Portrait Perspectives 2014

PORTRAIT AWARDS

1st MARCH 2014 – Judge, Penny Dowie

FIRST PRIZE:

Harry Sherwin “The Artist About to Shave”

SECOND PRIZE:

Fiona Dowler “Refugee: Reflection on Coming to Australia”

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

Michael Hocking “Self Portrait with Brushes”

COMMENDED:

Roger Kalleske “Who Will I Be today?”
Gerhard Ritter “The Artist’s Mother”
Timothy Dell: “Self Portrait #1”

YOUNG ARTIST:

Ellie Weckert: “Granny”.

EXHIBITION REVIEW

PORTRAIT PERSPECTIVES

We would be delighted if, as the reader, you would add your own comments to these remarks.

Penny Dowie – Girl in a Black Hood – Oil

Penny Dowie
“Girl in a Black Hood” painted in oils with delicacy and insight – the layering of the girl’s shirt – skin, undergarment, lace and pin-tucked cotton, her face framed by a black hood – all with qualities of concentrated observation. This composition of subdued colour, triangular shapes and strong contrast shows the intensity of character of the sitter.

Don Meyer
“Ulysses on Beta Blockers” is a successful charcoal self-portrait of a shadowed face, made using two mirrors. This technique allows the artist to see himself as others do and is an alternative to the piercing gaze of many self-portraits.

Joan Dorey
“Burmese Woman” is an appealing small portrait of an elegantly scarved woman, shadow brightened by sharp whites, and cleverly suggested light filtering through from above.

Ellie Weckert
“Granny” – a bold and interesting use of colour. The choice of predominant green and orange express an alert and gregarious character.

Fiona Dowler – Refugee: Reflection on Coming to Australia – charcoal and pastel – $1200

Fiona Dowler
“Refugee” – the wild exuberance of the cockatoos contrasts an anonymous young woman’s courageous restraint. Lovely marks in charcoal and pastel.

Portrait Perspectives

Jen Searle – Muffin – Oil – $375

A group of head and shoulders of women and girls by Fiona Dowler, Heike Dargusch, Adrienne Matthews, Linda Stanway and Jen Searle. Unworked backgrounds contribute to the focus on the face with the exception of Heike’s “Puppy Love” where the dog’s furry nose and the fishbone fern intercept.

Harry Sherwin – The Artist about to Shave – Oil – $1200

Harry Sherwin
“The Artist About to Shave” – a worthy winner – is a painting of modest size and skilled execution, a sketch almost. It is painted with great intelligence. Not simply a representation of a face but a tribute to a daily ritual.

Harry Sherwin - Rae Gierke
Rae Gierke
“Untitled” is a sympathetically painted watercolour portrait of a thoughtful young man. The suggested shape in the background gives a clue to real time and place in a work otherwise seemingly an imaginative rendition.

Ryan Evans – Selfie – Acrylic – $450

Ryan Evans
This vigorous graffiti-style work entitled “Selfie” expresses a spontaneity of gesture and action associated with rebellious youth in all its carefree confidence.

Sue Langford
If James 1 of England wrote of “Black stinking fumes” in 1604, this assemblage describes the harm and horror of tobacco smoking to a T.

Sharyn Sinclair – Getting Fit – $850

Sharyn Sinclair
A lively sculpture “Getting Fit” rings bells of a different kind – a focus on the good things of life – health, fresh air, colour, and companionship.

Tim Dell – Self Portrait #1 – Oil on Canvas – $1100

Timothy Dell
“Self Portrait #1” shows the artist in a Chinese labourer’s bamboo hat – as worker, strong and determined.

Roger Kalleske – Who Will I Be today? – mixed media

Roger Kalleske
“Who shall I be today?” Quirky, intriguing, the girl peeps out from under the frame, viewing herself Alice through the looking glass style. With the three masks – is magic involved?

Alexis Souvertjis – Galance – Oil on canvas – NFS

Alexis Souvertjis
“Galance” is a finely painted portrait of a man, the perfect face appearing full formed in the sunlight of youth, with the nostalgia of a sienna photograph.

Gerhard Ritter – Resigned – Watercolour – $1800

Gerhard Ritter
“Resigned” – a beautifully rendered watercolour painting of an elderly face,
lit from behind by the glow of the sun, a window or a beacon.

Cynthia Dowler – Backstage – Conte pastel – $850

Cynthia Dowler
“Backstage” – the ballerina poses with flowers in her hair, beautifully drawn in terra cotta conte pastel.

Portrait Perspectives

Lee Tuesner – Because he loves her – Acrylic on Canvas – $3250

Lee Tuesner – Quiet Moments – Acrylic on Canvas – $1650

Lee Teusner
A group of four large acrylic paintings from the romance novel, with titles “Because he loves her” and “Delicious Invitation” – to set the young girl’s heart racing, and “Quiet Moments” at the mirror before the first date, clutching her teddy bear – a young girl’s excitement and misgivings at leaving childhood behind forever.

Portrait Perspectives

Suzy Tilley – Summer Lady – Acrylic – $299

Rodney Phillips – A Good Book – photograph – NFS

Suzy Tilley’s “Summer Lady” and “Pink”, Julie Wilson and Sharyn Sinclair’s memorable stages of life, Rodney Phillip’s photograph “A Good Book” and Roszi Batten’s “Janene” in oils – show likenesses of friends and family who become a part of “Portrait Perceptions” in Burra Gallery 2014.