The challenge of a small canvas forced artists entering the Artists' Collective Studio's annual Australiana 9 by 5 art prize to perhaps reconsider their usual approach to their work.
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They rose to the challenge, however, with Tanya Robertson Cuninghame judging 53 entries in this year's competition. The number of entries, primarily from around the local district and from Stanthorpe to the north and Glen Innes to the south, is on par with last year's competition which snuck in just before the COVID-19 lockdown.
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This year there was no gathering to celebrate the official opening of the exhibition and announce the winners, as COVID concerns continue.
Kerri Swain of sponsor Jennings & Kneipp Lawyers, however, enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with the placegetters in the gallery, where the exhibition continues until April 26.
Rebecca Berrett was awarded first prize for In a Drover's Kitchen, which Ms Robertson Cuninghame described as demonstrating consummate skill with the medium and strong composition, with an original take on a very Australian theme.
Secondplacegetter Judy Harris's work of a quoll entitled Spots are In showed lively strokes and surety of drawing, the judge said, with light tonality making the drawing come alive.
Kylie Heindrich won third place with Bush Life, a work Ms Robertson Cuninghame described as delicate with a very nice technique, and presenting strong competition in the field.
Both Ms Berrett and Mrs Harris are previous prize winners earning second place and people's choice, respectively, in the inaugural competition back in 2019.
Ms Berrett said a disciplined approach is necessary for the small format.
It's not especially easy. You have to think about your decisions and design plays a big part.
- 2021 Australiana 9 by 5 art prize winner Rebecca Berrett
"It's not especially easy. You have to think about your decisions and design plays a big part."
This year was Ms Heindrich's first time entering the competition but she's accustomed to working in the smaller format, although not usually entering them into competition.
"It's a nice size to work with," she said.
Ms Swain was more than happy to continue supporting the competition.
"There's a lot of talent out there," she said, "so many talented artists in Tenterfield.
"It's lovely to be able to showcase that."
She feels the 9 by 5 inch format -- an ode to the cigar box lids of that size favoured by Australian artist Tom Roberts and his followers in the last 1800s -- is an ideal size for smaller homes.
She said people can gift a piece of 9 by 5 inch art that's sure to find a spot where it can be appreciated in any home, which might not always be the case for an expansive artwork.
"Also they're more affordable."
