Art Tuition:

All of Don’s teaching is based around the teachings of Max Meldrum as taught to me by my teachers Ms Shirley Bourne and Mr Alan Martin. It involves the use of materials, mixing of tones and colours, measuring and the application of paint. The major part of his courses involves the art of seeing.

The aim is to give the student a grounding in the methods of traditional tonal-realist oil painting so that on completion of classes they can find their own way on the journey towards their ultimate artistic goal.  

Note:  All teaching involves painting from life.  (There is no use of photographs).

Background:

Don James was born in 1943, in Preston, Melbourne.  He started painting part time and in 1982 gained a teaching position with the Woodend Art Group. He began full time painting and teaching in 1984 and developed an abiding interest in realism and the effects of light falling on objects of differing textures, colours and tones. Don paints portraits, figures, landscape, still life and flowers, only from life.

A Fellow of the Victorian Artists' Society, Don has taught the elements of Tonal Realist Oil Painting since 1982.  In 2007 he published a handbook, ‘On Painting’.

Don currently holds painting classes at the Montsalvat Painting School in Eltham Victoria, where he has been a resident artist since 1992. Montsalvat is Australia’s oldest artist’s community. Its historic buildings house a number of artists and artisans and can be visited daily.   Check out Montsalvat at www.montsalvat.com.au.