Community & Business
15 July, 2024
Pastel piece of proteas wins national award
Member of the Pittsworth Art Group (PAG), Jeanne Cotter, has won first prize in the Still Life category of The Pastel Society of Australia Annual Awards Exhibition 2024 for her “Pretty Proteas” painting.
Ms Cotter said she was very excited to have placed first in this category.
“It was a national show and I was up against all the bigwigs, and best pastel artists in the country,” she said.
For over seven years,
Ms Cotter has been entering her creations into The Pastel Society of Australia Annual Exhibition Awards.
In 2018, she entered a piece, “The Pears at Claire’s” into the Alexandra Awards section of the exhibition, and placed third.
Ms Cotter also received a highly commended in 2019 for her piece, “Maleny Majesty”.
A number of other accolades in local circles include the People’s Choice for “Concongella Creek Reflections” at the Rosalie Galley in Goombungee in 2022, and first place for her landscape painting “Sand Dunes” at the Toowoomba Show last year.
Judges of The Pastel Society of Australia Annual Exhibition Awards, Gail Higgins and Donald J. Waters OAM, were impressed by the outstanding talents and creativity showcased in each piece entered into the Still Life category.
The feedback from the judges in regards to Ms Cotter’s “Pretty Proteas” was, ‘colour, shapes, dimension - all wonderful.’
She has been a pastel artist for 15 years and also teaches weekly adult beginner classes at her studio in Toowoomba.
“I love to teach, connect, and create,” Ms Cotter said.
“I love seeing the amazement on the faces of my students when they step back from the easel and see the beauty they’ve created.”
Pastel is the only medium Ms Cotter uses.
She has been a member of PAG for some years and is also the group’s workshop coordinator.
Although she resides in Toowoomba, Ms Cotter said she loves the local art group.
“It’s a lovely bunch of people.”
“I go out there nearly every week,” she said.
Ms Cotter attended The Pastel Society of Australia Annual Exhibition Awards in Brisbane with her sister, who she described as her greatest supporter.
Ms Cotter is also co-founder and exhibitor in the Toowoomba Studio Art Trail, a self-drive tour of artists’ studios in spring every year.
