Painted Days – Discovering Australian Artists of the Early 20th Century Through Picture Study

Explore the coastlines, deserts, cities, and quiet moments of everyday life in Australia’s early 20th century with Painted Days, a rich and accessible art appreciation course for home learning. Inspired by the Charlotte Mason method of picture study, this resource invites students to slow down, observe closely, and connect deeply with a diverse range of artworks.

This study explores 16 artworks by painters such as Emanuel Phillips Fox, Elioth Gruner, Dorrit Black, and Eric Wilson-alongside two beautiful works by Indigenous painters from the Hermannsburg School of Watercolour. These artists reflect a time of growing artistic diversity in and beyond Australia, drawing on influences from Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Cubism, and Abstract art. Their work reveals a rich and varied vision of Australian art in the first half of the 20th century.

This resource is also included in our Art Appreciation Course as a convenient PDF. When you join as a course member, you’ll unlock free access to all of our art appreciation courses.

Whether you’re teaching at home or enriching a school curriculum, Painted Days offers a vibrant and engaging introduction to Australian artists of the early 20th century and the enduring beauty of their vision.