ARTISTS from within the Strathbogie Shire might not have taken home a prize at Violet Town's biannual Honeysuckle Art Exhibition, but they sure did take memories of an afternoon of wit, artistic wisdom, and a bit of wild art at the event's opening on Sunday.
The 76 entries varied in a range of media and styles, with the prize for the exhibition's theme of 'luminous' being hotly contended by just a few.
Works ranged from oils on canvas, to watercolours, sculpture, mixed media, pencil and crayon, wood block print, ceramics, acrylic, shadow box, and digital collage.
The Under 12 award went to Opal Ferguson for her pencil and crayon work Frog.
Evidence of a genetic link came with Opal's father Jamie Ferguson winning the Best Representation of the Theme award with his complex and deeply textured oil on canvas The Starfish.
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The Open Category winner was metalwork sculptor Tony Levy with Lyrebird made from recycled metal.
Feature artist Tim Bowtell gave an inspiring speech about how his famed work with silo murals had their origin with him exhibiting at local art shows.
In May, Mr Bowtell is heading to Newton in North Carolina for five weeks to paint a mural on the side of a railway museum.
"I keep getting asked to do trains but it's not a thing of mine," Mr Bowtell said.
"I have to hone the skills and I have to get them right, because the train buffs are pretty brutal - I have got to get every rivet in the right spot.
"It's not my favourite thing to paint."
Open Category winner Tony Levy said it was rare that a sculpture won a local art prize.
"Usually sculptures don't win at these competitions; it's usually the beautiful paintings," Mr Levy said.
"This is fantastic for the recognition of a little hobby which I started a couple of years ago."
The judge for the event was Carlton artist and gallery owner Bridget McDonnell.
The People's Choice Award is still open to voting from visitors to the exhibition, which runs until Sunday, 16 March at the backART Gallery, Violet Town.
