Central Coast artist Claire Tozer has taken the $15,000 first prize in this year’s Gosford Art Prize, with her acrylic and ink work on canvas, Web.
Tozer she had been “very excited” to receive the news.
“I didn’t sleep for a few nights after being told,” she said.
The inspiration for the work came from an early morning walk along the boardwalk at Davistown.
“We live at Yattalunga and often take the boardwalk from Davistown to Kincumber,” she said.
“We do the walk early in the morning from time to time and on this particular day there were webs stretched out from one bush to another all over the place.
“It was a foggy day and the light shining on those webs was just magical, with blue and green shades coming from the water.”
Tozer said she always works from photographs, although the piece developed as she worked on it in her studio.
“It is an abstract piece and it changed as I interpreted the photos,” she said.
Tozer said she had been painting for most of her life.
“I qualified as a graphic artist in Melbourne in 1981 and started art classes when I worked back to Sydney at a community art centre,” she said.
Although she has been painting ever since, it was only just over three years ago that Tozer gave up her two jobs to work full-time as an artist.
She has previously been Highly Commended in the Ewart Art Prize, the Hornsby Art Prize and the 2019 Gosford Art Prize.
Her biggest success to date has been winning the Korean Australian-Australian Arts Foundation first prize of $20,000 in 2018.
She was participated in the Kedumba Drawing Awards in 2019, where artists have to be invited to enter.
Her Gosford Art Prize winning work will be acquired by Central Coast Council for its collection.
This year 133 finalist artworks were selected for exhibition by a panel which aimed to include a variety of styles, content and techniques.
The finalists include 11 interstate works, with almost one third of the finalists from the Central Coast, showing the strength of artistic talent in the region, Council said.
Second Prize was awarded to Central Coast artist Muamer Cajic for his colour pencil on paper work, Inselberg.
Other prizes winners include:
Aboriginal Artist Prize ($2,500), Charmaine Davis, Washpool calling; Highly Commended Art Prize ($1,000), Ali Tahayori, There is no queer in Iran; Highly Commended Art Prize ($1,000), Karen Coull, The Sunday Tablecloth; Gosford Ceramics Prize ($2,500), David Boyle, Secret Meeting of the Bouddi Scribbly Bark; and Highly Commended Ceramic Prize ($1,000), Peter Steggall, Forest.
The winning works were chosen by judges Emily Rolfe and Vicki Grima, who said they were strong, showing a high degree of skill, consideration and integrity.
Gosford Regional Gallery director, Tim Braham, said events such as an annual art prize become a regular touchpoint for the community.
“They give us insight into the health and vibrancy of the sector and frequently reflect the concerns and collective consciousness of the community,” he said.
The 2022 finalist exhibition will run from until October 23 at Gosford Regional Gallery from 9.30am-4pm daily, with entry free.
A Viewer’s Choice Award of $500 will be announced at the end of the exhibition.
Terry Collins