Our Judge was Jeff Murphy

Best in Show

Grace Paleg
Seagull Shindig

Judges Comments: Making the decision on best in show a painting must meet all of the criterium I set and then some. This larger scale work of seagulls in identifiable fashion is balanced in composition conveying movement and a dynamic play of light. The artist skill grabs your attention and lures the viewer in for a more intimate experience. Grace has employed the medium with soft application to great effect with beautiful values of colour and tone creating depth and form to the work. With careful attention to anatomy each bird’s gesture plays its role interacting in the drama of the scene as light sparkles across the water’s surface. The work is very well presented with complimenting mount and frame. It is with great honour that I give this award. Congratulations Grace.

Best in Show Runner-up

Christine Broersen
Blue Aura

Judges Comments: This large scale painting of a highly decorative crystal pitcher adorned with intricate silver design is as bold as it is beautiful. With intricate detail the subject stands alone without need for support from other still life objects in an azure blue aura. The careful attention to detail is exquisite without competing with the whole. The artist exhibits excellent drawing and painting skills with acute understanding of value. The painting seems to glow from within and has an ethereal atmosphere to it. Well done Christine. I am thrilled to be able to award you with this prize.

Margaret Lourey Award

Kerrie Carter
On the Rocks

Judges Comments: Though small in scale this painting of an ocean sea and rocky out crop caught my attention for the bold and confident approach by the artist with this medium. There is more going on in this painting than first meets the eye. From the billowing clouds on the horizon where warm greys meet the distant edge of the sea to the white surf crashing to meet the rocky shore. Blades of coastal grasses give vertical accent to the foreground and help break up the rocky shelf. The transition of cerulean blue to warm grey/mauves in the sky add atmospheric dynamics to the sky.

The material is laid on with confidence and purpose in bold blocks. This impressionistic sea scape is well worthy of this award. Congratulations Kerrie.

PSVA Award

Ricki Schembri
Chapel Street Corner

Judges Comments: There is a lot going on this larger scaled painting which I found myself quite entertained when appraising it. It is clear that the artist has a developed skill when dealing with complex perspective and angles. The scene is convincing in scale and depth with impressionistic application. The beautiful tones throughout hit the right key. The painting sings with light and energy. The bustle of activity keeps the viewer occupied and enchanted by the skill in which the artist has suggested more than what he has detailed. Warm and rich colours and generous use of the medium merits this painting for this prestigious award. Congratulations Ricki.

John Withers Scholarship Award

Robyn Carrington
Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder

Judges Comments: This painting is a great example of the flexibility of this medium and it’s use in animal studies whilst demonstrating the skills of the artist. A simple composition of a front view of a red fox. The artist displays accuracy to the anatomy of the subject using the medium to express the softness of the fur. Without any sense that the piece had been laboured on it appear fresh and lively with cheerful expression. The accurate use of values gives form to the creature and brings twinkle to the eyes adding some mischief to the character.

A well rendered study all round and worthy of this award. Congratulations Robyn.

Best of Awards

Best Portrait/Figurative

Pierina Sannia
Solving the Problems of the World

Judges Comments: When appraising this smaller work, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a pastel work. The artfulness of the artist has applied the medium with such gentleness and limited pallet one could be left bewildered as to how it was done. Pierina is a skilled artist with excellent drawing skills and understanding of portraiture and figures. The depiction of four older gentlemen on a bench seat in various poses and expressions is more than just one portrait but a vignette of a moment in time of the lives of these ordinary men. A magical piece and very worthy and my pleasure to give it this award. Congratulations Pierina.

Best Waterscape

Lyn Mellady
Water Flow

Judges Comments: A translucent wave breaking as it breaches a rocky outcrop. This painting evokes the power and mystery of the sea. The artist has used careful composition to lead the eye through the painting to discover still rockpools and foam layers on water returning to the sea to the curve and fall of a breaking wave. The use of the medium is rich and generous throughout . Skilful application of the medium provide direction and movement to the components of the scene along with values of colour and tone which add depth and form. A beautifully rendered work and it it is my great pleasure to award Lyn This award. Congratulations Lyn.

Best Landscape

Max Wilks
Rush Hour

Judges Comments: Did Maxwell’s pastel box explode upon opening to lay down this excitingly colourful depiction of rush hour with the iconic Harbour Bridge as the backdrop. This complex aerial view has all the hallmarks of a highly skilled tonal impressionist/colourist painter. With accurate use of values, solving the complex perspective Maxwell has invigorated this work with powerful energetic marks of the pastel and bejewelled it with colourful accents that energise the surface. The artist also demonstrates understanding of his subject and drafted it with skilful confidence. A true impressionist and it is with great pleasure that I give this award. Congratulations Maxwell.

Best Animal/Wildlife

Gayle Newcombe
The Spectator

Judges Comments: This painting was one of my easiest decisions of the day. The posturing of a meerkat beautifully rendered with attention to fine detail captivated my attention and gave me a sense of joy. Pastel is a medium that is favoured by many wildlife artists and Gayle demonstrates the reasons why. With careful and accurate drawing the artist has captured the spirit of these bold little creatures beautifully with rendered detailing of soft fur and sparkling keen eyes. The subject is foiled by a soft background that adds depth and space to the work surface. I simply could not resist and I am pleased to give it this award. Congratulations Gayle.

