The Prestigious Reg Russom Memorial Drawing Prize Has Been Announced
Image courtesy of Hunter TAFE Foundation
The annual Reg Russom Memorial Drawing prize is always a highly anticipated annual event for young artists. Drawings of the human figure by artists of the Lower Hunter Region were invited to compete for the prestigious acquisitive prize. The prize, first awarded in 1955, honours Reginald Gordon Russom, former head of the Newcastle Technical College’s art department. He was a highly respected artist who worked on the New York Times and The Press in San Francisco as well as drawing for The Bulletin and the Sydney Mail.
The prize, supported by the Hunter TAFE Foundation, is important as it reflects Russom’s commitment to quality and skill in fine arts. The ability to draw and draw well is a necessary foundation for all artistic mediums. The skill necessary for drawing allows an artist to analyse space, consider composition, scale, texture, and often emotion. From experience I know you cannot hide when you draw, it requires you to bring your best to the paper. Today the best was announced in front of a large crowd at the Front Room Gallery, Hunter Street.
The overall winner of the prize was John Moroney, a former student turned rigger, who is now turning back to art. His talent is noticeable in his drawing of a sleeping female nude. In particularly I like the ‘weight’ that can be felt through the body at rest.
Highly Commended went to Newcastle Art School’s Advanced Diploma student Ryan Williams. Williams is not new to accolades having been awarded a Hunter TAFE Foundation scholarship in recent years.
(The drawings will be on display at the Front Room Gallery 582 Hunter Street, Newcastle West until Friday 7 September 3pm)
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