BATHURST’S Graham Lupp has won the 2009 Country Energy art prize for landscape painting, Countryscapes.
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Mr Lupp’s work, Hen and Chicken Lane, was selected for the $35,000 prize from a record 49 finalists’ works by leading art
market analyst and critic, Michael Reid.
Depicting a scene south of Bathurst, the judge said Hen and Chicken Lane showed “confidence and obvious technical quality”.
“The competition came down to three very strong works but what made Graham’s piece stand out was the trees – they took on an ... abstract texture, in what is otherwise a traditional landscape,” Mr Reid said.
“It was encouraging to see that the prize has grown to include the full breadth of what is considered “landscape” – moving from being a traditional landscape
competition to reflect the broader
environments that we live in including cityscapes, seascapes and even mindscapes – the internal reflection.”
Country Energy’s managing director Craig Murray congratulated Mr Lupp and said Hen and Chicken Lane captured the essence of the landscape he had painted.
“This year Countryscapes celebrated its largest field of finalist’s ever with a great range of works in the running for the top spot,” Mr Murray said.
“Graham certainly impressed with
his true depiction of a country hillside in
the afternoon. The depth of talent
displayed by the finalists is testament to
the vigour of the regional arts scene.”
The winner of the $5000 Country
Energy youth encouragement award
was Erin Nalder of Moree.
Countryscapes will exhibited at
the Lismore Regional Gallery until December 12.
