Tongala artist Murray Ross is holding children’s art classes this school holidays.
Running over four days in January, the art classes are held in the Town Square Art Studio for children up to 15.
“I was a commercial artist in Melbourne going back 40 years and I came up to go farming in Tongala,” Mr Ross said.
“We decided to set up a gallery in Tongala, we did that for some time, running our art classes from there and I did a bit of commercial artwork on the side.
“We run the classes over the school holidays, when children are looking for something other to do than watch computers.
“What happens is parents bring their children along and they have a paint too, so it’s all ages.”
The art classes start with fun drawing and basic sketching, participants then move onto art techniques.
These techniques include painting with watercolours, watercolour tonal values, how to get a wash gradient from one colour to another and treating the paper so the paint flows freely and does not become blocky.
“Then they paint as I do,” Mr Ross said.
“I do a painting, then they follow along in sequence.
“What we paint is a surprise, because each session is something different, a different subject.
“The thing is to paint something that is simple for all ages to be able to complete satisfactorily.
“It is pretty basic, but everyone learns skills.
“The children do enjoy it, they seem to enjoy it and they come back for more.
“Art is in the eye of the beholder, so it is all good.”
The art classes are part of Tongala’s Street Art Program, raising funds to go back into the local street art.
Currently, the Tongala Street Art Program has more than 50 murals, mainly located along Mangan St.
Tongala Street Art school holiday art classes will be held on January 16, 18, 23 and 25 from 9.30am to noon at the Town Square Art Studio.
To book phone artist Murray Ross on 0419 321 267 or send a text with your details.