Arcare communities across Australia showcased their talent, creativity, and individual flare in Arcare’s second annual Card Art competition, with two winners from the region being selected.
Arcare Glenhaven’s Paul Oon designed the winning All Occasion card, and Acare Kanwal’s Pamela Walsh, designed the winning Season Greeting’s card.
Residents from across Arcare’s 45 aged care residences in NSW, Victoria and Queensland were encouraged to create original card designs to be included in its greeting card range for 2021/22.
Launching in September, Arcare set out to find card designs for six new greeting cards, including All Occasion, Season’s Greetings, Birthday, Get Well, Mental Health, and Gratitude.
Close to 200 paintings, sketches, watercolours, original photos, and craft projects were submitted by Arcare residents and art groups and while the competition was incredibly tough due to the high calibre of submissions, the top designs were narrowed down for public voting.
Arcare Glenhaven resident, Paul Oon, can normally be found with a paintbrush in hand and a canvas in front of him.
He had picked up painting as a hobby when he retired, but it only became a passion for him when he moved to Arcare.
“Oils are my favourite medium, I paint portraits, landcapes, scenes from memory, photographs, abstracts, and anything else that inspires me,” Oon said.
At 86 years old, Oon continues to fill his canvases with colours whenever he gets a sudden stroke of inspiration.
He was selected as a winner for the All-Occasion Card category, with his winning artworks depicting a lighthouse overlooking the sea.
“I am very honoured, and I can’t believe I won,” Oon said.
91-year-old, Pamela Walsh first moved into Arcare Kanwal in December 2018, and is now a two-time consecutive winner of the Arcare Card Art Competition.
Winning the All Occasion card category last year, Pamela has now had her Australiana Christmas card design voted as the winner for this year’s Season’s Greetings category.
Walsh said “I have been painting for almost 40 years now.
“I am a proud Australian and what can be more Australian that a kookaburra wearing a Christmas hat.
“I think it’s very iconic,” Walsh said.
It was Walsh’s son that encouraged her to join painting classes, and when she moved into Arcare, she started painting with acrylic and eventually switched to pastel.
It is only in recent years that she went back to watercolour.
“I was pleased when I found out that I won.
“It is very humbling to know that other people liked my painting,” Walsh said.
Walsh used to work in a photographic studio and has participated in art exhibits and art competitions.
“It is very addictive.
“I paint almost every day in my suite.
“I’m so glad that I can continue doing what I love in Arcare Kanwal,” Walsh said.
Arcare CEO, Colin Singh said now in its second year, the Card Art Competition continues to create a sense of pride and accomplishment among our residents.
“The aim was to celebrate the creativity within our Arcare communities and showcase the unique skills and talents of our residents.
“Residents have really enjoyed participating in the competition, and they are excited to see their own designs printed in our 2021 Christmas cards and 2022 greeting cards.
“Hopefully these cards are something that they keep and share with their families and friends.
“We look forward to seeing what designs the residents the residents will come up with in next year’s Card Competition,” Singh said.
Source:
Media release, Nov 19
Arcare