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New reply in topic: Art
Teen who only started drawing last Christmas wins top Texaco art prize
LAURA LYNOTT
An 18 years-old from Co Mayo is the overall winner of the Texaco Children's Art Competition after his pencil portrait scooped the €1.500 top prize.
Daniel Walsh from Claremorris, blew judges away with his winning drawing of a family friend named Colm.
Daniel discovered his hidden talent for art after receiving graphite pencils and an art easel as a gift last Christmas.
The intricate graphite pencil work secured the top spot in the 16 - to 18 year old category and the overall prize at the competition.
Daniel explained why he chose Colm as his inspiration.
"I felt the expression and detail in Colm's face would make for an interesting portrait challenge to attempt." he said.
Adjudicator and chair of the judging panel, visual artist, curator and educator, Pauline O'Connell, said the teenager's artwork was "an exceptionally accomplished and delicately rendered portrait of an aged man in pencil".
Ms O'Connell added that the piece was: "A quiet, contemplative and deeply human artwork that is worthy of the top prize. The subtle pale skin tones and grey facial hair fade into the distance as we are drawn to Colm's clear, averted eyes - deliberately darker in tone, they focus our gaze.
"The artist's ability - his instinct to observe, interpret and create such a technically accurate portrait draws the viewer into a shared space with the subject."
The winner in the youngest category of the competition was six-year old Clare student Amelia Murray, from Ennis Art School, for her work entitled Best Friends.
In Category A (16-18 years), other top winners were Megan Hogan (17), a pupil at Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge, Ballygunner who won a second prize of €1,000 for her work entitled Tommy.
A multiple previous winner, Megan won first and second prize in the 14-to 15-year old category in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
A third prize of €750 went to Wicklow student Amélie McAndrew (17), a pupil at Temple Carrig School, Greystones, for her work entitled Beach Day.
In Category B (14 -15 years), a first prize of €450 was scooped by Longford student Abigail McCarthy (14) from Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, for her work entitled I'm Fine.
Second prize (€350) went to Kildare student Mae Cowper Gray (15), from Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen for her work entitled Della's Resolve (My Determined Sister).
Mae won first prize in the nine to 11 category in 2021.