Artist Christopher Vidal, Baulkham Hills (2026)

My Story
Born in Malta and migrated to Australia in 2009, currently living in Sydney. For two years I attended The School of Arts at Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta, Malta. After finishing my academic studies I worked as a medical researcher in Malta and Australia. However my innate love for painting remained in me and I used to experiment with various media and techniques, while developing my sty

le. More then ten years ago I started painting in oils and I fell in love with this versatile and dynamic medium. Moving to Australia and traveling around this beautiful country gave me more inspiration and motivated me to start painting more regularly. Since 2012, I've been painting almost every day and exhibiting my work in various art shows in Sydney and surroundings. Artist Statement
The creative process starts with a spark of inspiration about a subject which could be a physical object or else driven by an emotional feeling. My love for the environment and nature through what I see around, inspires me. Trees, mountains and light especially the warm afternoon lights and sunsets are among the most inspiring. The same applies for the sounds of the wind on the oceans and singing birds as well as by the continuous changing in light and weather. My current work mostly consists of Australian landscapes in oils and acrylics. As a style I tend to shift more towards realism however I love to include an element of impressionism in my work. The common perception is that science and art are so different, however from my experience I found out that in reality they have a lot in common. Both share the basic steps of first getting inspired, making a creative plan and finally executing it. For myself painting landscapes bridged my love for science and arts. I find peace in my inner self while immersing myself in the painting process. It is the same kind of feeling I get when I will be visiting remote places and I immerse myself in nature. With my artwork I want to give a message that life in beautiful and we should appreciate every moment. Every second that passes should be precious as we cannot get it back. Unfortunately there is a lot of negativity around us being mostly spread through the media. However in reality a lot more positive things happen in everyday life. People living in cities are so detached from the natural environment and are too busy with everyday life that unfortunately leaves no time for them to think about a deeper meaning of life. I wish that through my artwork people find the opportunity to stop and think while appreciating nature through art.

08/09/2026

A look back at a selection of sunset paintings I have created over the last decade, with most depicting the dramatic light of the western sky.

Capturing sunsets remains one of my absolute favourite subjects as an artist. I am continually drawn to that golden hour when the light shifts rapidly across the atmosphere, casting fleeting, intense shadows and striking atmospheric drama—particularly in the wake of a storm.

Beyond the atmosphere, it is a brilliant exercise in colour theory. I thoroughly enjoy balancing rich complementary hues, contrasting warm sunlit tones against cool ambient shadows, and playing with stark value contrasts to bring the sky to life on canvas.

05/09/2026

Traditional Australian Landscape Class in Oils and Acrylics

Sat 10th - Sun 11th Oct 2026
10 am - 4 pm
Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill
Price $295

Early bird price until Sunday 13th September $275 Please PM if interested

Do you want to learn how to paint a realistic traditional painting? Join me for an intensive two-day weekend workshop set in the scenic Hills District. Designed for both beginners wanting solid foundations and intermediate painters looking to master classical techniques, this hands-on course guides you step-by-step through painting a glowing sunset landscape, reflective tranquil waters, and distant Blue Mountains.

Over 12 hours of structured instruction, you will learn the time-honoured indirect painting method, but with a modern twist using modern materials to reduce waiting times and the time taken to finish a painting.

Day 1: Build a strong tonal foundation using fast-drying acrylics for the imprimatura (toned ground) and grisaille (monochromatic underpainting), followed by blocking in initial lean oil colours.

Day 2: Layer rich oil pigments, master atmospheric perspective, and add luminous highlights, water reflections, and foliage details.

Materials will be provided. Students may also bring their own oil paints. Other materials needed, including media and canvas, will be provided at no additional cost.

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03/09/2026

A collection of paintings I created over the last ten years, capturing the timeless beauty of the Blue Mountains. As a frequent visitor, I consider this region one of the most breathtaking landscapes in Australia—a constant source of inspiration that keeps drawing me back. Alongside these main pieces, I have also completed numerous smaller studies and a selection of works in acrylic.

Painting this ancient landscape is an ongoing challenge: trying to pin down its shifting moods, fleeting light, and unique atmosphere. Atmospheric perspective plays a vital role here, creating a convincing illusion of depth and vast open space on a flat canvas.

When you gaze at a mountain range in the far distance—typically starting around 16 km away—distant objects naturally appear paler and more vividly blue. This optical phenomenon happens because atmospheric gases scatter sunlight in all directions, with shorter blue wavelengths scattering most easily. To translate this onto canvas, the palette must shift: distant elements demand cooler, lighter tones, reduced colour intensity, and a much softer contrast between light and shadow.

31/08/2026

A collection of artworks I did, inspired by a trip to the West MacDonnell Ranges back in 2012. The locations include:
Standley Chasm
Ellery Creek
Finke Gorge
Ormiston Gorge
Uluru
Simpsons Gap
King's Canyon

These paintings were all sold, but I accept commissions of similar works.

25/08/2026

A small painting I did as a colour study, in preparation for a bigger commissioned painting of Lincoln Rock, Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains.

As I prepare for this commission, I have spent some time working through a small-scale colour. These preliminary sketches are essentially a playground for the palette. They allow an artist to experiment with hue, value, and temperature without the pressure of the final piece.

Why Colour Studies Matter

Testing Harmony & Contrast: Mixing paint on a palette is one thing; seeing how colours react side-by-side on canvas is entirely different. Studies reveal whether shades complement one another or clash.

Establishing Mood: Colour is the primary driver of emotion in visual art. A quick study helps dial in the exact atmosphere—whether soft and serene or vibrant and dramatic—before committing to the full-scale work.

Saving Time & Material: Resolving composition and tonal balance early on prevents costly, time-consuming corrections on the final piece.

Building Confidence: Working through the awkward stages on a small scale means approaching the main canvas with a clear, deliberate plan.

For more information about commissioning an artwork, please visit my website.

12/08/2026

Just finished this painting depicting a brumby grazing under a gum tree in the snowy mountains.

There is a quiet, brooding atmosphere currently settling over the High Country. Inspired by the ongoing controversy surrounding the brumby culls at Kosciuszko National Park, I wanted to capture the contrast between the gentle, peaceful existence of these wild horses and the storm clouds gathering over their future.

Painted in oils using traditional indirect methods, I relied on a mix of brushwork for the atmosphere and atmospheric glazes, combined with rich, textured palette knife work to build the sunlit light on the ancient gum tree, snowy patches and foreground terrain.

Whatever your view on the management of the park, there is no denying the beauty of a single brumby grazing peacefully beneath the golden light of the ranges.

Address

Baulkham Hills, NSW
2153

Website

http://www.christopher-vidal.com.au/, http://artistchristophervidal.com/

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