CREATIVE CUTS - We have a winner!

Sunshine Coast artist Cynthia House continues to be a crowd favourite in the Gympie art scene, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Mary Valley Art Festival for the second year running.

Her trademark hybrid style of abstraction and realism in depicting a snow leopard won people’s hearts, giving her the slightest edge on her fellow competitors to collect the Masondale-sponsored prize. The artwork was titled On the Edge of Existence. 

Another previous award winner, Karen Roberts, received the Best in Show Award for her 3D sculpture titled, It’s how the light gets in. The $2000 prize was sponsored by RJR Property. The artist also won the 3D section with her sculpture titled Magnolias Empire.

Gympie’s Bendigo Bank $1500 award for the Open winner was presented to Alesha Cox (pictured) for her stunning painting, Keeper of the Shadows. Judges said it demonstrated great luminosity, colour, composition and design.

Fraser Coast artist Wendy Talbot won the first prize in the Abstract section with her cold wax artwork, It was written, and Novice winner Vanessa Sternberg who only started painting a couple of months ago won $500 for her entry Sudden Impact which the judges said was highly original and unexpected, demonstrating tension in the subject matter and a confident use of different techniques. 

The annual festival is hosted by Mary Valley Artslink, with more than $10,000 in prizes.