UNESAP 2024 | WINNERS

WINNER | INFANTS CATEGORY K-2

Isla Townsend, Self Portrait, oil pastel, Year 1, St Joseph’s Primary School, Uralla (Image detail)

“Isla’s artwork captured my attention immediately and held my interest. I like the expression of the face, the longer I looked at it the more it changed, sometimes looking sad, sometimes happy and at times pensive. The contrast between the solid black background and the colourful body as well as the giant head and small body is an interesting composition. The colourful irregular lines inside the body and head and creates more interest in the drawing as the lines make lovely angles and textures. Because this is a self-portrait, I am very interested to meet the artist and find out why she represented herself this way.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

HIGHLY COMMENDED | INFANTS CATEGORY K-2

Jayce Supple, Summer Days, oil pastel, paint and collage, Year 2, Dorrigo Public School (Image detail)

“This artwork captures the sense of fun and freedom of swimming in the pool during summer. I love the long-curved body going through the donut floaty. At first it seems like a very controlled painting, but when you look closer, the details and different marks in the donut, body and water are lovely and give the artwork a painterly feel. I would like to be in that pool swimming, but someone would have to stop me from trying to eat that donut, it looks almost real and delicious! ” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

WINNER | PRIMARY CATEGORY 3-6

Excellence Akinola-Alabi, Bird Party, collage, pencil and acrylic paint,  Year 3, Drummond Memorial Public School (Image detail).

“This painting drew me in as it created a story and I can imagine the different conversations and sounds the birds are making. There is a lot of action, birds coming and going, sitting and talking, all sorts of movement and wonderful textures. The composition is broken in half by the branch and the distinct red and blue backgrounds but the artwork is pulled together as a whole because of the different placements of the birds and the use of colour. I like that some birds are obvious while others are subtle, and some are hinted at. Every time I come back to this drawing there is something new to find, and a new story to make up.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

HIGHLY COMMENDED | PRIMARY CATEGORY 3-6

Adele Simba, The Sea of Love, collage, Year 6, Drummond Memorial Public School (Image detail)

“This artwork has lots of detail and features that the viewer can use to create a story. This meant there was always more to discover and interpret every time I looked at it. The use of complementary colours is very good and helps to pull the viewer’s focus. The textures drawn on top of coloured cut out painted shapes adds interesting visual elements to the painting as well.  There is a lot of layering and thought that has gone into this painting which I appreciate.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

WINNER | JUNIOR CATEGORY 7-9

Madeline Buntine, Alone at Nobles, digital photography and colour manipulation, Year 9, The Armidale School (Image detail)

“At first glance this artwork is bold and has a strong compositional impact and when I looked closer it also has interesting details such as the sign and stickers on the window. The sense in this artwork is that the building has a long history with a story to tell about its inhabitants and this made me curious. The style borders on graphic novel combined with painting which is enjoyable and the textures add depth and detail to the colours. This is a mature and thoughtful work.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

HIGHLY COMMENDED | JUNIOR CATEGORY 7-9

Hugo Jones, The Contented Chook, oil pastel, Year 9, Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus (Image detail)

“The richness of the colours in this distinguished chook are beautiful and have such a depth to them. The chook emerges out of the background and the artist has used the touches of black marks over the chook’s neck and head really well. This helps ‘hold’ the chook in place on the background. The colour choice, composition and subject matter are a nod to the old masters still life paintings and I enjoy seeing this in a young artist.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

WINNER | SENIOR CATEGORY 10-12

Aelah Winrow Sindicic, Melancholy, soft pastel, Year 11, Armidale Secondary College (Image detail).

“The technical ability of this artist is of a high calibre, they understand how to utilise lighting, tone and restraint to create mood and emotions. But more importantly for me, the portrait conveys feelings that are palpable, feelings that all viewers will be able to relate to. While the face is very controlled, you can still feel the artist allowing the artwork to emerge. There is a spiritual quality in this artwork you observe in religious paintings of the Virgin Mary. I think this quality provides even more beauty to the complex feeling the young woman in this portrait. ” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

HIGHLY COMMENDED | SENIOR CATEGORY 10-12

Jacky Ham, Fabrication, watercolour, acrylic and pen, Year 11, Narrabri High School (Image detail).

“Fabrication uses a nice blend of mediums. The soft use of tones and attention to more decorative elements bring variety to the portrait and I really liked the use of thin black lines curving in and around the facial features.  For me this artwork was leaning towards a modern graphic novel style and I could imagine this person as a main character in a series of stories and other worldly adventures.” Trish Donald, UNESAP 2024

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

Mackenzie Larkings, Cat Head, Penguin Body in the Dark, pencil, watercolour and marker, Year 2, St Patrick’s Primary School, Walcha (Image detail).