The Eyes Have It – Portrait Competition 2013
The eyes, open or closed, are an integral part of any portrait. Their presence or absence demonstrates a choice made by the artist at the moment of conception of the idea. The relationship between artist and subject is more than it seems. Sharing takes place in the form of cups of tea, conversation and companionship, and interaction shows in the resulting artwork.
Marek Herburt – Harm Folkers – Oil on board – NFS
A relaxed pose in traditional style showing a man of experience and good humour – a friend.
Ali Symonds – Dress Me x 9 – Paper, thread – NFS
A row of dresses give us a portrait of little girlhood when we pored over the wardrobe choices available for our paper dolls.
Ali Symonds – Dress Me x 9 – Paper, thread – NFS
Thanks Alli, for a trip back in time.
John Warner – The Artist and His Brushes – Oil – NFS
This double portrait makes the man. The brushes say a lot as a portrait – four reds and three blacks, and a beautifully rendered glass jar.
Sam Carter – Maggie Beer – in the Kitchen – Oil on canvas – $686
Here’s our well known kitchen genius and television personality, compositionally very attractive with all the jars of pickles and preserves. An interesting aspect is the restrained palette used by the artist, bringing attention to Maggie’s colourful necklace.
Sam Carter – Ritchie Benaud – Commentator’s Box – Oil on canvas – $686
At his most recognisable – welcome to Burra Gallery Mr. Benaud.
Sam Carter – Hugh Jackman – Awards Night – Oil on canvas – $535
Sam Carter – Peter Goers – After the show – Oil on Canvas – $498
After the show – a dreamy pink portrait. Peter would be pleased BUT we must watch for copyright issues.
Julie Wilson – Can We Go Now? – Oil – $480
The sweetness of a tired child.
Pam O’Malley – Toni – Oil – $280
Pam’s “Toni”, gives life and motion to the subject, a light touch in evidence and skin tones well seen.
Pam O’Malley – Rae – Oil – $300
Adrienne Matthews – Putu Suta – Oil on canvas board
An unusual composition with arm and shoulder leading attention to the sensitively painted face of a sitter who found time to sit, but not relax – a tough project.
Rae Gierke – Contemplation – Watercolour – $200
Imagination transports in this beautifully expressed portrait of a state of mind. The flowers, the breeze, the sunshine lead our senses to share the feeling of inward contemplation.
Maxine Donald -Alaska -Watercolour $230
Michael Hocking – Joel Thayer as a Sea Captain – Scratchboard – $300
Scratchboard used at its most stark and dramatic, a pillar of beautifully modelled white detail caught by light. Interestingly, no eyes shown in this portrait.
Michael Hocking – The Draughtsman Steven 2 – Oil on linen – $900
Hands folded on knees equal the attention given by the artist to the head (these two the qualities of the draughtsman), linked by a suggestion of body and skin beneath the subject’s grey shirt.
Works by Lis Jones Ingman, Rae Gierke & Michael Hocking
A pleasing group, thanks to our hanger of this exhibition – the tall man.
Michael Hocking – Ken Luca With a Black Hat – Oil on canvas – $220
The hat becomes an expression of this man’s personality, seen as strong and expressive, with perhaps an element of dark humour. The hat is like a theatre prop, giving essence and focus to the quality the artist wishes to convey.
Work by Pam O’Malley, Heike Dargusch and Glynne Ryan
A group of traditional portraits in all their forms – paint, charcoal and pencil.
Glenys Christopher – White Shirt, Red Tie – Watercolour – $200
A portrait in motion, fingers flying over the strings of the guitar, shirt fluttering in the breeze. And how pleasing the distribution of whites!
Rae Gierke – Nanna – Mosaic – $50
Lots of fun to be had in these two mosaic portraits – mug handles for ears, a kiss on the cheek for coffee drinking cruising the Danube Nanna, and glittering pearls the sparkling eyes and lean bearded face of Poppa.
Rae Gierke – Poppa – Mosaic – $50
Rae Gierke – Jo – Watercolour – NFS – Highly Commended
A portrait of great delicacy, appropriately framed.
Heike Dargusch – Mia – Graphite pencil – $400 – Highly Commended
Captured forever with well-honed skills in graphite rendering. A little beauty.
Julie Morris – Pam’s Space – Oil – $3875 – Winner – Traditional
Pam’s Space, an artist in her area of activity, the figure one with the surrounding workspace, this painting by Julie Morris of an artist friend lovingly shows the joys and struggles of making art.
Ryan Evans – Cry Baby – Acrylic – NFS – Winner Alternative
Ryan has painted in fast furious manner to convey the feeling of outrage – the angle of the shoulders directs our attention to a black gaping mouth, the eyes and nose minimally painted with warm and cool pinks, capped off by a rim of black hair. Two spots of colour, one red one green, speak of frustration and indecision and a weak sun lends atmosphere and balances the composition.
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