Leonard Long

Leonard Hugh Long OAM (born 25 April 1911) is an Australian painter of the Australian School of landscape painters.

Born the son of a baker on 25 April 1911 in Summer Hill, New South Wales, Long is an Australian landscape artist in oils. He was raised in Mittagong on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and showed an early aptitude for drawing. He painted his first painting at the age of 16. He started his working life as a watch-maker in nearby Bowral later moving to Nowra for work.[1]

As a young man Long was a cyclist and rode his push bike long distances including the trip from Nowra back to Mittagong to see his sweetheart Mary whom he later married. In 1934 he and Mary settled in Nowra where they raised their family, in 1936 having twins Ray and Barry and in 1938 daughter Carmel. By 1939 Long had become more seriously interested in Landscape Painting and spent more and more of his spare time painting. After returning from his civil service during the Second World War as a precision instrument maker, he sold his watch-making business to his partner and began full-time painting in 1955.[1]

During his career Long has held many successful solo exhibitions throughout Australia and has travelled extensively both within Australia and overseas. His first overseas trip was sponsored by the American millionaire John Galvin and the experience made a lasting impression on the artist. He has known and painted with many other Australian artists including Albert Namatjira.[2] His works may be found in many private collections and is represented in many public galleries around the world.[1]

Long moved to Melbourne in 1980 where he still lives. On 26 January 1993, Long was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia 'for service to the arts as a painter of Australian landscapes.'[3] At the beginning of 2011, Long continues to paint every day and is preparing for his centenary exhibition which opens on 14 May 2011 at the Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions studio in Yass, New South Wales not far from the nation's capital, Canberra.[4] At one hundred years of age he attributes his continued health to an active life and a medicinal scotch in the afternoon.[5]

See also

Leonard Long Centenary Exhibition

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Anon (1986). Leonard Long. Melbourne: Gwynne Publishers. ISBN 1 86252 445 9. 
  2. ^ "In the Artits's Footsteps: Albert Namatjira Biography". Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/namatjira_biography.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-29. 
  3. ^ Commonwealth of Australia (1993-01-26). "Its an Honour". http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au. Canberra: Honours and Awards Branch, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=870432&search_type=simple&showInd=true. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
  4. ^ "Leonard Long Centenary Exhibition". Yass Valley Council. http://www.yass.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/14713.html. Retrieved 28 March 2011. 
  5. ^ Prytz, Anna (2011-05-07). "Donvale artist long drawn to nature". Manningham Leader (News Limited). http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/donvale-artist-long-drawn-to-nature/. Retrieved 2011-05-09.