Lisa Dennis
Former Harcourt resident and talented plein air artist Ben Winspear was back in town on Friday to launch his latest exhibition in the gallery space at Harcourt Produce and General Store.
The award-winning Carlton-based artist and tutor said it was great to be able to share his latest works with the local community.
“I lived in Harcourt for a number of years and have family and friends in the region. I still love coming back,” he said.
“Harcourt is my favourite place in the state to paint. The landscape around Harcourt North in particular has a unique, special feel, an energy to it. It’s beautiful.”
Winspear said he was a third-generation artist and painting was in his blood.
“My grandfather was a well-known portrait painter in London,” he said.
“I worked in various trades and enjoyed tutoring with painter Lance McNeill before eventually pursing art full-time in my early 30s.
“It was a natural decision, it’s all I wanted to do.”
Winspear has travelled the world three times over with his well-loved plein air kit in tow.
“I was fortunate enough to win the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship in 2016, which carries a $50,000 prize,” he said.
“Alice Marion Ellen Bale was a Castlemaine and Kew based artist and Castlemaine Art Museum has several of her works.
“This enabled me to travel and train across much of Europe in 2017.
“I enjoyed studying at the Florence Academy of Art and painting in Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK.
“I paint in all genres – plein air, portraiture, still life and seascapes. But I love the immediacy of plein air and just love being outdoors and capturing that.
“Toby my trusty studio dog accompanies me everywhere I go. Some people enjoy camping and fishing, we go painting.
“I’ve painted in minus 16 degree temperatures and 46 degree heat – rain, hail and shine. I nearly got struck by lightning once!”
One of Winspear’s latest works depicts Harcourt Produce and General Store itself.
“It was a wet day. I had stationed myself across the road in Stanley Park under a tree and I just got the work finished as the heavier rain set in. I was really delighted with the final result, it really captures the atmosphere and light of that day.
“I’ve painted the local landscape in autumn, winter, summer and spring and I love to sit back and note the changes in the seasons. I don’t sell all the works. I like to hang on to some,” he said.
Winspear enjoys passing on his skills to other up and coming artists through artists’ retreats in the majestic King Valley every summer and winter.
“We also had one in autumn this year due to the demand, people just want to get out in the world and enjoy these experiences again,” he said.
Winspear also teaches online several days a week.
“It was really challenging during COVID. There were no retreats, classes or exhibitions and artists like myself completely lost our income. I launched an online art academy and it’s been really well received,” he said.
Ben enjoyed a quiet exhibition opening with some friends on Friday.
Local George Milford said he was delighted to view the latest creations by their two-time Harcourt Applefest Art Show judge.
“Ben is an extremely talented artist,” Mr Milford said.
The exhibition runs until September 30. Harcourt Produce and General Store is open seven days from 9-3.
