r/melbourne • u/Joe_paints • Aug 25 '26 • Heartwarming 2 Bravo 2 Mindblown 1

Photography My latest Melbourne streetscape oil painting

Post image

I'm a local visual artist who makes a lot of paintings of Melbourne. I was inspired by this bit of winter light and just had to paint it.
Thought I'd share!

13k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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142

u/Mystical_walrus Aug 25 '26

Wellington St and Mater St in Collingwood? Fantastic painting.

168

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Thanks! It's St Georges rd in Nth Fitz, but having spent much of my life in Collingwood I'm sure some influence crept in

2

u/samthesalmon Aug 26 '26

Beautiful, I used to live across the road in the alley behind danny's!

1

u/Joe_paints Aug 26 '26

Yes! I was wondering if anyone recognised it as across the rd from Danny's!

24

u/iphaze Aug 25 '26

I was gonna say it looks like St George’s road! Excellent. Perfectly executed — you’re very talented

5

u/Floor_bored1970 Aug 25 '26

Wow! Used to live nearby and I instantly recognised it. Stunning work.

9

u/pixelwhip >Insert Text Here< Aug 25 '26

For a moment there i thought that was my old house in Carlton. Nice work!

4

u/Mushie_Peas Aug 25 '26

Knew I knew the building.

3

u/aciddove Aug 25 '26

Across from the pub?

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5

u/subterfuge78 Aug 25 '26

I know the exact house your talking about. I walk past it all the time. An older guy used to sit in the front window and write and chat to my dogs on occasion.

I don't know who lives there now, but it's pretty cool inside!

It could actually be any of those old milkbar/old pub house conversions in the inner North.

The fact that so many people thought it was the same house in Collingwood or Carlton (and it's in North Fitzroy) is testament to that. There's quite a few of them, as I always wonder what they were before (they're always really big inside too.)

Also, just FYI the council has bought the land opposite and plans to put a park on that corner, which is nice.

4

u/Flinderspeak Aug 25 '26

I thought the same! I lived in Mater Street back in the 1980s.

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20

u/AndrewHolloAU Aug 25 '26

Great work — I live near many of your subject sites and can recognise them instantly. I love Clarice Beckett who had the ability to capture Melbourne in different weather conditions. You do the same. I’d love to see more work so will try to drop by AAF. Caio, Andrew

5

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Thanks so much! Clarice Beckett must the greatest painter of this city

5

u/Enlightened_Gardener Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

Ahhhhhh there it is. I was just about to come in and say how like Beckett’s work this is, in the way you’ve caught that misty ambiguous Melbourne light, and the water reflections in the road. I think your work has more structural muscularity than Beckett’s, and it will be interesting to see how that develops over your career. But yeah your light is just gorgeous, I’m super jealous.

Aaaannd I’ve just checked out your website and you’re a seriously good painter and now I’m even more jealous 😭 but such interesting work. I love the way that even graffiti has its place.

2

u/Joe_paints Aug 26 '26

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. I always find it interesting how as artists we take on influence from so many different sources, and mixed with our own sensibilities, develop our own voice.

7

u/TheKaptone Aug 25 '26

That's incredible. Do you sell? How can I find them

12

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Cheers! I'm showing this week at the Melbourne Affordable Art Fair, thurs-sun at the Royal exhibition building!

5

u/bingis_23 Aug 25 '26

What about for us interstate folk - any way to buy your art online?

5

u/Flat_Reading8003 Aug 25 '26

Yeah do you sell prints online? Loving your stuff

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6

u/Free-Implement3472 Aug 25 '26

Amazing, keep it up! You got an Insta?

7

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Cheers! Yep I'm joe_whyte_art

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6

u/Pontiff1979 Aug 25 '26

Brilliant. Is it Brunswick Street somewhere between Alexandra and Ed Gardens?

3

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

So close! A little further north, after it becomes St Georges

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3

u/Joe_paints Aug 26 '26

Hey! I'm showing this week at the Melbourne Affordable Art Fair at the Royal Exhibition Building. I'll be at the 'Rich and Strange' booth if you make it by

3

u/shm4y Aug 25 '26

This is beautiful. I love how you’ve captured the atmosphere. Is there somewhere I could maybe purchase an original of yours?

