Competitions

Glover Art Prize 2023 – Samantha Beau

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Kunanyi (AKA Mt Wellington) is a Tasmanian jewel, warming Hobart in its lap.

The mountain is a sacred place for our First Nations Peoples where souls upon dying, ascend to the summit to leave the earth.

In recent years, a cable car to the top has been proposed leading to fierce debate.

For the first time since European Settlement, this was one show down that the indigenous Tasmanians, Nipaluna, and nature lovers alike, were going to win.

To put a cable car on this magnificent fascade would not only be harmful to the fauna, flora and romantic mystic of the mountain, but would leave a large human stain.

The armwrestle fell in favour of Nipaluna and naturalists. This historic battle is depicted in the painting.

Best viewed from a few metres back one can see the interplay of the new versus the old. Commercialism versus tradition. European settlers versus Nipaluna.

In the bottom left, protagonists of Van Diemen’s Land, with sums and affluence, battling for the cable car. In the bottom right, the Nipaluna dangling hanged yet shrouded in a nun’s cape in an ironic twist of advocacy.

Meanwhile the mountain, Kunanyi, depicted with loose suggestive brush strokes, looks down on the human battle standing majestic and strong.

D’arcy Doyle Art Prize 2021

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Witheren

The 16th d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards and Exhibition is on in Mudgeeraba 23rd June – 4th July and is set to draw through thousands of people.

The Landscape Art Awards were established to honour artist d’Arcy Doyle who passed away in 2001.

Committed to sport and renown for his murals, d’Arcy is a famous Australian artist who’s works included The Cricket Game, Hockey Players and Taking it Serious. All depicting typical and “quintessential” Aussie back yard sport which is the back bone of all Australian sport today.

The Cricket Game d’Arcy Doyle

After a successful life as an artist in Sydney, d’Arcy and his wife moved Mudgeeraba in the 1970s calling the Gold Coast home.

The annual exhibition is considered one of Australia’s premier art awards with the main landscape category offering a $10,000 first prize is supported by emerging artists, professional artists and those wanting a challenge. Other categories include Portraiture and Still Life.

Judges this year include Anthea Polson, Joel Rea and Sam Cretyon. All established and well revered for their contributions to Australian art. More on the judges here.

Selected artists, including the author of this piece, Samantha Beau, will be holding residencies over the 12 days. A residency gives the artist an opportunity to show case their works, talk with people and demonstrate their techniques. Sam’s residency is 130pm – 5pm on Saturday 3rd July. Be sure to pop by and say hello and watch Sam in action.

With over 500 works hung every year and $20,000 in the prize pool, this is an art show to explore and enjoy.

Opens 23rd June and finishes 4th July.

https://darcydoyleartawards.com.au/

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Author Samantha Beau Artist Instagram

Luxury Whitsunday Resort Hangs Samantha Beau Originals

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As an artist you always want that “BIG” gig, the one that gives you world class exposure and traffic.

My opportunity came 18 months ago when I was asked to paint two pieces for the refurbishing of luxury hotel, Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach, gateway to Australia’s premier islands, The Whitsunday Islands.

The brief was for two pieces, both using charcoals and subdued tones, a particular red and reflecting the reef.

Obviously the less ambiguous the better however this request did through me for a brief moment.

I presented a few concepts trying to artistically capture what was within the interior designers mind.

Finally we got there. Two large abstract pieces, flowing in nature, indicative of the Great Barrier Reef with it’s channels and bright flecks of iridescent blue.

Coral Sea REsort
Commission

The resort is amazing fringed along the foreshore leading from the main port to the Coral Sea Marina.

The Rocks is a pool bar that offers music with the setting sun, a cracking wine list and bar style food. I recommend staying at the resort but if you can’t stop by for a Sunday session and watch the sun go down after exploring my art works.

The first of Mystics are in the board room and the second you will find on the second floor by the lift.

I have a third piece in the hotel and my favourite by far.

I painted it to reflect the reef and water and was my submission for the 2019 Luxembourg Art Awards.

The Great Barrier Reef Samantha Beau
140 x 170
Commission

You will find this beauty in suite 201 which is a grand room with views over the Coral Sea, islands, pool and with it’s own gallery.

