Biography
Joshua McPherson began formal training at Australia’s oldest Art School, The Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney’s historic Rocks area. Inspired by his desire to undertake further specialized studies in the principles of realist classical drawing and painting, he travelled to Florence Italy in 2005 joining the prestigious Florence Academy of Art completing a Diploma of Fine Arts in 2008.
Joshua has taught Fundamentals of Life Drawing at the Julian Ashton Art School and from 2007-2009, Cast & Figure Drawing and Painting the Landscape at the Florence Academy.
Joshua has exhibited in Florence, Italy and in group exhibitions in London and the United States. During his study at the Julian Ashton Art School and the Florence Academy, Joshua was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including the painting of the year award in 2008 at the Florence Academy.
In 2010 he was the winner of the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship. In 2012 was a finalist in the EMSIA Still Life Award, in 2013 a finalist in the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize and the Archibald Prize.
Since being back in Australia, Joshua is a full time practicing artist offering specialised painting tuition.
Curriculum Vitae
Qualifications & Training
1997-2002 Diploma of Fine Arts – Julian Ashton Art School, The Rocks, Sydney
2005-2008 Diploma of Fine Arts – The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
Prizes & Scholarships
1998 The Marjorie Santos Award for Drawing, Julian Ashton Art School
1999 Scholarship for Year 2000, Julian Ashton Art School
1999 Award for excellence in Drawing & Life Painting, Julian Ashton Art School
2000 The Joshua Smith Prize, Julian Ashton Art School
2000 Award for excellence in Fine Drawing, Julian Ashton Art School
2003 Work selected for the Mosman Art Prize
2003 Work selected for the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2007 Excellence in Drawing the Figure, Florence Academy of Art
2008 Work selected for the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2008 Painting of the Year, Florence Academy of Art
2010 Awarded A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2012 Works selected for the EMSLA Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour
2013 Finalist, Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Archibald Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize, Montsalvat
2014 Finalist & Packers Prize Winner, Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Bega
2014 Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2015 Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2018 Semi finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
Exhibitions
2007 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
2008 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, WH Patterson Gallery, London
2009 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
2010 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
2012 EMSLA Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour
2013 Archibald Prize, Sydney
2014 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2015 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
Art Teaching
1999-2000 Fundamentals of Life Drawing, Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney
2007-2009 Cast & Figure Drawing, Florence Academy of Art, Florence Italy
Current Figure Painting & Life Drawing, Waverley Woollahra Art School, Sydney