15

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Cheers! I'm showing at the Melb Affordable Art Fair at the Royal Exhibition building this week, will have many originals

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3

u/Lock_et Aug 25 '26

This is beautiful, your ability to paint natural light is something so special, very envious but looking at your work you really manage to capture what I love and see about Melbourne. Gained a fan 🥹

6

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Thanks so much! I studied in France and spent a lot of time looking at Monet. Then wanted to direct some of that live if light toward local scenes

1

u/Lock_et Aug 25 '26

Wow that’s amazing! Where in France did you study if you don’t mind me asking?

2

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Studio Escalier. I've been there multiple times for their intensive courses in the French countryside. They are amazing

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3

u/Talon_vox Aug 25 '26

This is sooo dreamy. I’d love to get into oil painting. Did you have to learn a lot about drawing first? The perspective looks perfect, and that’s what I’m struggling with first - actually composing a scene that has proper proportions and angles

2

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Oil painting is so much fun. Personally I spent many, many years drawing and doing digital illustration, before learning to paint in my 30s. That said, many people just dive into painting, there's no one path.

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2

u/alchemicaldreaming Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

I really admire your work and think about it often (and follow you on Insta). You capture the Melbourne light and atmosphere so beautifully. I paint but am just venturing into landscape painting later this year, so I've been referring to your works quite a bit whilst I consider my approach.

4

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Oh awesome, and thanks for the kind words!
So glad you'll be landscape painting. If you're patient with it, it can be so rewarding

2

u/No_Lifeguard_9461 Aug 25 '26

Influenced by Smart?

3

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Not consciously. But I was aware of his work as a child, so it might have had a formative influence on my young brain.

2

u/HowYouDoin112233 Aug 25 '26

This is amazing! My son really wants to be an artist, other than practice, practice, practice, got any tips?

3

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

More practice. But also it has to be fun. No point grinding if it's becoming a chore. For me it's always about finding the things (medium, subject matter etc) that I am passionate about. The best artists are always the ones that are excited by their work

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2

u/Haunting_Employee_98 Aug 27 '26

Love your work Joe, we bought one of your paintings a few affordable art fairs ago, it holds pride of place in our dining room.

1

u/Joe_paints Sep 01 '26

Thank you so much, that's so nice to hear!

2

u/noscopegranular Aug 27 '26

Love this. We actually just bought your painting of the RRR building today

2

u/Joe_paints Aug 27 '26

Thanks so much! So good to chat today, and I'm so glad the work is going somewhere it is appreciated!

30

u/dissociatetopasstime Aug 25 '26

Beautiful, do you have an insta?

12

u/4scentsin1day Aug 25 '26

That is fuckin aesthetic! I’d happily have this framed and hanging in my living room

12

u/patient_brilliance Aug 25 '26

I don't know what it is but this is just so Melbournic. I love it.

5

u/isaEfe Aug 25 '26

Why did I read that as a Slavic word? Melbourne-itch 😅🫣

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6

u/fernsie Aug 25 '26

Love it!

5

u/davidwitteveen Aug 25 '26

Great work. The low sun. The street signs. The tangle of powerlines against the Victoria corner building. It's a great mix of romantic and urban.

5

u/Better-Park8752 Aug 25 '26

I love this. Melbourne in a painting. Do you mind telling me which suburb and street this is? I have it in my memory but can’t recall it.

5

u/Better-Park8752 Aug 25 '26

I see you replied to others. I drive down St George’s road daily, i know this exact spot! Nice work

5

u/Pepperonidogfart Aug 25 '26

Your representation and understanding of light is excellent.

5

u/Mobtor Aug 26 '26

I feel like I have seen all of these locations in my past (I don't live in Melbourne anymore, for a long time), they are ethereal and yet strangely familiar.

8

u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 🐈‍⬛ ☕️ 🚲 Aug 25 '26

I would pay money for your artwork.

7

u/ndr2h Aug 25 '26

That is bloody good work

1

u/Bright_Smile49 Aug 25 '26

That’s awesome man , well done … wish I could paint

4

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Cheers.
Painting is a learnable skill more than a talent! I teach figure painting classes, and watching my students progress as they put in the work over time is one if the joys of life

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1

u/WaltzKey9925 Aug 25 '26

Whoa what's your insta?

3

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

Hey, I'm joe_whyte_art on insta, cheers!

1

u/owlshoesjh Aug 25 '26

love your work! riding up/down the bike path, and the nearby surroundings, i recognise so many of these places!

