Ross Harvey is explicit that he exclusively paints his still lifes from direct observation, stating: “As I am short-sighted, I am drawn to close inspection rather than broad, distant viewing.” Harvey studied at the Julian Ashton Art School—an institution that trained a formative generation of Australian artists, including John Passmore, William Dobell, and George Lambert. His personal style, which he identifies as classical realism, was deeply influenced by early Flemish painters, especially Johannes Vermeer. Each of Harvey’s works is the result of a lengthy and meticulous process that requires months of labor. He begins each painting by creating an arrangement of objects in his studio, then slowly paints portions of the composition with fine brushes, finishing only when no brushstrokes are visible.