Commissions and exhibitions

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They say growing up in a home surrounded by music makes musicians. Growing up surrounded by three generations of art has made me an artist...eventually. 

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After spending 30 years in the  corporate world I have now come full circle to where I began life as an artist. My great grandfather, Francis Prout Mahony (self portrait in profile) was a prominent painter of the Heidelberg School era, a famous painter of horses, portraits, book illustrator and political cartoonist for The Bulletin.

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My grandfather, Francis (Will) Mahony (self portrait front on) was a renowned landscape artist, art teacher, political cartoonist and jazz musician. ”Puppa” gave me the most wonderful education in art, jazz and fine red wine.

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are the styles which have influenced me most. I love Monet’s light, van Gogh’s earthy emotion and McCubbin and Streeton’s ability to capture the harsh natural Australian beauty.

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Vincent van Gogh’s work has inspired me most. I adore his arbitrary brushwork and his strikingly brave use of colour (why can’t mountains be purple?). His depiction of ordinary people going about their work in a way that captures their stoic dignity is heartwarming.

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Monet’s use of light is breathtaking and has always held a fascination for me with his gentle and subtle use of colour, bending light to his will in order to explore the beautiful.

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Renoir’s “Boating Party” is such a piece of languid joy that it inspires one to step into the painting and onto the boat, to take up a glass of wine, pop on a straw hat and sing along with the group of friends.

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I love the magic of the watercolour medium and what can be rendered when brush, water and pigment combine. 

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Come visit my ink and pencil gallery where I started my artistic journey under my Puppa’s tutelage with some pieces dating from the ’70’s, through to recent works.

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I paint either en plein air or in my studio having photographed the  location and also find photography rewarding. My photographs are often the starting point for my landscapes. I have taken a number of commissions starting with photographs supplied to me or selected from my collection.

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If you see something you’d like to have painted by me in my photographic gallery please contact me at art@tobinobree.com.