This week, the former Ballarat Clarendon College student was announced as the winner of the Art Gallery of Ballarat Next Gen 2013 People’s Choice Award.

He said winning the award gave him the confidence he needed to pursue a career in filmmaking.

“I’ve always loved cinema and have always loved the visual impact of cinematography,” the 18-year-old said.

“I’m hoping to finish my graphic design course and hopefully branch out into filmmaking. The course is very broad and I need a basis in the visual field.”

Mr Wolstenholme’s piece, entitled Questions, is a portrait of a male head produced using a scratched-back technique on black-painted particle board.

“The whole idea was to portray the commonality of insanity in everyone,” he said.

“Everyone is insane in some way.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a stereotypical menacing way.”

Mr Wolstenholme was awarded a $250 prize from the Ballarat Society of Artists.

The annual Next Gen exhibition features a selection of work created by students studying VCE art and design subjects the previous year.