For over half a century now the Shoalhaven Art Society has been running the annual open art prize.
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With prize money of around $8000, the field of entries has come from far and wide.
Shoalhaven Heads resident Vivien Tanner took out two of the major awards of the exhibition, the Holiday Haven Award of Excellence and the Wray Owen Funerals Acquisitive Award.
“I resigned from primary school teaching around 10 years ago and I was looking for hobbies and interests,” Vivien said.
“I met Val (McMahon), who encouraged me to join some learn to paint classes. It’s become a bit of a passion,” she said.
As a young girl growing up in Scotland Vivien always had a keen interest in drawing.
“I always had a pencil in my hand. When I was in primary school I even won the Tetley Tea art award.”
Being an artist wasn’t really a career choice so when she retired she took up art again.
She is now represented by galleries in Sydney.
Vivien has some words of wisdom for other artists out there.
“Just because you don’t win a prize, doesn’t mean your work isn’t good. I entered four artworks last year in the Shoalhaven Art Society exhibition and didn’t win anything, but this year I did,” she said.
Other first prize winners included Sherly Miller, who took out first prize in the Contemporary section and Kerriann Indorato, who took out first prize in the Still life/portrait section.
Janice Seasonberry took out first prize in the Traditional section.
Philip Miles took out first prize in the Members Only section.
The judge was Sally O’Neill from the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.
The opening was held last Saturday with about 280 people attending.
John Anderson OAM officially opened the exhibition.
Also on show at the moment at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre is Giovanni Tozzetti’s Ideas & Emotions exhibition in the side gallery.
Both the 51st Shoalhaven Art Society exhibition and Ideas & Emotion finish on Saturday, August 13.
