LAKE Macquarie artist Cheryl Barrett rolled the dice when she used bold purples and oranges in her evocative landscape painting.
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That risk was rewarded at the 43rd Dobell Festival of Art and Craft on Friday night.
Ms Barrett, of Valentine, won the 2019 Dobell Prize for her work Patchwork Landscape.
Festival art judge Dr Margaret McBride said Ms Barrett's painting was beautifully crafted, and a brave work.
"What I look for in a painting is innovation, creativity and a different view of the world," Dr McBride said.
"It's quite easy for people to copy a landscape. It's more difficult to interpret a landscape in a different way. Cheryl has taken a big risk in her painting, and she has pulled it off."
Dr McBride - an experienced artist, art teacher, writer and curator - said the painting was not everyone's obvious choice to win.
Indeed, she said there were a few mutterings in the 250-strong audience at Wangi District Workers Club on Friday night when she announced the winner.
"But this is a very evocative and stimulating work," she said.
"A lot of people don't like to take their artistic risk quite so far, but she [Ms Barrett] has really pushed it."
At the core of that risk was the use of purples and oranges, she said.
Traditionally, the use of blues and greens in landscape paintings was harmonious, she said.
"But this is really very vibrant. Orange and purple are at opposite ends of the colour wheel so you can't get any more stimulating than that."
Dr McBride said the standard of paintings was diverse, and the quality of the best paintings was very high.
"My job wasn't easy. There were two or three paintings that could also have easily won."
Making news:
The festival was presented by Wangi Lions Club.
Lion and festival art director Jane Smith said the winning painting was stunningly beautiful.
"I want to drive through that countryside," she said.
Lion Keith McBurney said the festival was again a success, with 800 people viewing the exhibition of 290 paintings, and dozens of craft items over the weekend.
"All profits from the festival will go back to the community," Mr McBurney said.
"We had 290 paintings in the exhibition this year, which was up on last year, and the entries in the youth section was also up.
"Some of the young talent coming through is amazing. As the mayor [Cr Kay Fraser] said on Friday night, we have a blossoming arts community around the lake."
In what is believed to have been a first for the festival, three generations of one local family submitted entries to this year's exhibition.
Mr McBurnie praised Wangi District Workers Club for its valued support of the event.
"The club has gone out of its way to help us, and it really is appreciated."
