By EMMA KELLY
AWARD-winning artist Charlie Tong has painted his way to a successful career in Australia.
The Eumemmerring-based artist migrated to Australia with his family in 1994. Unable to find work as an engineer, the Chinese-born Tong turned to painting.
“I’ve been painting full-time since 2002. Before then it was just part-time. It’s been a hobby for a long time.”
Tong has entered several of his landscapes in the Bayside Art Show to be held in August. He’s no stranger to success at this show, having won the prize for best painting in 2004 and 2005.
On top of that are numerous awards in exhibitions across Victoria, including second prize in Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Garden’s Painting on the Hill in 2002.
He describes his work as semi-abstract. “It’s like a different way to paint. You just find a personal way or feeling to paint.”
His emotive style, with broad brush strokes and contrasting colours, is influenced by many hours studying art. “I spent a lot of time reading about artists from throughout history in Australia and all over the world.
“I studied a lot of artists’ work – contemporary and impressionist. What I love is the expressionists – it’s more contemporary.
“At the moment I’m doing some landscapes. Australian land is different from other countries. I did a lot of study and tried to catch what was different from landscapes in other countries.”
Tong has just come back from Sydney, where he conducted a three-day workshop for budding artists.
But painting is more than just an occupation. “It’s part of my life. I just love it.”
