THE annual National Capital Art Prize is back and on Monday finalists were announced for the Australia-wide competition.
Toora resident, Maureen Harley was amongst the selection, one of two Gippsland based artists, with her beautiful mixed media artwork on hot pressed, water colour paper titled ‘Mangroves’ in the brand-new Sustainability Prize category.
Reflecting the complex and multi-faceted layering of this beautiful eco system, Maureen’s work of art in the new category, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, ticked a multitude of boxes.
“All my friends are having a ball with this – they're voting like mad and keep sending me these funny emails, re: the voting. It's just been good fun all around,” Maureen said.
“I have some very special people in my life that have been really wonderful in sharing all this excitement with me, so it wouldn't be without them.”
The competition aims to ignite the passion and courage of artists across the country, many of whom lost the opportunity to display and sell their work during 2020-2021.
Maureen may be new to the arena of art prize competitions, having spent most of her working life as a mental health nurse, but being creative is in her blood.
“I always liked art at school,” Maureen smiled.
“I didn't do it a lot when I left school, I got busy living life, bringing up kids, working and later nursing – life took me in a different direction.
“When I was in my 30s, I put a couple of things in the local art shows when I was living in Leongatha… I got back into my art more seriously the last three or four years.”
Maureen’s sister, Trudi, an award-wining artist in her own right, supplies Maureen’s creative endeavours through her art supplies Atelier Art in Williamstown.
“She’s very supportive, she’s always the go to person and the pair of us have a great time together with our art.”
Between commissions, particularly pet and horse portraiture, Mangroves came to fruition.
“My first go to is coloured pencils, but this piece is mixed media – it was something different.
“I get these ideas; this one had been floating around in my head. I was about quarter of the way through it, and I was flicking through the art prize almanac.”
At the new sustainability category, Maureen’s eyes widened.
“Mangroves would fit that category. I checked and yes, they meet about six or seven criteria, so I thought ‘oh well, I’ll pop it in.’
“I sold a piece locally at one of our little art shows very recently and that sort of encouraged me to put this in.”
An enthusiastic sister helped break the news of her nomination after telling Maureen to check her emails over the weekend.
“She rang and said, ‘have you checked your emails’. I said, ‘it’s not until Monday’, and she said, ‘they usually let the finalists know beforehand’.
“I had a look. Wow! Here was my little message telling me that I was a finalist.
“There was much dancing and singing and crying because it's a huge deal. I was very excited. I'm still very excited!”
With a passion for drawing birds and animals, particularly horses, the equine enthusiast will head off on a road trip to Canberra in the next few weeks with her sister for the announcement.
“I’ve just started drawing other things. (The artwork for the prize) was quite left of centre of the work I usually do. That's what’s made it even more exciting, I think.
“They say you have to be brave to do art and to show your art.”
Exploring other mediums, Maureen’s go to may be pencils, but she also like pencil like products including pastels.
“I love those, but I end up looking like a coal miner when I finish!”
Maureen recently won an encouragement award at the Mirboo North Winterfest.
“I’m having great fun with it at the moment. I’ve got another piece entered in the Yarram Archies on August 25 – a little person portrait.”
A dedicated studio at her new home in Toora, having moved from Grantville, Maureen is looking forwards to the moment she can retire and undertake her artwork full time – that if they ever let her retire.
“I love it. I've also got a nice big double garage that I would like to use as a gallery – that’s in the pipeline.
“Hopefully I can retire at some stage and do this in my retirements – that's the plan.”
An opportunity for every Australian to view, experience and share in Australia’s creativity – head to nationalcapitalartprize.com.au/2022peopleschoiceaward to view the virtual gallery and cast your vote. Voting closes on Sunday, September 11.
To explore Maureen’s work visit Facebook @maureenjoyharley or her website maureenharleyartandphotography.com
