An artist’s beautiful oil painting capturing her eldest grandchild’s curiosity has won the Living Arts Space Small Portrait Prize.
Lou Tehan won the $2,000 prize for her portrait, Sylvie Confounded by Life, using oil on board.
Darren Crothers was highly recommended for his vibrant artwork, Cheryl, using oil paint on linen and he received the $500 award.
As a City of Greater Bendigo initiative, the Small Portrait Prize was launched to complement the exclusive international exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image at Bendigo Art Gallery. The Mexican artist was famous for her extraordinary portraits.
The Small Portrait Prize attracted a wide range of portraits from local artists inspired by people in the Greater Bendigo community.
Arts Officer, First Nations Michellie Charvat shortlisted the submissions and 29 finalists were chosen to have their work displayed in the Living Arts Space, located in the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall.
The winner and highly commended artist were selected by Bendigo Art Gallery Curatorial Manager Lauren Ellis.
Ms Ellis said judging the Small Portrait Prize was not easy.
“It revealed a very impressive display of the artistic talent here in Greater Bendigo,” Ms Ellis said.
“The winning painting immediately caught my eye as I began looking through the 29 works.
“The dramatic and moody light, sophisticated use of colour, and the very enigmatic subject. It has timeless and very modern qualities. As I deliberated, this was the work I kept coming back to, and that is a quality of a great painting – one that keeps drawing you back.
“In the highly commended category, this is clearly an accomplished painter who has deftly combined confident, expressive brushwork and delicately rendered lifelike details. The beautiful cool colours in the palette offer a sense of this subject’s calm and insightful nature. A wonderful portrait.”
Lou Tehan created the winning portrait from a photograph of her first grandchild Sylvie.
“Sylvie is a very wise curious and intuitive 12-year-old. The painting was from a photographed portrait. Initially in this painting I hoped to just capture an accurate image but as the painting evolved, I realised I had captured Sylvie’s quirky sense of curiosity,” Lou said.
“Being somewhat reticent initially Sylvie seems to now be enjoying her brush with fame.
“I am very grateful to the Living Art Space for the opportunity to exhibit and no one was more surprised than I to be the winner. The calibre of the exhibition is beautiful in its diversity and skill. I am therefore humbled by the acknowledgement of my work.”
The Small Portrait Prize exhibition is free and open daily from 9am to 4:30pm at the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall until Sunday July 20.