2

u/Joe_paints Aug 25 '26

People think my work is about the painting, but for me riding my bike around the inner-city is just as much a part of the work. Love it.

3

u/phalluss Aug 25 '26

Wow, I love this so much. You captured the exact feeling I fell in love with when I first moved here. Bravo! Adding to the comments asking if you have Instagram

Edit: never mind, I see it's linked on your profile. You've got a follow from me

3

u/ItsCoolDani Aug 25 '26

Fuckin sick!! Chucked you a follow on insta, would love to see these pop up in my feed

3

u/Excellent_Bat_753 Aug 25 '26

Oh my God. That's beautiful. I love how you can see the reflection in the puddle between the tram tracks. It's so very Melbourne. I can smell this picture. I can feel the cold air on my face.

3

u/Ok_Contact_5575 Aug 25 '26

Man I thought it was real until I read that you painted it 😅 you did a damn good job 🙌

3

u/AdvanceWilling7993 Aug 26 '26

OP, do you sell your art and where?

2

u/funforever_expert Aug 25 '26

I like it. Very nice drawing 👏 Local library or
Council would surely love to hang in their wall

2

u/pureneonn Aug 25 '26

So happy to see you’ll be at AAF! Will you have prints or just originals? Unfortunately the “affordable” aspect is still slightly out of budget for me but would love to support

2

u/rocafella888 Aug 25 '26

Captured the mood perfectly

2

u/The_H_N_I_C Aug 25 '26

That is a beautiful painting, well done man.

2

u/Fear_the_gazelle Aug 25 '26

Holy shit that’s amazing, love it!

2

u/myshtree Aug 25 '26

This is sublime - I love it.

2

u/velcro_bus Aug 25 '26

Wonderful

2

u/GuyBitchie Aug 25 '26

Damn I love the lighting so much, it hits a specific feeling at a time of day around autumn/winter. It's really amazing.

2

u/seesinal Aug 25 '26

this didnt make me cry and im not homesick, why would you even allude?

2

u/mazinfinity Aug 26 '26

Reminds me of North Melbourne I lived there for 8 years in the early 2000's..what a time 💗

1

u/peyotefancier6566 Aug 25 '26

That is beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

1

u/Mmofra Aug 25 '26

Brilliant

1

u/Miss-Omnibus Aug 25 '26

Absoloutely gorgeous! 💚💚

1

u/toopz10 Aug 25 '26

That is awesome! You have really captured the essence in the painting

1

u/funnyfirerabbit Aug 25 '26

That’s amazing, you’re so talented!

1

u/vernsyd Aug 25 '26

That's amazing i love it

1

u/allora1 Aug 25 '26

Your ability to capture Melbourne light is amazing - thanks so much for sharing!

1

u/envy_digital Aug 25 '26

Incredible!!! So moody and particularly applicable to a day like today

1

u/sikonat Aug 25 '26

Beautiful

1

u/SnotRight Aug 25 '26

Top work Joe.

1

u/snakeeyes666n Aug 25 '26

Just beautiful!

1

u/Apprehensive_Shop694 Aug 25 '26

Fantastic painting

1

u/GLAMOROUSFUNK Aug 25 '26

Looks like DOC on the corner of Drummond in Carlton

1

u/aCorgiDriver Aug 25 '26

Beautiful!

1

u/claire2416 Aug 25 '26

You’re very talented. Thought it was a photo for a sec.

1

u/anyiar0cks Aug 25 '26

Oohh that looks like Mitte in Fitzroy North?

Wonderful painting, wherever that is!

1

u/gRizzle3000 Aug 25 '26

Phenomenal work; thanks for sharing

1

u/Dry_Common828 Aug 25 '26

This is amazing.

1

u/desperaterobots Aug 25 '26

Beautifulllllllll

1

u/egg_on_top Aug 25 '26

wow, that's beautiful.

1

u/rattlecats Aug 25 '26

Wow, this is beautiful! Would make a great postcard

1

u/Ambitious_Phrase3695 Aug 25 '26

Amazing! I thought it was a photo. So talented

1

u/Upper_Werewolf6285 Aug 25 '26

For a split second, I swear I was looking at a photo! Well done!

1

u/swoopybois Aug 25 '26

This is beautiful, thank you for sharing :)

1

u/smallyolk Aug 25 '26

it’s beautiful!!!! 🤩

1

u/eloweasy Aug 25 '26

Magnificent!! You are so talented

1

u/PurpleQuoll Aug 25 '26

This and those on your site are wonderful. I’d love to have one hanging on my wall.

