Robert H. McMurray, FCA, AFCA -- Canadian Artist, FCA On-Line Studio

FCA, AFCA

Click on image for larger view - Take Studio Tour


Glacial Runoff	My Time in Echo Bay	Work Hard, Play Hard

It's a Good Year	Fresh Water	Reignat, From A Ballon, Early


Running in Her Sister's Boots	In For the Evening


From the Water Triptych, left panel	From the Water Triptych, center panel	From the Water Triptych, right panel

Reliable Friend

Journey's End

Three's A Crowd

Artist's Statement

I am inspired by memories and a sense of history. Wherever I travel, down a local lane or across a continent, images from an earlier time call out to me. Nostalgia is everywhere. I look around and see art in both the natural and human-built heritages that give us a strong sense of permanence.

With each stroke of my brush, heart-warming memories find their way into my work. I use a variety of media, which I choose according to the subject matter and the feeling it inspires: Watercolour, oil, acrylic, pastel and mixed media. My work is representational in style and drawn from a wide range of subject matter, with a strong influence from the impressionists.

On canvas, I explore my yearnings for other times. I pay close attention to colour harmonies and use the paint unfettered by the colour constraints of a realistic scene. The unifying element, which gives shape to the visions of my paintings, comes from my fascination with the contrast between light patterns and dark passages. It is deeply satisfying for me when my work connects the fine, memorable experiences of my life to a viewer who remembers, I’ve been there, or I used to go there when I was a child. Then my paintings become a way for my audience and I to meander down a few nostalgic roads of bygone days together.

Salt Lick

Weathered Hands Have Worked These Lands

Bob was born in New Westminster and grew up in Richmond. He became a Chartered Accountant in 1964, was elected a Fellow (FCA) by the Chartered Accountants of BC in 1992, has been in public practice in Surrey, British Columbia since 1964 and is a partner in the firm of McMurray, Roberts, Heming & Wyborn.

Bob considered a career as a commercial artist in high school but opted instead for the business world. After establishing his practice as Chartered Accountant he renewed his interest in oil painting, attending night school classes given by Alexander Sutherland in 1973. Bob has been influenced by the works of Edward Hopper and Robert Genn and has worked in watercolour since attending the Federation Workshop on Saltspring Island in 1986 and subsequent years. He completed the Federation Foundation Courses in the 90's, returned to oils and other media and was elected to Signature status (AFCA) by the Federation of Canadian Artists in 1995.

Bob has been actively involved in the community and has held various offices as a volunteer for the City of Surrey, the Federation of Canadian Artists, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and the Hamber Foundation. Bob's paintings are in a number of private and corporate collections in Canada and abroad.

Saturday Morning

Good Friends, Competitive Adventures

Representation

Federation Gallery - 1241 Cartwright Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC.
D'Or Art Consultants, Vancouver, BC., Tel: 604.732.7533 (www.dorart.com)

Painting Demonstrations

Cherry Blossom Festival, Vancouver, BC (2007)
Art Force (2007)
Burnaby Art Gallery (2006)
Western Art Circle (2006, 2003)
Art Focus (2004)
Richard Major Art Group, Burnaby, BC (2004)
Garibaldi Art Society, Maple Ridge, BC (2004, 2001)
Richmond Artists Guild/Art Council (2005, 2002, 2000)
Port Moody Art Association (2002)
South Delta Artists Guild (2006, 2002)
White Rock and South Surrey Art Society - White Rock, BC (2001, 1997).
Arts West, Surrey, BC (2006, 2001)
Inlet View Art Club, Port Coquitlam, BC (2001)
West Vancouver Sketch Club (2000)
Richmond Artists Guild - Richmond, BC (2000).
Western Light Art Society - Vancouver, BC (1997).
Artists in Action, Federation Gallery - Vancouver, BC (1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995).
Squamish Art Group - Squamish, BC. (1995)

Seagull Gatherer

Education

White Rock Summer School of the Arts - Arnie Westerman (2004); Mary Todd Beame, Polly Hammett, Carol Orr and Carla O'Connor (1996, 1997, 1999).
Annual Island Workshops sponsored by the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) featuring numerous prominent American and Canadian instructors (1986 - 1993 and 1999-2001).
Four-year FCA Foundation Course Program completed with Great Distinction (1993 - 1997).
Langley Arts Workshop - an artist support group (1975 - 1980).
Night school classes with Alexander Sutherland, White Rock, BC (1973 - 1975).

