Co-organiser Michael Henrysson, who was quite amused by that, said although the cut-off date of March 15 for entry forms and fees was to be respected, the artists would have until March 28 to work on their pieces.

The Brush with Verse competition, the brainchild of Michael’s wife Gail Galloway is open for artworks inspired by poetry, previously published, or newly written. 

The idea is for artists to let their creativity well-up after reading or listening to words of poetry. They can buddy up with a poet, draw from the classis or put pen to paper themselves.

The competition is ‘open medium’, which means that all types of art are welcome, not just those made with a brush- and all art works entered will be exhibited from April 4- May 30 at the Forest to Furniture Gallery. 

Michael said he knew of already 35 entrants, and more were to be expected, “as it is still early days”.  “You know how it is these days,” he laughed,” everybody is on the 11th hour, the 11th minute and the 11th second.”

And it will be worthwhile to enter; there’s a total of $3,800 prize money to be won, including the Tenterfield Shire Acquisition Prize of $1500 and for the literary-minded there are also awards for original poetry.

The winning artworks that have been acquired in previous years are on display at the Tenterfield Library and include several ceramic pieces and last year’s triptych, depicting the main street and inspired by Peter Allen’s ‘Tenterfield Saddler’. 

This year the art will be judged by Helen Grant Editor of Australian Artist Magazine and the poetry judge is David Hallet- an award-winning performance poets on the cutting edge of the contemporary Australian poetry scene.