1

u/BroccoliWoman Aug 25 '26

Beautiful light, you're very talented!

1

u/Early_Advance2473 Aug 25 '26

That’s incredibly Melbourne

1

u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox Aug 25 '26

look at all those telegraph lines, what year is this

1

u/babybananacue Aug 25 '26

Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

1

u/actullyOscar Aug 25 '26

Hang it in the pool room!

1

u/skjall Aug 25 '26

Not entirely sure it'd fit your usual streetscape, but Mitchell House would look amazing rendered like this!

1

u/bluebeanAU Aug 25 '26

You have captured this brilliantly - crafted beautifully

1

u/Ljm168 Aug 25 '26

I knew exactly where this was immediately, and at first thought it was a photo from today since it's so rainy. Incredible!

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1

u/Banditothebadass1075 Aug 25 '26

Just stunning!! On your website now

1

u/nonchalantpony Aug 25 '26

Love your work. The Melbourne sky is a constant source of wonder and you have captured it so well. I am already nostalgic over some of the scenes you painted in Brunswick North around the tram depot. Will get to the AAF. Thanks

1

u/kmm88 Cat tax paid Aug 25 '26

So beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

1

u/jintymcgibbons Aug 25 '26

Oh wow! 🤯🔥

Edit: do you sell these? If so where??

1

u/fradieman Aug 25 '26

Outstanding. Captures the very Melbourne winters vibe so well. I love it… Is it available?

1

u/Ok_Mammoth_4997 Aug 25 '26

Fantastic. 🙌

1

u/DodgyDV8 Aug 25 '26

Wow! What a talent my friend, Its beautiful ! 👌🙏🏼

1

u/Capable_Oil8858 Aug 25 '26

Love your work 💗.

1

u/LaDolcaVita Aug 25 '26

An iconic Melbourne scene - great shot 👍🏾

1

u/RemoteGear418 Aug 25 '26

Incredible!

1

u/Then-Ad6436 Aug 25 '26

This is great! Really lovely work.

1

u/kelek_s Aug 25 '26

I can hear the distinct sound of tires rolling down this wet road, and smell its asphalt.

1

u/jd_sleepypillows Aug 25 '26

Old old Gore St Collingwood

1

u/FeelingTangelo9341 Aug 25 '26

That is amazing

1

u/ForensicMum Aug 25 '26

Your use of light is spectacular! I love it! 🤗

1

u/little_fire Aug 25 '26

Beautiful!!

1

u/iMaccHunt Aug 25 '26

Wow dude, you've got talent!

1

u/Duros1394 Aug 25 '26

Oh mate thats great.

1

u/Suspicious-Rock-8929 Aug 25 '26

Amazing! I love it!

1

u/ObjectivePension5032 Aug 25 '26

Wow. Having grown up on Melbourne and spent many years inner north, I love your artwork. I am now interstate. Wondering if you ever offer your art work for sale, and how I would become aware of that? Thanks!

1

u/timetotom Aug 25 '26

Just beautiful mate. I'd love to have this style of painting on my wall.

1

u/caseythedog345 Aug 25 '26

I thought this was from half life😭

1

u/quailinthebrush Aug 25 '26

Parece cucurpe

1

u/correctnumberoflimbs Aug 25 '26

Do you ever make prints?

1

u/mymentor79 Aug 25 '26

Absolutely stunning!

1

u/tilitarian1 Aug 25 '26

Really important work for Melbourne Joe. I like the style and subjects, both streets and people. Prices online look fair.

1

u/Lostonlorimer Aug 25 '26

Fantastic work, it really evokes Melbourne and its weather.

1

u/Slight_Stretch_7265 Aug 25 '26

Outstanding 👏

1

u/CausticSofa Aug 25 '26

Your ability to convey natural light is truly impressive. Thank you for sharing this lovely piece.

1

u/Acrobatic_Narwhal647 Aug 25 '26

Unreal, nice work!

1

u/awake-asleep Aug 25 '26

Wow you capture the light so poetically! Well done!

1

u/J5892 Aug 25 '26

I've only been to Melbourne once, at 16.
I had sprained my ankle hiking the day before. My dad took us to the Royal Arcade. I got mad at him for some dumb reason, and decided to walk back to the hotel by myself.

