Workshop: An Approach to Tonal Realism

 

Please join me for an oil painting workshop in Kyneton's historic Piper Street during the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival.

Two separate workshops will be conducted over two weekends allowing attendees to complete a still life work following methods inspired by Australian Tonalist approaches to oil painting.

All materials will be supplied and no prior painting experience is necessary.  Accommodation and meals are the responsibility of attendees but I'm happy to assist with bookings on request.

Dates:

Workshop 1

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April 2025

Workshop 2

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April 2025

Time:

10am - 5pm (including lunch break)

Cost:

$350 (per workshop)

Where:

The Milk Bar Gallery

66a Piper Street

Kyneton 3444

Email:

milkbargallery@gmail.com

Book now:

https://milkbargallery.com.au/

Exhibition: Leave No Tone Unturned

 

Folks,

In a world of emissions and rude impositions --

With stifled ambitions and scant recognition --

Can I make a submission or put a petition?

For my proposition (is): you make it your mission, to 

Put cares in remission and observe apparitions

Of mixed compositions in tonal traditions.

Though I risk repetition, I request transposition

To my latest edition of art exhibitions.*

In short, I'm having another exhibition.  I'd love you to come along for a gander.

When:

Friday 18th April - Monday 21st April 2025

Friday 25th April - Sunday 27th April 2025

10(ish)am - 4pm

Where:

The Milk Bar Gallery

66a Piper Street

Kyneton 3444

Web:

https://paintingaday.net

https://www.instagram.com/tim.murphy/

https://milkbargallery.com.au/

I'll be in attendance most of the time, but please let me know if you plan to visit so I can be on hand to pontificate about the artwork.

*Though no precondition, I support acquisitions.

Tomatoes with Peacock Vacuum Bottle

 

These tomatoes were grown in my vegetable garden and are, by definition, the most organic element in this painting.  They appear to be snuggling up to the Peacock bottle, leading me to conclude that nature adores a vacuum.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Green Apple with Glazed Jar

 

A duet between Fiona Apple and Julio Iglesias.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Tomato with Small Brown Jug

 

Jugs are brown, tomatoes are red,
Can't think of a pun, here's a couplet instead.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Hochgurtel Fountain at the Royal Exhibition Buildings

 

Whilst I'm not disappointed with this painting, it's hardly the high water mark.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Eggplant with cream milk jug

 

I'm unsure of what it is that eggs me on, but I can't keep from milking the same old jokes.

Oil on canvas board, 4" x 6"

Dahlia Flower in Glass Vase

 

I considered painting multiple flowers, but thought it best to take one dahlia at a time.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Pullman Hotel from Fitzroy Gardens

 

The hotel in the distance lodged into view.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

P.S. This was painted as part of a most enjoyable workshop with Robert Kelly, organised through the Victorian Artists' Society.

Copy: Percy Leason Self Portrait

 

This is a copy of a Percy Leason self portrait -- from the collection of the Castlemaine Art Museum -- that I painted as a class exercise.  It was cut into eight sections, with students given the task of painting one section each, upside down, in an effort to disguise the final picture.  At the end of class, each section was brought together to form the whole.

You could say this gave the picture a new Leason life.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Pears with Kerosene Lamp

 

Things got a bit fruity in the red light district

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20" 

Vintage Fan

 

At the beginning this painting was a breeze, but the complexity of the subject soon became tedious.  I must admit, when it comes to complexity like this, I'm not a fan.

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

The Cascades, Metcalfe

 

I knew when I was driving towards this body of water that I was heading for a fall.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Cow Skull

 

Memento moo-ri

Oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Still Life with Tea Towel and Gooseneck Jug

 

Towel puns are a particularly dry form of humour.

Oil on canvas board, 20" x 24"

P.S. Incidentally, this is the largest painting I've done for over three decades (32 years ago I did one over four times the size -- I might have to work back up to that).

Rose Study

 

Unfortunately I had a limited period to paint this subject -- if time had allowed more rose, perhaps I wouldn't feel so morose.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Skull Study

 

This painting started life (pun intended, of course) as a student demo.  As morbid as the subject may be, it's a great way to work on painting skulls.

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Talbots Lane, Taradale

 

Talbots Lane works a bit like an "I am human" checkbox -- it's used to tell bots from humans.

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Pears with Antique Whisky Bottle

 

Gird your loins and pre-pear for bottle!

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

Windmill Farm, Near Kyneton

 

The mental game of realist painting always involves a certain amount of tilting at windmills

Oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"