Apt way to use art award prize money

Some of the award winners with Judge Mark Moran and Queenstown Art Society president Sue Wademan. From left: Spike Wademan, Rachael Errington, Hamish McBride, Mark Moran, Sue Wademan, Stacy Coburn, Karyn Hitchman and Sunhee Shin. Photos by Christina McDonald.

Having taken artistic inspiration from a photo of her niece and subsequently winning a top award for the painting, Karyn Hitchman plans to use the $2500 prize money to visit her niece in Australia.

At the Queenstown Art Society Locations Art Awards on Friday Ms Hitchman won the Best Artwork of the Exhibition award for her painting titled Ebony.

Ms Hitchman described herself as a "very active member" of the Queenstown Art Society, although she had not been expecting to win the best artwork award.

Artist Karyn Hitchman with the two paintings she submitted in the Queenstown Art Society Art Awards. The top painting was judged Best Artwork of the Exhibition.

The painting of her niece, who lives in Perth, Australia, was inspired by a photo Ms Hitchman saw online and felt compelled to paint.

"It just looked really moody and I thought I would like to paint that."

A total of 47 artists, primarily from the Wakatipu but also from as far afield as Dunedin and Invercargill, submitted 104 pieces of art.

Other award winners were best contemporary, Ro Bradshaw; best traditional, Spike Wademan; highly commended, Christine O'Conner; highly commended, Sunhee Shin; commended local artist. Hamish McBride; commended local artist, Rachael Errington; youth award, Zac Imhoof; most "out there" artwork, Mike Higson.

The artworks were judged by Mark Moran, who is the founding director of Queenstown gallery Toi o Tahuna.

The exhibition will be on show at the Queenstown Arts Centre in Ballarat St until December 2.

Comment now