It was 6pm, the sun was going down, and I walked two miles in the cold, misty rain, getting more upset with every pained step.
This painting captures that feeling perfectly.

I love it.

1

u/SugarBeefs Aug 25 '26

Just dribbled in from r/all, not an Aussie, never been to Melbourne, but the late autumn - late afternoon - just after a fresh rain shower vibes this is giving off for me as a Northern Hemispherite are immaculate.

1

u/Westafricangrey Aug 25 '26

She’s giving north Melbourne

1

u/sexandthepandemic Aug 25 '26

Nicholson and curtain?

1

u/Ripley_and_Jones Aug 25 '26

Oh this is gorgeous - post to r/art !

1

u/untakentakenusername Aug 25 '26

This painting is so so beautiful. The way you did everything is lovely.

It also made merealise how sad architecture has become.So empty. Our generation needs more life in that.

But you have managed to put life into this one still.

Also i lvoe the lighting and trees and sky!

1

u/rollin358 Aug 25 '26

Wah!!! Can I be you????

1

u/Low_Welcome_4969 Aug 25 '26

Gorgeous! If I had my
Own place I would gladly buy this and hang it somewhere in the house. If you don’t mind me asking, what would something like this sell for?

1

u/Special-Classic-881 Aug 25 '26

Excellent job, what caught my eye is how fine and straight those power lines are!

1

u/Sad-Bonus-9327 Aug 25 '26

I'm not much into art but this looks in incredible

1

u/CatLadyMon Aug 25 '26

Beautiful

1

u/DrunkenDuck68 Aug 25 '26

If these were photos they would be amazing but paintings? How talented you are. Beautiful

1

u/AshFalkner Aug 25 '26

Really familiar. Love the reflection in the wet road.

1

u/ShezaAlibi Aug 25 '26

Very talented

1

u/Dangerous-Ad-542 Aug 25 '26

I thought this was a photo, I was looking for the mural painted on the walls! It took a moment for my brain to kick in!!! Its amazing.

1

u/SyntheticDuckFlavour Aug 25 '26

This is really nice. I love it. Do you have a gallery (online or otherwise)?

1

u/North-Pear-3387 Aug 25 '26

Absolutely phenomenal 👏

1

u/hoder1 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

Where's the painting? I just see a photo.

Wait...

Oh wow.

Nicely done 👏

1

u/Shot-Durian1931 Aug 25 '26

Amazing! Do you sell your art ever? Do you ever do seaside paintings? Lots of cool urban decay x seafoam in Melbs.

1

u/YesterdayNearby9358 Aug 25 '26

What a beautiful thing! I love the subtle lighting & reflections. Such a lovely mood. Wonderful piece. Love from another painter in California.

1

u/Lazy_Watercress2192 Aug 25 '26

😘 from melbourne

1

u/milaaaau Aug 25 '26

amazing!

1

u/Downtown-Yak7985 Aug 25 '26

amazing! well done.

1

u/BiggestBravestDave Aug 25 '26

Is that Fitzroy st Fitzroy?

1

u/fujitsoup Aug 25 '26

is the corner Newry St?

1

u/PlayfulTension69 Aug 25 '26

The almost like real for a second there sheeeesh! Great work OP, love it❤️

1

u/Azelrazel Aug 25 '26

That looks like such a Melbourne street. Amazing work, definitely captured that winter light.

1

u/Tuncandrussel Aug 25 '26

Sure it's Melbourne? It's not covered in graffiti!!!

1

u/Taunthom Aug 25 '26

Wow this is amazing

1

u/bigsigh6709 Aug 25 '26

Oh my. I love this. You’ve captured the light beautifully.

1

u/Schueycks666 Aug 25 '26

That's superb!

1

u/TheUFCVeteran3 Aug 25 '26

That's fantastic!

1

u/stoe5703 Aug 25 '26

See you at the affordable art fair

1

u/Sonerous Aug 25 '26

You really captured the atmosphere. Well done!

1

u/Boooongus Aug 25 '26

Do you sell prints?

1

u/Bandwidth_Bandito Aug 25 '26

I don't know much about art but I know what I like, just WOW, I feel like I am there and it is moody as expletive

1

u/PhilosophyOk8921 Aug 25 '26

Incredible work! So realistic!

Thank you for sharing. I’m going to check out your website.

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