The resort is uplifting and the spa rooms amazing. I highly recommend staying and exploring the region and my art works.

Click here to make a booking and click here to follow me on instagram.

Reclining Maria

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Reclining Maria is transformation of a life model sketch who was straddled over a chair back.

Looking out to sea she day dreams of New York and of a era bygone.

Her voluptuous curves seducing the eye an leading taking one on a wonderful journey down the interior of the mind

Influenced by Rothko, Andy Warhol and the Modernists, this is a delightful piece for any home.

Oil on canvas

53 x 53cm

Pine float frame

$900 AUD

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize

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The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is the richest awarded art prize in Australia. The brief is for Australian artists to paint a portrait of someone known or unknown to them and to interpret the persons look and personality. The thousands of entries are culled to semi-finalists, then a final 30 (all of whom receive $1000) and a finalist winner, who receives $150,000.

The Moran Family established the award in 1988 and the finalists will be on exhibition in Paddington Sydney from November this year.

Gold Coast artist Samantha Beau has been selected as a semi-finalist with her portrait Maree Widow of a War Veteran. The finalists will be announced as this edition of Blank goes to print.

Sam has given us an insight to her portrait of Maree.

  1. When did you first start painting?

I’ve been painting since I was a child but only recently have, I considered a full-time career shift. Being an artist in Australia is a tough career path. My natural medicine business has got me to now, but my plan is that art will become my main career.

  • Why did you choose Maree as the subject?

The reasons were many. She has been a nanny to my kids for 12 years and her husband Johnny was a returned Vietnam veteran. Over the years I have got to know Maree and Johnny. Johnny was quite depressed and negative after the war. Many war casualties are psychological and not physical. My son seemed to help him find the happy switch again and it was wonderful to see. I painted him for the Archibald 6 years ago and then he died later that year at 62 yo. Maree now soldiers on and seemed a perfect representative of a veteran’s widow.

  • What have you tried to achieve with the portrait?

Maree is indicative of many women her age. She married young and has stuck by her husband through thick and thin. Many soldiers that have returned from war zones, even peace keeping deployment, have unreconciled scars and hurts. The shrapnel of war is not always visible. It can penetrate into one’s soul and stay there, haemorrhaging joy until it is removed, and healing can occur. I think many don’t receive the guidance they need to do this important healing step.

I wanted to capture Maree’s happy disposition but pay tribute to the women she represents. Her silhouette reveals the veteran’s anguish of being alone, against a khaki toned horizon. Loneliness and despair are rife.

  • What do you hope to achieve with the portrait and message?

Well winning will be a game changer for me and my three children. I have worked hard for many years and been a single parent has been a juggle. The prize will change our lives for sure. The other message is that I want to convey is one of gratitude. Gratitude for the men and women who have been to war to fight for our democracy and way of life, and for those who are married or partners to them.

Author:
Laura Nelson

Publication:
Gold Coast Bulletin

Publication Date:
October 2019
10/1/2019

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Moran Art Prize

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I feel absolutely honoured and ecstatic that I have made the semi finals of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.

This is the biggest prize in Art in Australia and to be selected is a dream come true.

I asked Maree Heron, my friend and over the years, my “children’s nanny”, to sit for the portrait.

My desire was to honour all the women (and partners) of men (and women) who go to war. They are the forgotten people who sacrifice so much. Often not knowing if they will speak to their loved one again.

Or, as in the case of Maree, the husband they said good-bye to, will be the same husband they welcome on the flip side.

The piece is abstract, uses the khaki of war yet I tried to capture the colour of the heart – pink.

I want it to be a tribute to all who have been involved in war, protecting Australia, in the past, currently and into the future.

Every day I am grateful for the freedom of speech, safety on our shores and it is because of the silent people who support those at war.

To win the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize would be a dream come true. I have submitted 2 entries in the past and would love to win.

It will highlight and help thank those mentioned above. It will help my dear little family (I have been a single mum raising three children solo for 13 years) and the sheer accolade.

My fingers, toes and hair are all crossed.

Finalists are announced 16th October 2019, Winner announced on 30th October.