and Rugby Ball for the match: All Blacks vs The Lions
For the backdrop I have chosen a Gold fabric to frame the still life.
Whittakers have been making their world famous chocolate in NZ since 1890!
Still Life - Whittakers: The Full Eighty
Oil on Canvas
1195mm x 600mm [ 47" x 23.5" ]
Completed December 2017
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Plate 1, 10: The foot of Germanicus (Pied du Germanicus)
Final plate in the feet series.
The status, in the Louvre Museum in Paris is signed by Cleomenes, son of Cleomenes, Athenian, and was carved during the reign of Augustus ca 20BC. For several centuries the statue was identified as Germanicus, nephew of Emperor Augustus, for a while it was taken to be a youthful portrait of Augustus. Now it is labelled Honorary Funeral Statue of Marcellus, nephew and first son-in-law of Augustus.
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November:
Powering through the Bargue plates at the moment, thankfully almost finished all the ones on the foot. Here is my version of Plate 1-9 in pencil with some white chalk highlights.
The sole of the foot (Plante de pied)
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Just completed Bargue Plate 1, 8 in pencil with white highlights in chalk
The foot of the Medici Venus. [Pied de la Ve'nus de Me'dicis]
This is the right foot of the much restored statue of Venus, which for centuries has been in the Rotunda of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. This marble, signed by Cleomenes, son of Apollodorus, is probably a copy of a Greek work in bronze. It was considered the epitome of female beauty well into the nineteenth century.
The drawing is the most refined encountered thus far in this course, with gentle transitions from the shadows to the lighter areas. Several important areas of half tones are added after the basic shadow has been established. I found this plate a challenge. You have to draw all the details in, then start subtracting with negative space to indicate both the darker and lighter shadow areas.
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October:
Work in Progress - Plate 1,7 now completed of The Bargue Plate - The Foot of the Gladiator [ Pied du Gladiateur ]
Pencil heightened with white chalk on toned paper.
This is the foot of what was once one of the most admired of ancient sculptures, now known as the Borghese Warrior. It is signed by Agasias, son of Dositheos of Ephesus, and is now in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Plaster casts of the statue were in virtually every academy of art in Europe and the Americas. Discovered around 1611, the statue was in the Borghese collection in Rome until 1808, when it was bought by Napoleon Bonaparte and shipped to Paris
September:
Half way through drawing a very detailed sketch on canvas for the new painting, which took about three weeks using the sight/size method.
August:
Starting on a new still life painting, which should be a lot of fun.
Completion of Bargue Plate 1,6 part B of the heel. Pencil and white chalk.
![Portrait of Rita Angus painting her portrait [ Black, White & Brown ]](https://cdn.freewebstore.com/resize/165614/rita_angus_-_bwb.jpg/100/150/0/?bg=FFFFFF "Portrait of Rita Angus painting her portrait [ Black, White & Brown ]")
