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Adult Art
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WINNER BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY COUNCIL VISUAL ARTS PRIZE
"Resisting Your Own Rescue" - Sarah Davis
After suffering from PTSD, depression and alcohol abuse, I'm beginning to resurface from what seems to be the depths of despair and finding happiness in the world. I'm seeing glimpses of what my life used to be when I was oblivious to the evil to which humans can do to each other and themselves. This painting hopes to demonstrate how the feeling of drowning and suffocation can dominate your life however looking upwards and outwards, life can appear less bleak.
WINNER ADULT ART
"Through The Flow" - Stephen Clark
It's how l feel first thing in morning how l flow through how l manage my day. Sense of peace.
HIGHLY COMMENDED ADULT ART "Blaxland" - by Betty Smith
We are blessed to live in the beautiful Blue Mountains townships nestled in a World Heritage National Park. The historical and built environments invite shared interest and involvement at all levels. Protection of our environment comes from communal effort, a great antidote to alienation.
Involvement in community services allow us to reach out to others so we can all enjoy this wonderful environment in which we live.
Involvement in community services allow us to reach out to others so we can all enjoy this wonderful environment in which we live.
BOOK COVER ART "Different" - Xi Xiao
Being creative is often about being different. Being mentally ill is sometimes about departing from reality. I am trying to explore the connections between creativity, difference and mental illness, and how sometimes your weakness can become your strength. I find that the world of the imagination is an amazing therapeutic playground for recovering from and expressing mental health issues.
WINNER
PEOPLES CHOICE
ARTISTS CHOICE "Soul Mate" - Hannah Bowman
The meaning of this work has shifted throughout the painting process. It started during a difficult time in my life when my labrador Oli was my rock, my routine and my healing. I wanted to capture an image that represented how he made me feel - loved, in the moment, and with no worries or fears.
In April this year, we found out that Oli has untreatable cancer. This painting took on a new meaning as I processed a future without him and cherished each day painting with him still by my side. There is so much beauty in pets short lives. Their role as mental health beacons and healers is profound and beautiful.
In April this year, we found out that Oli has untreatable cancer. This painting took on a new meaning as I processed a future without him and cherished each day painting with him still by my side. There is so much beauty in pets short lives. Their role as mental health beacons and healers is profound and beautiful.
WINNER TAFE PACKERS PRIZE "My Life Journey" by Tim
"The Bleak Old Chains" by David J Santelben
The medium and the Nieve Style gives me pleasure!
It provides focus to my life and an outlet… when anxiety attacks are imminent… it calms me down! I just love the prospect of creating something that has never been seen before!
It provides focus to my life and an outlet… when anxiety attacks are imminent… it calms me down! I just love the prospect of creating something that has never been seen before!
"Beautiful Blossom Tree" by Liza Holmes
Sometimes the most simple of things can make a great impact on our lives. Simplicity is what I’m trying to do in every aspect of my life.
"Birds of Prey" by Monique Donaldson
The two paintings of birds were designed from photographs and painted as a pair.
"The Calm Before The Storm" by Christopher Derrick
"Hope In a Dry Land" by Suba Bale
"Hope in a Dryland" captures the essence of the painting's warm, earthy tones and the interplay of lines that suggest both desolation and the possibility of finding a way through. It speaks to resilience and optimism in the face of challenging and arid conditions, reflecting a theme of endurance and the potential for growth and renewal even in difficult environments. This is a one off signed print of the original painting. The inspiration was drawn from 2019 Australian bushfires.
"Empathy" by Garth Alamangos
This is a depiction expressing the disconnect with stranger that resides in me.
"Down By Cataract Creek" by Rosie Cooney
I have always found peace in the natural beauty of our surrounding bushscape and mountain wildlife. Down by Cataract Creek is where I have often found myself when I need to find stillness. This very special, quiet, calm place over the years has helped me reconnect with the flow and stillness within nature and within myself. Knowing that the water continues to flow in all it's beauty at this place always brings my soul comfort.
"Moon-gazing" by Sally Gersbach
The moon-gazing hare is an archetype present across many cultures, dating back to the earliest days of humankind. Pagans believed moon-gazing hares would bring growth, re-birth, abundance, new beginnings and fortune.
"Godess Athena" by Jade @ Creative Abyss
Goddess Athena was a Greek Goddess of crafts, wisdom and war. Goddess Athena believed that people should only go to war as a last resort and only if they fought for a noble or just cause. She is often depicted with owls representing wisdom. She was a guardian of Athens and the Goddess of heroes. I have painted her as a modern Goddess who uses her mind and wisdom to solve problems. She is kind and helps others.
"Mrs Mint" by Jerel Mani
Mrs. Mint is my long-time companion, often asleep, she is my muse that forms the focus of this drawing. Stroke upon stroke I lose myself into the external reflection of inner peace. Building up the layers of her silken fur my worries fade and I join her in the black velvety nothingness of all.
"Sarah Saves A Life" by David John Payne
Having chronic kidney disease predominantly the last 10 years, forced me to break both physically and mentally. I met my partner during this decline, basically bearing with me each step of my coming kidney failure. This image is for her. I am represented approaching the fire, carrying my baggage containing my history, emotional self, everything. My partner, the woman, eyes closed, peaceful. Her patience for my moods. The book, her gifting me a kidney, the staircase, the journey I get to continue through her sacrifice, over the fire. The steps and surroundings are photography taken at Lawson Dog Park, a place walked reflecting life, its ending, unconditional love and importance of moving forward.
"The Blue Sunset" by Phillipa Rack
I went on holiday with my family to Katoomba and the Three Sisters as a child. This inspired me to paint the Three Sisters at sunset.
"Tabula Rasa" by Peter Ball
Sometimes it's hard to get inspired, and I end up just drawing a blank, still the cycle continues...
"Cheeky Bird Gang Gang" by Suzanne Brown
"Botanica" by Coby
"Look" by Chris
"Come And Be My Light" by Nicole Canales
The books, ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’ by St. John of the Cross and ‘Come Be My Light’ by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, explained to me the idea that one can experience a crisis in life in which one understands nor feels anything, yet by faith one knows that they are not alone, but united to God on a cross of love. The spirit of embracing suffering is a spiritual art, one often practiced by the devout Christian and most loved by the Saints. To truly know by faith that God loves you and guides you, despite the suffering, gives your soul its peace and confidence. It is the spiritual ability to dance a delicate dance.
“On a dark night,
kindled in love with yearnings – oh,
happy chance!
I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.”
St. John of the Cross (1541-1597 AD)"
“On a dark night,
kindled in love with yearnings – oh,
happy chance!
I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.”
St. John of the Cross (1541-1597 AD)"
"Deluge" by Catherine Danger
I made this work when I was feeling overwhelmed with depressed, suicidal thoughts and an anxious mind that wouldn’t stop. It felt like a downpour and I wanted to hide away. I tried to think about “riding the wave” and leaned into the emotions instead of fighting them.
"I Am the Cabin" by Scarlett Ivy
I am Scarlett Donovan and I am the cabin. The first landscape art piece I created in 2022 which is not a part of this triptych, I hated, so I hid away somewhere. About a year and a half later I found and looked at it again and I loved it. It made me realise how critical I was to myself, about myself and even to the thing around myself in 2022. Since then I’ve noticed how much I’ve changed and grown as a person. So throughout 2024 this year I’ve worked on these paintings in this triptych which tell a story about me (the cabin) and how much I’ve grown into myself. About how thing will get better, life is constant change and how it doesn’t take much for someone to be so doubtful and that only your own thoughts can make a person feel so small.
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