Artist Profile

 
Tom O'Callaghan has been painting professionally since 1997, living and working from his home in Victor Harbor, South Australia. He uses a variety of techniques to describe his response to the colours and textures he sees in the landscape, with the Fleurieu coastline offering a wide range of subjects and source of inspiration.

In recent years he has won many prestigious awards at leading Australian art shows, including Victoria's biggest regional art prize - the Camberwell Art Prize - in 2008 and again in 2010 and South Australia's most important regional art competition - the Victor Harbor Art Show - in 2005 (Best Oil), 2004 (Second Prize)  and 2003 (First Prize).

Reflecting his love of the sea and surfing, coastal landscape has been predominant in his choice of subject in this time. "I love what the coastal landscape has to offer, from the untouched natural beauty through to some of the more urban aspects of our coastline," he says. "The superb colours of sand, cliffs, sea and sky combine to make a complementary colour scheme that grabs my attention. The natural lines and shapes all offer something varied and unique. I aim to capture those true forms revealed in the play of light and texture."

In April 2009 Artworx established an Australian record price for a work by Tom O'Callaghan when his painting, Low Tide, Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island sold for $14,500. The 2.2 metre by 80 cm landscape, purchased by a private Adelaide collector the first day it was on exhibition, was a masterly work demonstrating his talents at their peak.

The previous Australian record for an O'Callaghan was $9,900, set in mid-2007 for Whyalla Shipyards and beyond a large scale image which also went to a private Adelaide collector the day it was first hung.