I recently made it into the top 40 finalists for the Darling Portrait Painting Prize. It feels incredible to receive such recognition. The COVID-19 situation impacted the open gallery, however, the online gallery presented a fantastic alternative. It has taken a long time for me to feel comfortable with the idea of entering competitions. I look at my work with a critical eye, always seeking to improve and identifying minor flaws. This over critical view held back my confidence to move forward.
The Darling Portrait Prize is Australia’s grand new annual prize for painted portraits, joining the iconic National Photographic Portrait Prize at Australia’s home of portraiture (The National Portrait Gallery 2020).
Reference:
The National Portrait Gallery 2020 – https://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/