A former signwriter who thought entering the Dobell Festival of Arts and Crafts would be a good way to get started as an artist has walked away with the major prize.
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Peter Gallagher, 64, of Elermore Vale, said he was honoured but surprised to win the prestigious Dobell Prize for the best exhibit overall at the weekend festival.
“I’m an amateur artist. I got my Diploma of Visual Arts only last year,” Mr Gallagher said.
His winning oil painting, Winter Sea Mist, was one of six he painted in a series.
It doesn’t depict a specific location, but instead features images of sky and landforms, a body of water, and submerged objects.
He said the surrealism elements of the painting were “half by accident, and half by intent”.
Mr Gallagher said he’d always had an interest in painting, and he was able to explore that interest more when his career as a signwriter “came to a halt”.
He said winning the Dobell Prize - named in honour of the Australian artist and former Wangi Wangi resident Sir William Dobell - was a great stepping stone.
“It means I have the chance to get into painting and to sell my art. This will inspire me to keep painting,” he said.
Mr Gallagher said he was impressed by the “excellent” standard of works on show at the festival.
Award judge Laura Wilson said she approached her job from four perspectives.
“In keeping Bill Dobell's spirit alive, I have taken on board one of his quotes: “A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.”
Ms Wilson said she was also mindful of maintaining consistency by using what she teaches.
“When taking students to galleries to write art reviews we consider description, formal analysis, interpretation and judgement,” she said.
She also took care not to be influenced by her personal taste, nor consideration of the artist.
“I threw out my own preferred aesthetic and gave each piece its own consideration going by title so I wasn't aware of the person [artist] or gender,” she said.
“Lastly, just knowing. You can call it gut instinct from years of exposure. I know my selections will be controversial but that makes me happy. That in itself is the spirit of Dobell.”
Ms Wilson said Peter Gallagher’s winning artwork was an apt choice for another reason, too.
“The winner fits another of Dobell’s quotes to a T: ‘Learn your technique thoroughly, immerse yourself in it, and then just throw it all out the window, and express what you feel... and it will come through that you are a technician’.”
