Neil Miley Artist | Public figure
Neil Miley Artist
Phone: +61 435 461 430
Reviews
to load big map
25.01.2022 At last clouds not columns of smoke.
24.01.2022 0ne sign to sum up the protest. The first of a year long program.
20.01.2022 I've moved part of my online presence to Singulart.com. I'm also working to have additional works ready to have on Artsy.com. My web site continues to be under development and will be updated in the next week to reflect my recent developments.
17.01.2022 My YouTube Channel is up and running. The first videos are discussions of individual paintings. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaYWr9lYTrDAsAH6Ki-krgw
15.01.2022 The first of my series of books on Jules Bastien-Lepage to be published is now available from Amazon in ebook format. The paperback will follow shortly. The second book will be available shortly.
15.01.2022 This is what has taken my time for the last few months. I just haven't been able to focus on painting, the bushfires followed by COVID didn't allow me to be in the right mind set. For artists the book has a lot of information on the training at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in the 1870s.
14.01.2022 My next book is on Jules Bastien-Lepage's Jeanne d'Arc, that wonderful painting at the Metropolitan museum of Art, New York. The book is due for publication in October 2021, so plenty of time to save. The aim is to show the full span of development of the painting from Jules' childhood, through the Secular and Religious interpretations of her story that occurred from the 1860s onwards. If you want to check out my other recent book "In Search of a Reputation" it is available in Australia through Fishpond, in the US through Barnes and Noble and in the UK through Book Depository. https://www.fishpond.com.au//Search-of-Reput/9780648967767.
12.01.2022 A fun 5 minutes of explanation and speed (accelerted) painting. This is my latest work, reflecting the difficulty of looking forward through the memory of the recent bushfires in the Bega Valley Shire.
07.01.2022 This is a short extract from a new book I'm writing (in the form of a novel) about Jules Bastien-LePage. The story starts in 1871 and this excerpt is a meeting after the siege of Paris for the first time between a group of art students. I extracted this section as a tribute to medical staff that are striving to help victims of COVID-19. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing. The Excerpt Badin offered yet another round of wine, which was accepted readily by the whole company. B...Continue reading
06.01.2022 In Search of a Reputation and The Unfinished Portrait are now available through Book Depository. The hardback for In Search of a Reputation is 14% off at the mo...ment at $28.16 AUD. The softback is $18.49. If you are looking for a post national disaster novel this is the one to make you feel a lot better. https://www.bookdepository.com/search See more
06.01.2022 This is another extract from my new book. A novel based around the life of Jules Bastien-LePage between1871 and 1874. This is the opening couple of pages. The E...xtract No dust today but the road, as usual, is badly damaged with no chance to maintain it a sigh of disappointment from a well-dressed man of about 40, followed by a more determined tone of anger the Germans have trampled it in both directions for over a year. Then half whispered Reminding us that the reparations have to be paid before they will leave. His expression showed an uncertainty of how open or trusting he could be with his travelling companion. The omnibus carried only two passengers this cold, overcast October day, the middle-aged man and a blond haired boy of about 20. The younger man lent forward to be heard over the rumble of the metal wheels, as the horses straining to pull the vehicle along. I’m returning to Paris but must then go on to Bordeaux to paint a portrait of Monsieur Pereire. The older man looked directly at the boy with interest but said nothing My village, Damvillers has paid its impost and now recovered from my wounds I can get on with my career. It will be a great relief to have the Germans gone, 1871 has been a terrible year my name is Jules Bastien-Lepage sir the reply given by the young man with clear enthusiasm to be returning to his career and be getting away from the German occupation of his cherished land. The middle-aged traveller searching for more confidence asked as though an important question Do you know Charles Bastien, he is a good friend of mine and the Republic. The younger passenger responded with a sense of pride My father. yes, he has played a leading role in attaching the village to the Republic. He assisted the Franc Tirailleurs during the war, at great risk to himself proceeding with a smile of near hilarity I particularly enjoy his story of providing the Germans with all the unpasteurised old wine he