Wine Country

Teaching Workshops

Calgary, AB – Watercolour Harmony (1998)
Courtenay-Comox, BC – Watercolour Harmony (1999)
Crescent Beach, Surrey, BC – Introductory Drawing, Introductory Watercolour (2000)
Nanaimo, BC – Watercolour Harmonies (2000)
North Vancouver, BC – Introductory Drawing, Intermediate Acrylic (2003); Basic Collage, Oil/Acrylic Painting, Oil Colour Mixing, Introductory Oil, Intermediate Oil (2001); Basic Watercolour; Basic Oil; Basic Collage, Beginners Landscape in Oil, Drawing Perspective (2000); Colour Mixing in Oil and Acrylic; Water Soluble Oil and Mediums; Oil Glazing (1999).
Oliver, BC – Colour Harmonies in Oil (2000)
Port Moody, BC – Watercolour Harmony (1999)
Saltspring Painters Guild – Painting in Oils, Acrylic Like Oils (2003)
Summerland, BC – Oil Painting Techniques (2000)
Vancouver, BC (FCA Workshops) – Introductory Watercolour, Introductory Collage/Mixed Media (2004); Still LIfe Drawing (2004)
Vancouver, B. C. - Radical Games Inc./Vivendi (2004 - 2007) a series of workshops in drawing, watercolour and acrylics.
Gibsons, B. C. - Gibsons Summer School of the Arts (2005) Landscape in Acrylics
Langley, B. C. - Port Kells Art Club (2005) oil and acrylics
Montaigut le Blanc, France - Capilano College (2005) three-weeks iin Drawing, Watercolour, Oils and Acrylics
Kelowna, B. C. - Kelowna Chapter, FCA (2006) Oils and Acrylics like Oils
Vancouver, B. C. - FCA Workshop (2007) five weeks Oils and Acrylics

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Various articles, Opus Newsletter (2006, 2005, 2004, 2002)
Feature article, "Colour for the Colour Challenged", International Artist Magazine, Vol 25, June-July (2002)
Master Painters of the World, International Artist Magazine, Vol 14, August-September (2000)
Various articles - FCA News Magazine (1985-2007)
Article published by American Artist magazine in "Watercolor'95", Premier Winter Edition (1995)
Various presentations and workshops on artists and income taxes
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (2007, 2006, 2005)
West Vancouver Cultural Services, Ferry Building (2006, 2005)
Surrey Arts Centre (2007, 2006, 2005)
Kwantlen College (2007)
East Side Cultural Crawl (2006)
Canadian Writers Association (2006)
City of North Vancouver (2004)
Alice Rich Seminar (2004)

Virgin Waters

Exhibitions

G10 Life Study Group, Delta Firehall Gallery; Delta, BC (2006, 2004, 2003)
AIM International Open Juried Show, "Tales of Tidal Pools" (2000)
Voyages of Inspiration Group Shows:
– On Nova Scotia: Zwickers Gallery, Halifax, NS and Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, AB (2002-2003)
– On Haida Gwaii, Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, AB; Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC; Birthplace of BC Gallery, Fort Langley, BC (2000-2001)
FCA Medal Show, "Read, Set, Boat" (2000)
Open International Juried Exhibit, Northwest Watercolour Society - Seattle, Washington (1998)
Waterworks Annual Members Juried Exhibit, Northwest Watercolor Society - Seattle, Washington (1997)
7th Street International Exhibit, International Artists Support Group - Washington, DC (1997)
Participated in White Rock and South Surrey Arts Society Annual Juried Exhibits (1997, 1996)
Numerous juried exhibitions with the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) - Vancouver, BC (1979 to date.
Part of a four-artist exhibitions at the Federation Gallery - Vancouver, BC (1998, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990)

1975 - 1980

Two-artist exhibition at Heritage House Gallery - Langley, BC
Various group exhibitions with Langley Arts Workshop - Langley, BC
Solo exhibition at Ocean Park Library - Surrey, BC
White Rock and South Surrey Arts Society Annual Juried Exhibitions - White Rock, BC

Awards

Surrey/White Rock "Spirit Bears In The City" program, People's Choice Award, Habitat Bear (2006)
Federation of Canadian Artists, Painting on the Edge, Jim Spilsbury Award, "Reliable Friend" (2003)
Federation of Canadian Artists, Winter Juried Show, Tim Yan Chan Award, "Journey's End"
Federation of Canadian Artists, Winter Juried Exhibition, Third Place, "Winter on the Slough" (1988)
Federation of Canadian Artists, Associated Graphics Award: Associated Graphics Award: "It's Miller Time" (1999)
White Rock and South Surrey Art Society; Best Painting - "When the Sun Comes" (1997); Best Watercolour - "A Mixed Up Love" (1996)
Several honourable mentions (1975 to 1980)
Three paintings used by the City of Surrey for Christmas cards and one for Annual Report Cover (1995 - 1996).

Corporate Collections

Burnaby Lake Greenhouses
CIBC/Wood Gundy
Canada Life
Dr. J. C. McIvor Inc.
Finning (International)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC
Ledcor Group
MacMillan Tucker & Mackie
Pro Pilot Services Ltd

Memberships

Federation of Canadian Artists - Vancouver BC.
Northwest Watercolor Society - Seattle, Washington.
G 10 Life Study Group - Surrey, BC.
White Rock and South Surrey Art Society - White Rock, BC.

Commissions/Availability

Commissions accepted. Available for painting demonstrations, workshops, jurying and critiques.

Contacting the Artist

Contact Robert McMurray if you would like to receive an invitation to future exhibitions; or, to discuss a professional consultation on the subject of "Income Tax Rules and Regulations for Artists".

Contact Robert by
email at: bobmcmurray@shaw.ca
telephone: (604) 535-5069 (H) or (604) 230-5930 (Cel)

More Work by Robert H. McMurray