Wins first ‘Portrait Prize’

Thrilled with the win, Tatum O’Connor said she was inspired to paint a portrait of her adorable niece and hopes to be a high school art teacher one day.
“This portrait is devoted to my amazing niece, who pulled this bizarre face while on our weekly video calls,” Tatum said.
“Her childlike innocence is resembled through this image, in which I feel the need to preserve and protect as she evolves and interacts with the world.
“Her silly faces light up my entire world and her cheeky antics can get me through challenging times. I hope one day I can give her this image to show her how much I truly love her.”
The judges said Tatum’s painting showed a masterful use of the painting medium and a subtle range of tone within a limited colour palette.
“The expressive style of brushwork and shadow makes for a dramatic and playful portrayal of the subject,” they said.
The annual Portrait Prize gives students the chance to recognise and appreciate someone well-known to them and who plays a significant role in their life by paying them one of the highest compliments – painting or drawing their portrait.
Director of Education and Research at Sydney Catholic Schools, Dr Kate O’Brien, said: “We were incredibly excited to see what artworks our students were going to produce and we certainly were not disappointed.”