had which caused quite a few to be sent home sick. Jules paused before explaining with growing ease of expression and pride I should explain my hyphenated name, it was suggested by my teacher Canabel, so I would not be confused with Denis Ernest Bastien a student of Flandrin at the Salon. The older man’s wry smile over the unpasteurised wine was brought to a halt and his response stopped by a sharp jolt of the omnibus that threw the two from their seats. The older man recovered himself and asked while dragging himself back into his seat with a helping hand from Jules Which of the Pereires are you to paint. These are men of great influence in France. though their ideas have proven rather risky at times? the man was searching for how this opportunity had come about and feeling for a way to gain an introduction to the Pereires. Jules also dragging himself back onto his seat responded My friend Lemarchand’s father is a family friend, they went to school together in Bordeaux and some of Pereire’s projects have involved him as the architect. Monsieur Pereire is in Bordeaux waiting for Paris to calm down, it appears he is not yet certain of what will happen to those that bankrolled the Empire’s projects. Jules frank statement allowed the man to act as a protector of an influential financier. If Monsieur Pereire needs a friend amongst the Deputies you can let him know I’m well-disposed and please give him my carte de visit. The man passed Jules a photo business card, which Jules promptly put in his carry bag without paying attention to it. The heavy role of the omnibus wheels had halted the carriage for a moment before the crack of the driver’s whip started the horses pulling again. A few more moments of struggle and whip-cracking accompanied by strong words of encouragement from the driver finally got the horses moving. One day we will get a macadamised road surface, one day but until then my back will be ruined on these trips a pained grimace and clenched teeth reinforced the irritation of the older passenger. The younger passenger was busy looking to the left side of the omnibus, the military club... at last. Only a short distance to go to Verdun attempting to relieve the old passenger of the prospect of further discomfort. After a few hundred yards the omnibus halted for the German guards to check travel documents at the start of the wooden bridge crossing the Meuse River. Your travel permits a demanding though bored German soldier asked. Both travellers presented their documents, that were perused at length by the German and his compatriot. Deputy, you are going to Paris, I hope you can convince your government to finish the negotiation of peace so we can go home. I haven’t been home in over a year the German put in his best French, almost but not quite pleading. The older traveller replied in a tone that showed he objected to talking to Germans for any reason If it were not for the persistence of demanding Alsace and Lorraine the peace would have been long signed, I hope you will be home soon. The German slightly taken-back by the arrogance of the Deputy rather meekly responded thank you as he returned the document. With some surprise, the younger traveller asked Eugene Billy, our representative at the National Assembly? to which a yes nod was the reply. What an honour sir, I have much to tell as I have been gathering information in Lorraine, as I went about painting portraits of my relatives this last year. Billy after a moment’s hesitation of annoyance; he had after all already given Jules his cart de visit with his name clearly on it, responded with interest asking for whatever his young companion could tell him It has been hard for me to get any direct word from Lorraine, but I assume your relatives have spied on our behalf and have valuable information. Realising the importance Billy was placing on his knowledge Jules continued It is a little confused, some want France to fight for Lorraine others want to leave and come to France, while many want their sons to go to France to avoid being conscripted by the Germans Jules paused to confirm Billy was still interested, Billy nodded his head to respond. So, I have troop dispositions, a rough idea of how many will leave and come to France. There seems little support for an insurgency right now, some Franc Tirailleurs maintain the fight but in rapidly diminishing numbers, the cost to the local population is thought too high. Billy added with some concern Yes our freedom fighters are causing some concern. I applaud their courage and determination. Unfortunately, they are sacrificing themselves and others for what for the moment is a lost cause. in a more determined and angry mood Billy continued We need time to be able to act against the Germans in full force. Lorraine will be with France again! Billy thumped his closed fist on his knee to reinforce the final words. See more
