Original Oils' Newsletter “The Good Oil”

Issue2, 10 November 2025

The Good Oil

This second Issue of my newsletter takes a preliminary look at the five categories of paintings in my collection on the Original Oils Website.

As summer approaches, the art scene in Canberra is vibrant with numerous exhibitions, markets and events. The Canberra Contemporary Art Society (CCAS) Members’ Exhibition opened on 6 November at its Manuka Platform Gallery and runs for ten days. I attended the opening and highlight some of the entries later in this Issue.

Much of this issue is taken up with my investigation of the potential for a building on the base of the Parliamentary Triangle adjacent to Commonwealth Park, for used by the Arts community.

A new section "Pictures in a Gallery" takes a closer look at some of my output, this time in the Meadows Category.

Finally, with Christmas only six weeks away, I outline the benefits of purchasing heavily-discounted paintings as Christmas presents plus a complimentary “Life‘s a Beach“ T-shirt to customers!

I hope you enjoy this issue. Please share it with your family, friends and colleagues.

David Kindon

Discounts and Freebies!!

The 25% discount on all sales from the Shores Collection is now active until Christmas Day. There is already movement here as people realise that large A1 Framed paintings at $450 would normally hardly cover the framing costs! The paintings are custom packed for secure interstate delivery at a cost of between $100-150. Delivery is free in Canberra.

And now a Freebie (don’t worry, there ain’t no steak knives!) for purchases from any Category until Christmas. My first exhibition at Strathnairn Arts Centre in Canberra was titled “Life’s a Beach”. I provided a Life’s a Beach Tee Shirt for my helpers at the event. Two weeks ago I was wearing one at my Pop-Up Exhibition at a local shopping centre when a lady expressed a wish to buy the shirt rather than a painting!

So yes! I have now ordered a supply of the shirts to be given away free with every painting purchased until Christmas.

Dividing the Oils

Unbelievably, even to me, there are over 160 paintings featured on the Original oils website! Add to that the various paintings I have donated or given to friends and family as gifts over the past 5 years, I must have reached the double century! But yes, I hear you say, quantity does not necessarily indicate quality! As always, in art, that opinion lies in the eyes of the beholder. I'm as guilty as anyone that often, when I see a famous painting which does nothing for me, I am quick to criticise.

In a major revamp of the site, I have sorted the collection into several; categories for ease of viewing and selection. The collage above shows examples from each. The left-hand column displays works from the "Shores", "Meadows" and "Bearing Witness" categories, whilst the right-hand column displays examples of "Villages" and "Experimental" works.

In this Issue I examine the "Meadows" installation of 12 A2 sizes paintings..

Pictures in a Gallery - The Meadows Installation

This the "Meadows" installation on the website. It comprises 12 paintings in a series developed from four stunning evocative originals by one of the UK's most enduringly successful artists Barry Hilton.

Each of Hilton's four originals were converted into impressions of his work in the styles of Matisse (top row), Caravaggio (second row) and Van Gogh (bottom row). The paintings are A3 in an A2 frame and retail for $450 each. Although one has been sold, I am still prepared to sell the complete installation (including the replacement) for $4800 a reduction of $600 on the aggregate price of $5400.

Of Spires, Portals & Potential

Here sits one of Canberra's most beautiful, intriguing, heritage-listed, unused, and rapidly decaying architectural masterpieces.

It sits between Constitution Avenue and Parkes Way and is now surrounded by residential high-rise on one side and the ANZAC West portal building on the other.

I believe it was once known as the "Spire Event Centre" although I can find no reference to this. According to the ACT Government it is known as the "ANZAC Park West (APW) Portal Cafeteria". A horrible name for a beautiful building.

Three years ago, the Head Chef at the Raku restaurant in Canberra, Hao Chen, announced his plan to reopen the venue as a high-end Japanese restaurant.

Today it sits empty, surrounded by weeds, debris, one external door wide open to the elements and rapidly falling apart. Despite this, last year the ACT Government granted it Heritage listing as a significant building along the base of the Parliamentary Triangle.

It has a fascinating history laid out in a Background Document produced by the ACT Heritage Council at its time of heritage listing. I encourage you to read and share it. Attempts to determine its current and future potential use lead down many blind alleys. The National Capital Authority has charge of the building, but the ACT government administers the lease. What could go wrong!

My attempts to determine the current lease situation have been thwarted.

My point in raising it here is that it would make a fantastic venue for the arts community, adjacent to Commonwealth Park with, I believe, facilities for catering and events.

It is both a tragedy and a disgrace that this building (which is almost a mirror image of the Lob48 Restaurant across the lake) seems to have been swept under the carpet away from public view.

This is how the interior looks today. Can I suggest that the Art community do something about this and join together to try to resurrect the building as an art Centre and bring it back to life?

CCAS Members' Annual Expo

Call me a Luddite or worse, but for the life of me I fail to understand the concept and output of contemporary art. My AI assistant tells me that it is "...the art of the present day, created by living artists, typically referring to works from the late 20th century to the present."

That definition is a bit like my understanding of post-modernism implying that "anything goes".

This assumption was confirmed by my attendance at the opening of the annual CCAS Members' exhibition of contemporary works, including one of mine. Of the 39 works submitted, mine was the only framed painting – clearly I am in the wrong place here.

The exhibition is best explained by the image I have compiled above. The top line of three items shows the three prize winners with first prize on the left. The sizes are accurately reflected relative to their actual size on display. Some of the items are not for sale others in the image range from $150-$800 with mine sitting in the middle range.

I encourage those in Canberra to attend this exhibition in Manuka and experience the reality of contemporary art.

Artist to Artist

Clicks from Cliques

Last month I suggested that it is difficult for emerging artists to gain a foothold in the established art scene in Canberra, or anywhere else I imagine. Joining a group is relatively simple, however, establishing your presence and reaping the rewards of membership is another thing!

Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather! The first issue of TGO was emailed to almost 400 contacts who had either previously shown interest in my work, or to members of the art scene in Canberra.

Of the dozen or so “unsubscribers”, 6 of them were from the arts category!

In an unexpected way, Clicks have revealed the Cliques I suspected were out there!

Well, that's all for this Issue. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to contacting you again before Christmas. Don't forget to check out the Christmas discounts on the website

Cheers

David Kindon

0414936300

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