Laurie McMurray - Classical Realist Artist

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Apart from my commission initiated illustrations, portraits and nude works; the majority of my personal artistic endeavours, have, for the greater part of my life involved the human condition physically, psychologically and genetically and have culminated in the execution of over 2000 drawings and/or paintings of and from life. My current predominent artistic endeavours aim at recognizing and exposing the primeval and primitive part of the DNA molecular structure that influences and indeed controls the human condition. Concurrently, and often inclusive of the above, I am also using various mythological, fable, and "fairytale" stories as an analogous artistic vehicle with which to comment on observed philosophical and social occurrences. Although I have worked in many styles of expression in my art career, ranging from abstraction, construction, installation and traditional realism; I have now, for a number of years been working in a style currently referred to as "Classical Realism". My medium of choice is an adaptation of the "Venetion Technique" and that of the technique of Vermeer. I paint on triple oil primed fine Belgian Linen and Cedar Stretchers.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born:

Wangaratta, Victoria, in 1945.

ARTISTIC INVOLVEMENT:

Since early childhood.

RESEARCH AND STUDY:

Extensive ongoing lifetime of personal research and study.

EDUCATION:

Primary
Lake Bolac State School.

Secondary
Lake Bolac High School.

Tertiary
1962-1965 (almost completed) Diploma of Commercial Art (Art Training Institute of Australia). (Correspondance School).
1963-1966 Drafting and Penmanship: (Marine Survey Office, Queenscliffe).
1967 - Fine Art: (Bendigo Institute of Technology).
1968-1969 - Diploma of Air Conditioning (International Correspondance School)
1969-1971 - (almost completed) Bachelor of Architecture (International Correspondance School ).
1975 - Architectural Structures and Design (R.M.I.T.)

Studies under or with:
Susan McInnes (nee Abbot-Smith) noted Gould League artist.
Edward Heffernan (Geelong Art Society).
Vin Suffield (P&H Drafting and Penmanship).
Bill Delecca and staff at B.I.T.

EXHIBITIONS:

1970 - Bendigo Community Aid Abroad Benefit.
Mid 70's - Focus Galleries,Hampton.
Mid 70's Caulfield Art Prize Exhibition (finalist).
Mid 70's-Early 80's: McMurray Art Studios (Sandringham).
1982 - Westpac Bank,Sandringham (solo).
1983-1995 - Axedale Galleries.
1996-2000 - McMurray Galleries (Bendigo).
1997 - Bendigo Art Society (annual exhibition).
1997 - Bendigo Art Gallery (selected exhibitor annual works on paper exhibition).
1997 - Colonial Bank Gallery, Bendigo (Central Arts Collective).
1998 - Geoff Sayer Fine Art Gallery,Bendigo (Central Arts Collective).
1998 - Bendigo Art Gallery (selected exhibitor annual works on paper exhibition).
1998-2000 - Colours Gallery Cafe,Bendigo.
1998 - Colonial Bank Gallery,Bendigo (Central Arts Collective).
1999 - Colonial Bank Gallery,Bendigo (Central Arts Collective).
1999 - Liling City Library,First Scholar Island,(Hunan Province CHINA).
2000-2008 - Visions Gallery and McMurray Galleries, (Avoca, Victoria).
2008 - Current - McMurray Galleries, (Avoca,Victoria)

AWARDS

1957 - State of Victoria Gould League Prize.
Mid 1970's - Finalist in Caulfield Art Prize.

WORKS SOLD:

Approximately 1000 originals (excluding approximately 1000 illustrative commissions and 1000's of reproduced prints).

MEDIUMS WORKED IN:

Most Drawing and Painting Mediums and some 3D Mediums.

MEMBERSHIPS

N.A.V.A.(National Association of Visual Artists)
A.G.R.A.(Australian Guild of Realist Artists)
N.G.V.(National Gallery of Victoria)

PREVIOUS ART POSITIONS HELD

Steering committee Sandringham Arts Festival (SANDART-1978)
President and Art Show Convener Sandringham Apex Art Show (1977)
Art Show Convener Sandringham Apex Art Show (1978)
Bendigo Cultural Festival Committee of Management (Marketing/Promotion )(1996)
Vice President and Art Show Convener "a contemporary view" Art Show (Central Arts Collective, Bendigo-1998)

MAIN ARTISTS' INFLUENCES

Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Vermeer, Rembrandt,Otto Dix, Dali, and especially Caravaggio and Norman Lindsay.

MEDIA REFERENCES

(Newspapers)
Bendigo Advertiser; Mar.21 1970, Sep.20 1986, Sep.23 1986, Dec.13 1986,
Oct.13 1998, Aug.21 1999, Nov.12 1999,
Pyrenees Advocate: Jan.13 2004, Jan.30 2004 Aug.26 2005, Sep.9 2005,
Jun.2 2006, Jan.12 2007, Mar.14 2008.
Maryborough Advertiser: Oct.5 2007.
Sun Newspaper: Jan.19 1998.

(Magazines)
The Bird Lover (Gould League) 1958.
Australasian Post 1983.
Victorian Lifestyle Aug./Sep.2004.

(Radio Interviews)
3CS Oct.1984.
KLFM. Oct.1998.

(Television- arts interview only)
WIN TV (Channel 9) 1998 (re working on large portrait of singer Colleen Hewett for Archibald Prize submission)

You can also view our Gallery & Fine Art Studios website at -

www.mcmurraygalleries.com.au