John Orlando Birt

John Orlando Birt was born in Broken Hill and now resides in Melbourne after living in Adelaide for 20 years.

John first made his name as an industrial designer. For as long as he can remember he has had a fascination for mechanical objects. This early interest, along with his developing artistic skills, motivated John to study design. This grew into a career as a senior designer in the automotive industry both in South Australia and Victoria. Working in this field required John to travel extensively, with extended stays in Italy, the USA, England and Japan. Whilst travelling he used the opportunity to paint landscapes en plein air. He eventually abandoned industrial design to become a professional painter. His background in drawing mechanised subjects has been a great asset to him, and his superior draughtsmanship can be seen in his watercolours.

Yet it is perhaps his mastery of light that is the single most striking factor in his work – light portrayed, light reflected and light suffused. He enjoys the challenge of capturing its effects on his surroundings such as buildings, landscapes, water and the changing moods at different times of the day. The atmospheric effects light creates always catches his eye. As an artist John believes that painting on location ensures that he captures the essence of the subject, especially the subtleties and nuances of that time and place.

John is represented in private and corporate collections in Japan, USA, England, Italy and Australia. Corporate collections include AXA Australia, Nufarm Pty Ltd, Tennis Australia, RAAF Canberra, Peninsular Sea Road Transport and Dadco (UK) Ltd, London.


 

     
Naples Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144662
$25.75$21.8915% off
Naples Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Naples Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144662
$25.75$21.8915% off
Consider non-staining lightfast Naples Yellow a bonus pigment. A true butter colour, this Cadmium Yellow Light with a touch of Venetian Red is made a...
Hansa Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144812
$25.75$21.8915% off
Hansa Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Hansa Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144812
$25.75$21.8915% off
Kissed with a touch of orange, this is a pure chroma colour with high-tinting, semi-transparent organic pigments. Hansa Yellow Deep is considered the...
Permanent Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144573
$35.15$29.8815% off
Permanent Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Permanent Yellow Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144573
$35.15$29.8815% off
Mixing beautifully with other colours, Permanent Yellow Deep yields a bright tangerine hue when used at full-strength and light washes are a soft...
Pyrrol Orange DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144520
$35.15$29.8815% off
Pyrrol Orange DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Pyrrol Orange DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144520
$35.15$29.8815% off
This unforgettable semi-transparent orange is a smooth, saturated and pure addition to the watercolourist's palette. Capture the glory of a summer...
Quinacridone Rose DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144485
$35.15$29.8815% off
Quinacridone Rose DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Quinacridone Rose DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144485
$35.15$29.8815% off
Quinacridone Rose, with its red-violet colour, lends itself to fabulous purples. Try with Indigo for deep dusty purples, or Indanthrone Blue for...
Cobalt Violet Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144894
$41.75$35.4915% off
Cobalt Violet Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Cobalt Violet Deep DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144894
$41.75$35.4915% off
This pigment creates glowing shadows with interesting granulation. Cobalt Violet Deep is intense. This inorganic, transparent and low staining...
Cobalt Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144922
$41.75$35.4915% off
Cobalt Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Cobalt Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144922
$41.75$35.4915% off
This neutral, non-staining primary blue will subtly modify most pigments. Considered a "mixing pigment", its transparent nature can cast a giant...
Ultramarine Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144365
$25.75$21.8915% off
Ultramarine Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Ultramarine Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144365
$25.75$21.8915% off
Ultramarine Blue plots cooler and bluer than the more saturated French Ultramarine. Temperature aside, both blues have equal permanence,...
Cerulean Blue, Chromium DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Cerulean Blue, Chromium DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144946
$35.15$29.8815% off
Best when mixed with a transparent pigment, this sky blue inorganic pigment is granular and medium-light in value. Highly permanent and extremely...
Cobalt Teal Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144901
$35.15$29.8815% off
Cobalt Teal Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Cobalt Teal Blue DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144901
$35.15$29.8815% off
Extraordinarily beautiful colour for painting turquoise blue skies, a must have for sunny Mediterranean skies and Tropical seas! Mixing with this...
Phthalo Turquoise DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144550
$25.75$21.8915% off
Phthalo Turquoise DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Phthalo Turquoise DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144550
$25.75$21.8915% off
This Daniel Smith exclusive is a favourite of artists. It moves from a deep dark turquoise to a thin film of robin's egg blue in a single wash,...
French Ochre DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144840
$25.75$21.8915% off
French Ochre DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

French Ochre DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144840
$25.75$21.8915% off
Extremely lightfast and non-staining French Ochre is a delightfully warm colour that embodies the feeling of autumn. Paint fields of wheat or add a...
Mars Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144687
$25.75$21.8915% off
Mars Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Mars Yellow DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144687
$25.75$21.8915% off
To avoid instant mud in your watercolours, select lightfast Mars Yellow. This semi-transparent brownish yellow is low-staining, an ideal substitute...
Raw Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144473
$25.75$21.8915% off
Raw Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Raw Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144473
$25.75$21.8915% off
Used since prehistoric times, an extremely permanent inorganic earth pigment of low intensity but medium-high tinting strength. Balance the...
Italian Burnt Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144736
$35.15$29.8815% off
Italian Burnt Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Italian Burnt Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144736
$35.15$29.8815% off
This sienna is a natural orange-brown earth pigment imported from Italy. Use this and the 'limited edition' sienna's with the same method and purpose...
Quinacridone Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
144483
$35.15$29.8815% off
Quinacridone Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Quinacridone Sienna DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

144483
$35.15$29.8815% off
The ultimate low-staining glazing pigment, certainly finer than any Burnt Sienna. For the traditional and purist watercolour painter, Quinacridone...
Burnt Umber DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml
145010
$25.75$21.8915% off
Burnt Umber DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

Burnt Umber DANIEL SMITH Awc 15ml

145010
$25.75$21.8915% off
This rich dark brown earth pigment is popular with artists due to its semi-transparent or semi-opaque qualities. It is lightfast, low-staining, and...