WHEN Rosalind Lawson wanted inspiration for a painting, she would visit Anakie Gorge.
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“Often I’d go there to sit and draw...you could go there to have a good think,” she said.
The idea from six years ago recently paid off for Ms Lawson, who won the prestigious 2015 NAB Flanagan Art Prize on Friday night.
Ms Lawson’s Anakie Conflict was inspired by her love of water and the land.
“(The painting) is part of a series over the last couple of years on Anakie Gorge,” she said.
“I am very interested in significant landscape sights in the region, but not just the landscape, but what is happening in the landscape.”
Ms Lawson said she explored environmental issues and how water, over time, can change the features of a landscape.
Judge Euan Heng selected Anakie Conflict as the winner of the $5000 prize, which was sponsored by NAB.
Federation University Emerging Artist Prize for students and recently graduated artists was awarded to Larissa MacFarlane.
Ms MacFarlane won $1500 for her hand-bound book ‘Letter to the Landlord’, which was inspired by a piece of writing she discovered on the wall inside of an abandoned house.
Lifestyle Travel Ballarat’s Affordable Art Prize was awarded to Anne-Marie Kuter for her piece ‘Under the Rose’.
More than 150 entries were received from artists Australia-wide, with the selection committee narrowing the pool to 81 for the exhibition.
Ms Lawson said she never expected to take the win on Friday night.
“I feel honoured... the judge said it was very difficult to select a winner,” she said.
“You get to a stage where you don’t have any expectations and you just hope (the painting) looks good.”
Mr Heng is an internationally-acclaimed painter with decades of experience.
He has held 33 solo exhibitions in Australia, Scotland and Italy and has participated in more than 70 group exhibitions in Australia and abroad.
His work is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Queensland Art Gallery and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow.
Mr Heng has also taught art in the UK and Australia and most recently held the position of Adjunct Associate Professor in Graduate Research in Fine Art at Monash University, Melbourne.
All 81 art pieces will be displayed at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat on August 23, 29 and 30 between 11am and 4pm. All other times by appointment. Contact: 5331 1688.