Best Still Life/Floral/Interior

Jill Shalless
Autumn Medlars 2

Judges Comments: This is an excellently executed still life exploiting complimentary colours of green and red. The arrangement of medlars in a green glass vase without additional props to busy the scene command attention. The artist has used deft skill in her observation and measurements to convey the simple beauty of ripened fruit with foliage. The balance of values indicates skill as does the careful and purposeful application of the medium. Rich and vibrant reds and glowing emerald greens demonstrate good use of the medium and understanding of colour saturation and harmony. The careful use of tone give form and depth to the work as soft and lost edges provide a veil of atmosphere to the work surface. A beautiful painting and one that I am pleased to give this award to. Congratulations Jill.

Highly Commended Awards

Heather Peberdy
Layla at the Aquarium

Judges Comments: This delightful painting had me coming back for more. Pressed against the glass with mirrored reflection the subject of a small child in wonder will appeal to any viewer.

In this painting Heather has used the medium with both sensitivity and care, rich in colour and with good effects. The subject has correct proportions with careful details in the face and the hands. Heather has captured the beauty and delight of a young girl discovering an underwater water world.

Rodney Edelsten
Friday Portrait 2

Judges Comments: A very engaging study of a man seated holding a walking cane. I was deeply absorbed in this work by the confident bod use of the medium with confident and direct marks. The mirror in the rear gives opportunity for extra dimension and interest. With correct proportions and scale Rodney has created an excellent portrait which is very well presented and deserving of this recognition.

Allison Clark
Namibian Ozzie

Judges Comments: Pastel is a medium that lends itself naturally to wild life studies and here Alison has demonstrated her excellent skills in capturing this in your face likeness of an Namibian Ostrich with delicate soft hues of Australian outback colours. These birds are curious as this painting demonstrates with joyfulness. The background is soft with depth and space to give a good foil for the subject. A well deserved recognition Alison for this delightful work.

Julie Kok
Along the Artist’s Trail

Judges Comments: A familiar scene of a small cove, part of Mornington peninsula with a boat house and jetty over tranquil waters embraced with steep cliffs rising from the beach. This scene is a favourite for painters and with this study Julie has done the scene great justice. The painting; in an impressionist style exhibits Julies understanding of tone, colour and perspective. The use of the medium is loose and free applied with confident al la prima. The painting has a plein air feel to it which gave even more appeal to me. A well deserved recognition Julie for this.

Regina Hona
Translucent

Judges Comments: The title of this piece aptly describes the translucent water as a wave breaks and curves to fall back on itself. The artist has used the medium with generous marks to depict the subject combining rich colour and tone to create the illusion of translucency in the fold of the wave which becomes the focus of the work. Regina has used intelligent design in her composition bringing balance and movement to the work which occupies the surface to make a simple statement. Her use of white when depicting the spray and seafoam demonstrates control with chroma and tone. With a limited pallet Regina has exploited the flexibility of the medium to create dramatic effects of light and form. Well done and congratulations.

Caroline Lewallen
After the Rains

Judges Comments: A beautifully crafted landscape with intelligent composition and diminishing layers of the landscape to create depth and perspective. The use of warm and cool values generate a delightful and realistic sense of a freshly quenched landscape with a new burst of light through clouds on the horizon . The marks of the pastel are soft and carefully applied directing the eye through the scene. Great work Caroline and well deserving of this recognition.

Angela Russo
Collins St., Melbourne

Judges Comments: Small paintings can often be overlooked in exhibitions; especially when placed low, however I am thorough in my review and this little charmer didn’t escape my eye. With a limited pallet’ the artist has captured through the effect of light and colour a small piece of Melbourne. Angela demonstrates her understanding of values and perspective with simplified impressionist style. She has imparted a sense of texture in the buildings with careful yet bold use of the medium. Well done Angela.

Jennifer Paull
Winter Colour with Japanese Teapot

Judges Comments: Jennifer has good taste; her painting depicts familiar subject items you will find in my studio though there is no bias in my appraisal of her work, it speaks for itself. A cleverly arranged and well balanced still life with low angled light to create shadowed tonal contrast. Executed in a tonal method Jennifer demonstrates that pastel yields to many different methodologies of painting. Here the artist has created atmospheric depth and space, a skill that requires much observation and skill bringing life to everyday items. The pallet is limited exploiting tonal values more than colour to create form and perspective. Her shapes and relationships are very well executed. Nice work Jennifer and well deserved of this recognition.

Linda Finch
Holidays Chill and Chat

Judges Comments: This is a subtle painting depicting a familiar scene of people on beach chairs at the waters edge. Set high key in value the viewer may get the sense of a bright sunny midday by the sea as colour is bleached by the intense light and shadow is diminished. The medium is applied softly with clear marks creating a mirage like atmosphere as light is refracted by the heat rising from the sand. The colours are muted and sensitive and show understanding in the use of hue. An empty chair leaves a question mark to the story. Well done Linda and congratulations. It is my pleasure to give you this award.

Danielle Robertson
Sticky Beak

Judges Comments: In this painting of a green tree frog suspended on a slender stem the artist demonstrates her drawing skills and the vibrant colours this medium has to offer. The pose of the frog lends well to the apt title of the piece, and where the artist gives movement and form to the subject. With carefully rendered values Danielle creates the illusion of gloss to the frogs wet shiny skin. The frog is anatomically accurate displaying the artist’s observation and understanding of this genre of art. Well done Danielle and a very well deserved recognition.

President’s Award

Jing Lin
Distracted by the Light

Exhibition Winners 2022