A grade six student’s portrait of his best friend has been awarded this year’s Primary School Children’s Portrait Prize by the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society, Central Victoria.
ADFAS CV chair Nicky Peters said Newham grade six student Eli Jacobsson greatly impressed the judges with his winning entry.
“We all felt that his technique was quite advanced and the portrait was a piece of art as opposed to just a sketch of a person,” Ms Peters said.
“(The subject’s) eyes were really soulful and he captured the details of the young boy’s face. It was a hands-down winner, and the judges were all in agreement.”
Through its annual Young Arts program, ADFAS CV endeavours to support local students, schools or programs across a diverse range of the arts.
This year the focus was the Primary School Children’s Portrait Prize and a School Project Prize for a school enterprise that involved all years and reflected the school’s culture and creativity.
Despite the recent lockdown and restrictions, three local primary schools, Newham, Malmsbury and Hesket, submitted many endearing portraits and two schools presented imaginative and collaborative school projects.
Malmsbury and Newham Primary Schools both submitted creative and thoughtful school projects making the judging very difficult.
Judy Cope-Williams, a former ADFAS CV chair and long-time supporter of the society and champion of the local music community, judged the project submissions.
The winner was Malmsbury Primary School for a project to decorate a concrete pipe (used during playtime) that reflected the school’s values and integrity. The school received $500.
Newham received a special commendation of $250 towards its mosaic wall.
For his portrait prize, Eli was awarded a $50 art supply package, and his school received $250 towards its art supplies stock.
Three local traders are displaying the submissions in their shop windows until June 1: Cusack and Cusack Art Gallery in Kyneton, Rathdowne Antiques in Malmsbury and Garden Tap Nursery in Kyneton.
“ADFAS CV would like to thank the participating teachers for their hard work and support of the students and congratulates all of the participants during this particularly difficult time,” Ms Peters said.
“Finally, a huge thanks to the diligent and productive ADFAS CV Young Arts Committee, Diana Brady and Elizabeth Crauford.”
