Shoalhaven Health Fellowship Open Art Competition open for entries

The art competition aims to help raise the awareness of mental health and illness in the Shoalhaven region. 

Entrants do not need to have a mental illness to enter but preferably reside in the Shoalhaven and surrounding regions.

Woollamia artist Randall Sinnamon won the competition last year with a drawing of landscape painter Samuel Elyard. 

"I'd gone to an exhibition and seen Samuel's work and then I really wanted to do a drawing of him when I saw how unusual and interesting he looked," he said. 

"It was only after I did it that I did some reading up about his own mental health problems and I thought that tied in with the exhibition really well.” 

Randall said the drawing wasn't without its challenges.

"I started it and I though 'oh no, i've mucked up his eyes' and I really thought I'd blown it but then it came back," he said. 

“His eyes are so intense that I actually had to cover them up while I was drawing him.”

The artwork also features an interesting talking point.

“Part of the reason I drew my own hand in it because I took a photo that I was drawing from and my hand was in the reflection and over time it grew on me,” Randall said. 

“I really respect his paintings so to have my hand on his hand was an interesting component.”

Last year’s competition saw 40 entrants and Randall encouraged even more to enter in 2016. 

“You don’t need to have a mental health issue to enter and it’s open to all ages and all levels,” he said. 

The exhibition will run from Tuesday, May 24 to Saturday, July 16 at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre. The launch and awards ceremony will be held from Saturday, May 28 from 1pm to 2pm. 

Entry form kits are available from Jon Strang on 4421 5595 or at the The Junction or the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre. The theme for 2016 is ‘The Adventure of Life.’ 

Entries must be delivered on Thursday, May 19 between 9am and 5pm at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre.