1)Finalist for AAA Prize 2)Daffodils Sold!

London Paralympics excites me so much! Yey!! (*Can you remember once I sketched Australian paralympians?)

Now, great news. My work, "Melancholic Beer" is running as a finalist for Arts Access Australia prize ($5,000) and People's choice ($1,000).  Some people have already voted for me --- I'd really appreciate kindness. Very encouraging. In response to your vote, I'll keep up creating good work! Run, Sadami, run!

AAA prize is the only national art prize for people with disability. Wow, all shortlisted work is powerful and evocative. Level is high. What an honour that I could get in! Very happy!

But winning is not all. I always try comps to challenge myself. Also, I make new nice friends through comps.

Indeed, I'm really looking forward to

Desire and Destination: ArtsActivated Conference 

to meet other artists, staff and involved people in Chatswood Concourse in October. Furthermore, AAA kindly offer their website for artists to show art works. Other artists' stories really lift me up.

Here's my section.

Joint it and maximize opportunities, if you're eligible!

Another good news! 
My work, "daffodils" was sold at Victoria Cancer Council annual exhibition in Melbourne. So happy I could contribute to VCC. The theme is "strength." Here's the shortlisted work(pdf).  Each work is very touchy. Oh..., people create art work in really a narrow margin between life and death. Their work teaches me how precious our every moment is. I heartily hope my work will bring others strength, hope and joy.

So, Friends, if you have anyone involved with disabilities or cancer, please pass this post and encourage them to join these organizations. Anyone deserves to be happy. Let's enjoy life fully!

Oh, yes, one more good news. 

I've been challenging walking with a new orthotics, a new brace/splint and new red feminine shoes. (*Orthotics = shoe sole. Splint=brace to hold a leg). This splint -- light, flexible, strong -- serves very well! The best one I ever tried before. Now, it allows me to put on girly shoes. Yey!
Even though my case is very difficult to organize a best-fit orthotics,  the podiatrist has been working hard for these years. 
I will never give up.

Of course, sometimes, I feel life is hard. But I'm busy with being happy and working on art. So, I tell negative feelings/thoughts etc, "I don't have time to play with you," and shut a door.ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ  

I've learned this paradox. Hope never leaves us -- Hope requires one condition; have "guts" to keep it. I have guts and I know your cheers are my energy. Thanks millions!

Friends, have a wonderful week. Happy Painting!!

1)Finalist for AAA Prize 2)Daffodils Sold!

Semi Finalist of Moran Prize 2012, World Richest Portrait comp

I've become the semi-finalists of Moran Prize 2012. (*the site displays all shortlisted work.)  Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is the world richest portrait competition with A$150,000 awarded to the winner and A$10,000 awarded to the runner-up. 

My work is "Dignity" with the statement(*50 words limit). 

"The work captures the exact moment a needle enters an elder patient’s arm. His face shows dignity between two opponents : life vs death, but they are beautifully unified in a brave fighter’s triumph to be respected. Pencil drawing and watercolour focuses the subject and simplified other visual information.

As Moran is very competitive, the good news surprized me so much~(*o*)~ . Wow, but I made it!(*Last year, more than 200,000 works challenged Moran. **The number includes photos and paintings.)

Unlike Archibald, Moran does not require the artist or the subject be well known. Portraits that reveal a deep connection between the artist and their subject are well received by the judges. Yes, Friends, if your work shows the strong relation between a model and you, you have a chance!

Moran Prize Office 

(Submitted paintings/canvas at the right cornor in the sketch.)

Very delighted that the judges have acknowledged my profound relation between a model and me. Indeed, a third party has appreciated the patient's dignity and struggling for life in a treatment. It's a great reward. Then, I sent "special thanks" to my medical team, the hand surgery, uni professors and all other supporters. Without their help, I could not make this achievement. Yes, of course, I'd send big hugs to you, blogger Friends!!  

This achievement has convinced me the importance of "be what I am fully." When I submitted the real work to Moran, I glanced at other wonderful and huge paintings by chance. Most of them were oil or acrylics and as large as a wall or a door. Mine is an A4 size and watercolour. Level is quite high. No surprise, any semi-finalist could be a finalist. I do not expect myself at all. From here, all is a bonus. Whatever the result would be, I look forward to the news. Their notice says,

Christopher Menz and Vincent Fantauzzo have selected this year’s semi-finalists for the 2012 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. They said the works are diverse, challenging and exciting.

The 30 finalists will be announced shortly followed by the winner of the $150k prize on
24th July 2012.

The exhibition will be displayed from 25th July to 9th September 2012 at Moran House, 
13-15 Bridge Street, 
Sydney NSW between 9am to 5pm.

 

This Moran experience encourages me so much! So, I'd encourage you to try any big entitlements. If we hesitate, we'll waste time and it'll never come back. Let's challenge big entitlements in our own ways.  I'll keep up as a watercolour artist ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ. 
Friends, Happy Painting!! 

**In 2017, I became a Moran semi-finalist again with "Publisher Helen Chamberlin". 

  

Semi Finalist of Moran Prize 2012, World Richest Portrait comp

1)Shortlisted for Cancer Council Art Prize 2)Cartoon

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? I enjoyed coffee at a cafe and finished up the illustration below. I wanted to make a mood and played around colours. 

Coffee Break 

Good news! My two paintings, both are "shortlisted." One is for Victoria Cancer Council Art Prize 2012. I sent the work, "Daffodils : strength, hope, love" to Melbourne. 

  A3, double mounts, beautifully framed,

 30% of $500 goes to Victoria Cancer Council.

Daffodils have the strength to survive winter and bloom beautifully in spring, passing on life to the next generation. They look fragile, but in fact are strong. One day, NSW Cancer Council volunteers gave any patient daffodils in a treatment room (*I do not have cancer, but have the same treatment). Sitting for long hours bores patients. But suddenly these daffodils brought us smiles and joy. Later, I sketched the daffodils. Medical doctors and my friends, too, love this work. If anyone wants to be a "step parent" of the daffodils, the Cancer Council and I would be very happpy.

 

BTW, once, when I chatted over the relation bewteen "life" and "lemons(*negative meaning)", a dear blogger friend, Rhonda said, "Sadami, you not only make lemonade, you set up a lemonade stand and sell it to others who need reminders that lemonade is like life - sweet and tart." Oh, Rhonda, I want to be a lemon-AID woman!! Tadada~~~! Here we go!

Hahaha, cartoons are often my doodles. A very good brain exercies and relaxing!

Well, back to the topic on another shortlisted work. Not a finalist yet. The work must get through a second round. To be honest with you, I'm ready for rejection and will enjoy lemonade! But whatever the result would be, I'd celebrate my try and it did very well so far for the very big competition.  


I'll keep up! Thank you for warm cheers. I'll send you, too, warm cheers.
Friends, Happy Painting! 

 


 

1)Shortlisted for Cancer Council Art Prize 2)Cartoon

My Work Wins Awards!

Hi, Friends, how is your weekend?

Good news! My work has got in the top 5 across Australia, highly commended at AAA Art Competition. Friends, pinch my cheek! Ouch! Oh...not a day dream.
The AAA Art Comp is open for Australian artists with disabilities. Any genre, any media will do such as photography, digital image, painting, drawing, performance, sculpture, a film etc, etc and a free theme! AAA staff says, "So many applicants and quite a competitive field." Wow...

Disability is Ability : Bound For Bright Future

AAA loves my work and will interview me for media release and use the painting for their newly constructing website.
Friends, you know the old post, "Paralympians -- my heros." Based on the sketches, I finished it up in a few days and submitted it just before the closing date. My first trial. I still can't believe that my work is a finalist. Very happy.

Another work wins the second prize in the watercolour section at KuRingGai Art Society Annual Exhibition 2011.

Young Lady in Between Girl & Woman

Friends and I hugged each other and celebrated other members awarding, too. The gentleman giving me the prize below is Paul, a judge and Julian Ashton School Principal. That art school has a great reputation in Australian art world! Again, I did not expect the awards at all. It actually surprised me! This would be a very sweet memory.

My picture book illustration mentor is lovely. She has celebrated my achievements and also said, "Competitions are like lotteries. " I agree with my mentor. All participants' work is wonderful and a level is high. Anyone could win.So, what I'm learning is trying competitions is not bad, but winning is not an ultimate goal. My big goal is to make lots of picture books and bring people happiness.
The both news surprised me so much. I never expected my work would do well. Especially, in the first work, I only wanted to show the unlimited potential in us, human beings. If my work will be a little help and encouragement for people with disabilities, it would be my great joy. Please pass on this post to anyone and any artist with a disability and encourage them to join AAA Art Comp next year.
I'd also address special thanks for anyone who has encouraged me.
So, thank "YOU," Friends, reading this blog and "Cheers"! Yey!
I'll keep up and enjoy my work...and WALK confidently!
Have a nice week!!

My Work Wins Awards!