Paris scholarship for artist

Tim Phillips, a painter who graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) last year, has been awarded a sought-after Paris residency. 

Tim has been awarded the 2013 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship for his collection of work which includes Glass Still Life III 2013 (pictured right). 

“I’m excited to be spending three months in Paris because of the museums and easy access to the rest of Europe,” says Tim.

The 22 year-old, who was a finalist last year, had to submit ten new artworks to be in the running for 2013, as he couldn’t use any work he’d previously entered in the competition.

“I’ve been steadily painting since finishing my degree last year,” he says.

The $25,000 scholarship will see Tim spend three months in residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris from the middle of next year. He will spend an additional three months travelling around Europe as part of the scholarship.

Ruth Waller, head of the Painting Workshop, taught Tim during his honours year and is thrilled that he was awarded the scholarship.

“Tim’s current work demonstrates his conviction that the process of painting from the close observation and contemplation of simple things remains a compelling pursuit,” says Ms Waller. 

Euan Macleod, an artist and judge for the award, said that the “beauty and subtle technique” of Tim’s work gave him the edge.

“I was impressed at how he is working within the very traditional genre of still life but in a very personal way: finding a way to make it his own. I felt Tim would gain greatly from looking at some of the world’s best still-life paintings to be found in Europe,” says Mr Macleod.

The other judges were Director of the Art Gallery of NSW, Michael Brand and the Gallery’s head of Australian art, Wayne Tunnicliffe.

The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, now in its fifteenth year, is open to Australian artists aged between 20 and 30 years, and is managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Beryl Whiteley, who died three years ago, established the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in memory of her son Brett Whiteley, a painter, who died in 1992.

Tim was one of eight finalists selected from 77 entries. A selection of the finalists’ work will be on display at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney until 1 September this year. 

Images courtesy of the Art Gallery of NSW