Jane’s persistence pays off

Jane’s persistence pays off

Victorian artist Jane Flowers’ commitment paid off when she took out the top prize at the annual Mission to Seafarers Maritime Art Prize last month.

A frequent finalist, Ms Flowers (pictured above) said she has been entering pieces in the exhibition since 2005.

In 2009 she took out the people’s choice award and at the launch of this year’s exhibition on October 2 was announced winner of the major prize.

Her oil on canvas piece David and Goliath, depicting a container ship and a tugboat, beat 70 other entries selected for the exhibition to earn her the $15,000 ANL Maritime Art Prize.

Describing her piece Ms Flowers said: “Container ships ply our supply routes but become incapacitated behemoths at destination. Time for the plucky tugs with their no-nonsense, push-pull attitude – the rulers of the ports.”

Ms Flowers said she had been painting for 20 years and maritime themes were common to her work.

“I live by the ocean and do a lot of sailing so I have a huge affinity with the water,” she said.

Ms Flowers said she would continue to enter work in the annual exhibition.

“I love the prize itself, I love going to the opening and seeing everyone else’s work.”

The exhibition opening on October 2 also saw Peter Rocella announced winner of the $5000 ASP Best in Traditional Maritime Art Award for his piece Docked at mouth of Maribyrnong River.

Jeremey Lamont won the $5000 Bendigo Wealth Emerging Artist Award for his painting Fading Seacraft.

The annual exhibition is the Mission to Seafarers’ major fundraiser, with all entries selected for the exhibition for sale and paying a 33 per cent commission to the mission.

Mission to Seafarers Victoris CEO Andrea Fleming said the exhibited works’ recurring theme “the relationship between humanity and the sea”, conveyed the importance of the ongoing work of the mission, which is to provide for the welfare of individuals from all over the globe.

The exhibition closed on October 31 and the People’s Choice Winner will be announced on November 3.

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