Art society awards outstanding artists

By Faith Macale

Nov 28, 2023

Vivid colours: Peter Maroudas, one of the event’s sponsors, entered two paintings he made using gouache paints. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

The Seymour & District Art Society has held its annual Art Beyond the Divide competition.

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Artist Julian Bruere, last year’s winner and this year’s judge, presented awards to winners along with his wife, Melbourne-based artist Mary Hyde.

The event was held on Friday, November 24 at Wine X Sam on Anzac Ave.

“It was a very easy evening,” Mr Bruere said.

“Good group of artists, patrons, and organisers of the show.”

“Not a huge group, but a nice sort of quality group.”

Nina Volk’s Tip of the Iceberg, a watercolour, won Best in Show and was awarded $1000.

Artists that won other ‘Best’ categories received $500.

Mr Bruere and Ms Hyde were two of the judges this year, and he said the process was subjective.

“We’re basing our evaluations on the structure of paintings,” he said.

“Paintings are made up of four elements: Tone, form, colour and edge.

“Whether it’s an abstract or it’s a realist piece, those elements are always at play.”

Mr Bruere said tone related to light and dark and gave a painting a sense of reality or balance.

Meanwhile, form relates to drawing and the structures underneath.

Colour relates to how it is applied, whether deliberate or harmonious, while edge refers to the finesse of the brush marks.

Winning piece: Nina Volk’s watercolour painting titled *Tip of the Iceberg* won Best in Show. Photo: Terri MacDonald

On the other hand, Mr Bruere said judging digital art was a challenge for realist artists.

“Digital can be derived from a photograph then filtered or distilled down,” he said.

“It can be created like a painting with a palette based on it.”

Mr Bruere said he tended to favour the works generated from drawings before different filters and techniques were then used.

Different approach: Mr Bruere says he likes the idea of digital art being an actual art medium rather than it being seen as derivative from photography. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

“I was tending to like the idea that digital work should perhaps be seen as an art medium and created, rather than a photograph that transitions into a digital art piece,” he said.

When the Seymour & District Art Society flooded in 2022, president Terri MacDonald said Mr Bruere had been generous to the group.

‘Something good’: Mr Bruere donated one of his paintings to help the art society get back on its feet after the floods. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

This year, Mr Bruere donated one of his paintings, valued at $2500, to the raffle.

“I donated the painting specifically for the flood cause to give them a chance to raise some money towards fixing up after the floods,” Mr Bruere said.

“The purpose of it was to really try and do something good with that.”

For those planning to pick up a brush and do their first stroke, Mr Bruere has some advice.

“Anyone developing painting — it’s good to aspire to be involved in the shows and exhibits,” he said.

“If they get sales or awards, that’s the bonuses ... but there has to be an element of just pure enjoyment of doing the painting process and painting for self as well.”