Junior Warrnibald Portrait Competition Winners Announced
The winners of the Junior Warrnibald Portrait Competition were revealed Sunday 25th July.
Over 400 local junior artists have participated in this year’s competition, all of which were proudly displayed in the Warrnambool Art Gallery (WAG) prior to the announcement of lockdown restrictions.
The artwork was judged by local artist and mum, Shelley Knoll-Miller. Shelley is a local artist who has been creating and drawing for over 20 years. She has held editorial cartoonist positions with The Melbourne Age and Darwin Sun, and worked as a freelancer for many magazines, including The Big Issue. She now writes and illustrates children’s picture books.
Shelley had “a lot of fun” both judging the artwork and creating the video announcing the winners which was shared on the Warrnambool Art Gallery Facebook page.
“You’ve all done beautiful work and it was a really hard choice. Thanks for putting in the time and effort, thanks for giving me a wonderful afternoon full of fun and laughter and beautiful affection for the people you love and admire in your life” said Shelley following the winners’ announcements.
Ruth Olivier aged 13 was announced the overall winner for her piece ‘Hannah – Now & Then’. Ruth describes why she choose to draw Hannah “I look up to my sister Hannah because she is a very nice person, a talented artist, and I wish to be like her. When I drew the two different pictures of Hannah I put a lot of my own patterns, colour and creativity in it.”
First prize received a cash prize of $100 thanks to are-able, while second prize received a $50 voucher courtesy of Darrian Office Choice Art Gift Voucher. The overall winner, Ruth will also receive a workshop with Sinead Murphy to create a children’s mascot for the WAG.
“Thank you to all the artists, the works are beautiful, we loved seeing them up in the Gallery” said WAG Director Vanessa Gerrans.
Are-able CEO Tom Scarborough reiterate this saying “thank you to everyone who participated, as well as seeing the beautiful artwork, I loved reading the artists descriptions of who they were painting and why. We’re so lucky to live in such a wonderful community where our young people have this opportunity to share their work.”
To view the entertaining video of the winner’s announcement alongside the artwork please visit the Warrnambool Art Gallery website and Facebook page.
The winners and runner up artworks belonged to:
Up to 5 Years
- First Prize – Freddi Dennis, 5
- Second Prize – Dotty Rua Fitzpatrick, 5
6 – 8 Years
- First Prize – Lenny Jansz, 7
- Second Prize – Tara Wolff, 8
9 – 11 Years
- First Prize – Leah Boote, 9
- Second Prize – Arlie Kelson, 11
12 – 15 Years
- First Prize – Ava Wolff, 14
- Second Prize – Vicki Wang, 14
16 – 18 Years
- First Prize – Lachlan Matthew, 17
- Second Prize – Ava Howells, 17
Overall Winner
Ruth Olivier, 13
Name of Subject: Hannah – Now & Then
